Planning your next international adventure from Kelowna?

Whether you’re escaping the Okanagan winter for somewhere sunny, heading overseas to visit family, planning a safari, or finally checking a bucket-list destination off your list, there is one thing worth adding to your pre-trip checklist before you pack your bags: travel health preparation.

Different destinations come with different health risks. Depending on where you’re going, you may need specific vaccines, travel medications, malaria prevention, or destination-specific health advice.

The good news? You don’t necessarily need to spend your day driving across Kelowna, finding parking, and sitting in a waiting room to get started.

With Virtual Travel Clinic, you can meet with a trained travel health professional online, discuss your itinerary and health history, and receive personalized recommendations for your trip. Prescriptions for recommended travel vaccines and medications can then be coordinated through a local pharmacy.

Travel Health Made Simple for Kelowna Travellers

Planning an international trip can involve a lot of moving parts.

Flights? Booked.

Hotel? Booked.

Passport? Hopefully not expired.

Travel health? Let’s get that checked off the list too.

A virtual travel health consultation can help you understand the health considerations specific to your destination, planned activities, and individual circumstances.

What can a travel health consultation help with?

Travel medicine professionals consider your itinerary, planned activities, medical history, and immunization history when determining which vaccines or medications may be appropriate.

Why Kelowna Travellers Choose Virtual Travel Clinic

Kelowna is a great place to live, but when you’re preparing for an international trip, the last thing you may want to do is spend your afternoon driving around town for appointments.

Virtual care makes travel health preparation more convenient.

With Virtual Travel Clinic, you can:

Skip the waiting room

Your travel health consultation takes place virtually.

Avoid unnecessary driving

No need to make a trip across Kelowna just to discuss your upcoming trip.

Prepare from home

Complete your travel information and meet with a travel health professional online.

Get destination-specific recommendations

Your travel health plan is based on your actual itinerary rather than a generic destination list.

Coordinate prescriptions through a pharmacy

If travel vaccines or medications are prescribed, your travel medicine professional can help coordinate with a local pharmacy.

Virtual Travel Clinic provides travel health services to Canadians across the country, so Kelowna travellers can access specialized travel medicine without needing to visit a dedicated physical travel clinic.

What Travel Vaccines Might You Need?

There is no single vaccine list that applies to every traveller.

Your recommendations depend on where you’re going, what you’re doing, how long you’re staying, and your previous immunization history.

Some travel vaccines that may be considered include:

Your travel medicine professional will assess your individual circumstances before recommending or prescribing vaccines.

And remember, more vaccines does not necessarily mean better travel preparation. The goal is to identify what is appropriate for your trip.

Where Are Kelowna Travellers Heading?

From the Okanagan, travellers head all over the world.

Your destination can make a big difference when it comes to travel health planning.

Mexico

A popular winter escape for Canadians, Mexico offers everything from all-inclusive resorts to adventurous road trips and cultural experiences.

Depending on your itinerary, you may want to discuss food and water safety, travel vaccines, and other destination-specific health considerations.

Southeast Asia

Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian destinations are popular with Canadian travellers.

Depending on where you are travelling and what you plan to do, your travel health discussion may include vaccines, mosquito protection, food and water precautions, and travel medications.

Central and South America

Destinations throughout Central and South America offer everything from beaches and rainforests to hiking and cultural experiences.

Health recommendations can vary considerably between countries and regions, making your specific itinerary important.

Africa

Planning a safari?

Countries such as Kenya and Tanzania can involve more complex travel health considerations, including malaria prevention, Yellow Fever, insect protection, and destination-specific vaccine recommendations.

Europe

Europe may feel familiar to many Canadian travellers, but international travel health planning can still be worthwhile, particularly for longer trips, adventure travel, or travellers with specific health considerations.

Travel Prescriptions From a Virtual Consultation

Travel health preparation isn’t just about needles.

Depending on your destination and itinerary, your travel health professional may discuss medications that can help prevent or treat certain travel-related illnesses.

