Planning an international trip from St. John’s?

Whether you’re escaping Newfoundland’s winter for a sunny beach, travelling overseas to visit family, heading away for business, or planning an adventure somewhere completely new, there’s plenty to organize before takeoff.

Flights? Check.

Passport? Check.

Suitcase? Almost packed.

Travel health? Don’t forget that one.

International travel can come with destination-specific health risks, vaccine recommendations, prescription medication considerations, and entry requirements. Preparing before you leave Canada can help you understand those risks and feel more confident about your trip.

At Virtual Travel Clinic, we make travel health preparation convenient for Canadians. You can meet virtually with a travel health professional, discuss your itinerary and health history, and receive personalized recommendations for your trip.

A Travel Clinic Without the Travel

If you’re searching for a travel clinic in St. John’s, you may be expecting to drive across the city, find parking, and wait for an appointment.

Virtual care gives you another option.

With Virtual Travel Clinic, your travel health consultation takes place online, so you can prepare for your trip from home, work, or wherever you happen to be.

Why choose a virtual travel clinic?

Whether you’re in St. John’s or elsewhere in Newfoundland and Labrador, virtual travel health services can make preparing for international travel a little easier.

Travel Health Services for St. John’s Travellers

Every trip is different, which means every traveller’s health recommendations can be different too.

A two-week resort vacation, a three-month backpacking adventure, a family visit overseas, and a safari can all involve very different travel health considerations.

During a travel health consultation, you can discuss:

Your recommendations can depend on your destination, travel dates, activities, accommodation, previous vaccinations, and individual health history.

Do I Need Travel Vaccines?

Not every international trip requires the same vaccines.

There is no universal “travel vaccine checklist” that works for every Canadian traveller.

Your travel health recommendations can depend on:

• Where you’re travelling
• Which regions you will visit
• How long you’ll be away
• What activities you have planned
• Where you will stay
• Whether you’ll visit rural areas
• Your previous vaccination history
• Your individual health considerations

Some commonly discussed travel vaccines include:

The goal isn’t to give every traveller every vaccine.

It’s to determine which recommendations make sense for your specific trip.

Where Are St. John’s Travellers Going?

Newfoundland travellers head all over the world.

Your destination is one of the most important factors when planning your travel health needs.

Mexico

Mexico is a popular choice for Canadians looking to escape the cold.

Travellers may want to discuss food and water safety, travel vaccines, and other destination-specific health considerations.

The Caribbean

Whether you’re heading to the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Barbados, or another island destination, your health recommendations depend on the specific country and itinerary.

Europe

A European getaway may seem straightforward from a health perspective, but longer trips, rural travel, adventure activities, and individual health factors can change the conversation.

Southeast Asia

Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian destinations can involve additional considerations such as mosquito-borne illnesses, food and water safety, and destination-specific vaccine recommendations.

Africa

Planning a safari?

Travel to countries such as Kenya or Tanzania may involve more detailed travel health preparation, including malaria prevention, Yellow Fever considerations, insect protection, and destination-specific vaccines.

Travel Prescriptions Before You Leave Newfoundland

Travel health isn’t just about vaccines.

Depending on your destination and itinerary, you may also want to discuss travel medications before leaving Canada.

Travel prescription topics can include:

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

Virtual Travel Clinic provides travel medication and prescription support through virtual travel health consultations when medically appropriate.

Your healthcare professional will consider your destination, itinerary, medical history, and other relevant factors before making a recommendation.

Planning a longer trip?

If you’re going away for several weeks or months, don’t forget about your regular medications.

Before leaving Canada, make sure you:

• Have enough medication for your trip
• Know how your medication should be stored
• Have important medication information available
• Understand any requirements for travelling with your medication
• Plan ahead if you need additional prescriptions

Malaria Prevention: Is It Relevant to Your Trip?

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that occurs in many tropical and subtropical regions.

However, malaria risk isn’t the same everywhere.

It can vary depending on the country, region, season, and type of travel you’re doing.

If your trip includes an area where malaria occurs, your travel health plan may include:

Medication

Preventive medication may be recommended depending on your destination and individual circumstances.

Mosquito protection

Insect repellent, protective clothing, and appropriate accommodation can help reduce mosquito bites.

Destination-specific advice

Your exact itinerary matters. Travelling to a major city may involve different considerations than spending weeks in rural areas.

Don’t Let Traveller’s Diarrhea Crash Your Vacation

Let’s be honest.

Nobody wants their dream vacation to become a bathroom tour.

Traveller’s diarrhea is one of the most common illnesses experienced by international travellers.

A few simple precautions can help reduce your risk.

Food & Water Safety Tips

Wash your hands regularly

Especially before eating and after using the washroom.

Be cautious with drinking water

Follow local guidance about whether tap water is safe to drink.

Think about ice, too

If you’re unsure about the local water supply, ask about the water used to make ice.

Choose food carefully

Freshly prepared and thoroughly cooked foods are generally preferable in areas where foodborne illness is more common.

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

When Should You Visit a Travel Clinic?

Ideally, travel health planning shouldn’t happen the night before your flight.

Virtual Travel Clinic recommends booking your travel medicine consultation 2 to 6 weeks before departure when possible.

This provides time to review vaccine recommendations, allow vaccines to take effect, and plan any multi-dose vaccination schedules.

Your pre-travel timeline

Leaving soon?

Don’t assume it’s too late.

Even if you have less than four weeks before departure, a travel health professional can help you understand which recommendations are still relevant and what can be done within the time available.

Preparing for Family Travel From St. John’s

Travelling with children or extended family?

Your family may not all have the same travel health needs.

Before your trip, gather:

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

Children can have different vaccination schedules and travel health considerations than adults.

If several members of your family are travelling together, discussing everyone’s needs as part of your pre-travel planning can help make the process more organized.

What Should Be in Your Travel Health Kit?

Your travel health kit doesn’t need to take up half your suitcase.

A few essentials can go a long way.

Your exact travel health kit should be based on your destination and personal needs.

Travel Health for Every Type of Trip

You don’t have to be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for travel health planning to matter.

Virtual Travel Clinic can help Canadians prepare for a wide range of international travel plans.

✈️ Vacation Travel

Heading somewhere warm for a week or two?

Let’s get your travel health checklist sorted.

🌴 Resort Travel

Even all-inclusive trips can involve food, water, mosquito, and sun exposure considerations.

🚢 Cruise Travel

Cruises involve multiple destinations, making itinerary-specific travel health planning particularly useful.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Visits

Visiting relatives overseas can involve longer stays and different travel environments.

🎓 Study Abroad

Students may spend extended periods in new environments and should consider their destination-specific health needs.

🌍 Adventure Travel

Safaris, hiking, camping, and rural travel can introduce additional health considerations.

FAQ’s