Travel Medicine and Vaccination Services

A travel medicine pharmacist can provide you with a detailed pre-travel consultation. This will include evaluating your travel itinerary and your relevant medical history (vaccination history, current and past medications, allergies, chronic diseases) in order to provide vaccinations, medication recommendations, and other advice to help you plan a safe trip.

Many Canadians do not remain up to date with recommended booster doses of routine vaccinations. In addition, travelling abroad may put you at risk of a variety of vaccine preventable diseases, depending on the destination and activities during the trip. Your pharmacist can recommend, prescribe, and administer vaccinations to prevent diseases such as:

Hepatitis A and B

Typhoid Fever

Meningococcal meningitis

Japanese Encephalitis

Polio

Rabies

Yellow Fever

Tetanus/diphtheria

Influenza

Pneumococcal disease

As part of the consultation, you may also receive recommendations for:

• Medications to prevent malaria
• Medications to treat traveller’s diarrhea and strategies to prevent other food-borne illnesses
• Medications to treat altitude illness and advice on when to seek medical attention
• Advice on prevention of non-vaccine preventable diseases such as Dengue Fever, Zika virus, Chikungunya, Cuteanous Larva Migrans and Leishmaniasis
• Contents of a personalized travel health kit in order to be prepared to treat a variety of minor illnesses which are common during travel
• Travel accessories for prevention of diseases

 

Lisa Ward is our travel medicine pharmacist, and she is certified with the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM).  ISTM is the largest organization of health care professionals (physicians, pharmacists, nurses) who are dedicated to the practice of travel medicine, with members in over 100 countries around the world. The ISTM Certificate in Travel Health recognizes excellence in knowledge in the field of travel medicine, associated with pre-travel care and consultation. While anyone may decide to offer travel advice, the ISTM Certificate ensures the professional has the proper body of knowledge to make the best recommendations possible.

When is the best time to seek advice before a trip?

You will receive the most benefit if you seek advice early. The best time to speak to your pharmacist is at least 6-8 weeks prior to your trip. Many travel vaccinations are given in a 2 or 3 dose series, and may not be effective immediately after they are given. In addition, some countries may require proof of certain travel vaccinations for entry into the country. Last minute travellers are still welcome, as there may be time to give some of the recommended vaccinations, as well as make a plan for any booster doses upon return.

For more information on vaccine pricing, consultation fees and travel accessories, please contact the pharmacy at 250-372-2531 or e-mail at info@nullkippmallery.ca.