Virtual Travel Clinic offers prescriptions for a range of travel medications, including medications used for malaria prevention and traveller’s diarrhea, where medically appropriate.

Travel medication discussions may include:

• Malaria prevention medications
• Traveller’s diarrhea treatment
• Altitude sickness medications
• Other destination-specific medications

Your travel medicine professional will determine whether a medication is appropriate based on your individual circumstances.

One important thing to remember

You cannot simply purchase a travel vaccine or prescription medication through Virtual Travel Clinic without first having a travel medicine consultation.

Your healthcare professional needs to review information such as your medical history, allergies, immunization history, and specific travel itinerary before generating a prescription.

What Happens After Your Virtual Appointment?

Getting your travel health plan is only part of the process.

If vaccines or medications are recommended and prescribed, Virtual Travel Clinic can help connect you with a local pharmacy that has the necessary travel medicine available.

Your travel health journey

1. Complete your travel information

Provide details about your destinations, travel dates, activities, medical history, and immunization history.

2. Meet virtually with a travel health professional

Discuss your trip and receive personalized recommendations.

3. Receive prescriptions when appropriate

Prescriptions for recommended travel vaccines and medications can be sent to a pharmacy.

4. Visit your local pharmacy

Your pharmacy can administer eligible vaccines and dispense prescribed medications.

This means your virtual appointment and your pharmacy visit can work together as part of one travel health plan.

Don’t Forget About Malaria

Heading somewhere tropical?

Malaria may be something to discuss before you leave Canada.

Malaria is transmitted through infected mosquitoes, and risk varies depending on the destination and region.

If malaria is present where you’re travelling, your travel health plan may include:

• Prescription malaria prevention medication
• Insect repellent
• Long sleeves and pants
• Sleeping accommodations with screens or air conditioning
• Other mosquito bite prevention strategies

Not every traveller needs malaria medication, and not every region within a country carries the same risk.

That’s why your exact itinerary matters.

Traveller’s Diarrhea: Prepare Before You Go

No one wants to spend their vacation searching for the nearest bathroom.

Traveller’s diarrhea is one of the most common illnesses people can experience while travelling internationally.

You can reduce your risk by practising good food and water habits.

Keep these tips in mind:

Wash your hands frequently.

Especially before eating.

Be careful with drinking water.

Follow local guidance about tap water and ice.

Choose food carefully.

Freshly prepared and thoroughly cooked food is generally a safer option in destinations where foodborne illness is more common.

Pack hand sanitizer.

It is small, easy to carry, and useful when you’re on the go.

Travellers can also discuss prevention and treatment options before departure if appropriate.

When Should You Book a Travel Clinic Appointment?

Ideally, don’t leave travel health preparation until the day before your flight.

Virtual Travel Clinic recommends having a travel medicine consultation 2 to 4 weeks before your trip when possible. This gives you time for vaccines to take effect and allows for multi-dose vaccination schedules when required.

Planning timeline

If your trip is coming up sooner, don’t assume it is too late.

Virtual Travel Clinic can customize recommendations based on how much time you have before departure.

Travelling With Family From Kelowna?

Family travel comes with its own checklist.

When you’re travelling with children or multiple family members, each traveller may have different vaccine histories, medical needs, and travel health considerations.

Before your trip, gather:

• Immunization records
• Current medication information
• Allergy information
• Travel dates
• Destination details
• Planned activities

If you’re travelling with two or more people on the same itinerary, Virtual Travel Clinic also offers group discounts for eligible bookings.

Travel Health for Every Kind of Trip

You don’t have to be heading into the jungle for travel health advice to be useful.

Virtual Travel Clinic supports Canadians travelling for:

✈️ Vacations

🌴 Resort getaways

🚢 Cruises

🎓 Study abroad

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family visits

💼 Business travel

🌍 Safaris and adventure trips

The right travel health plan depends on where you’re going and what you’ll be doing once you arrive.

FAQ’s