Your next trip might be planned, but is your travel health?

For travellers in Kitchener-Waterloo, getting ready for an international trip can mean juggling flights, hotels, passports, packing lists and approximately 47 other things.

Travel health doesn’t have to be another complicated item on the list.

Whether you’re heading to Europe for the summer, escaping to the Caribbean, visiting family overseas, or planning an adventure somewhere completely new, your destination can come with its own health considerations.

Depending on where you’re travelling, you may need specific travel vaccines, prescription medications, malaria prevention, or advice about food, water and mosquito-borne illnesses.

That’s where Virtual Travel Clinic comes in.

Instead of spending time travelling to a physical clinic, you can meet virtually with a Travel Medicine Professional and discuss your upcoming trip from the comfort of your own home in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Your consultation focuses on your destination, your itinerary and your individual health needs, helping you understand what you may need before you leave Canada.

Your Travel Health Plan Starts Online

Travel medicine isn’t a one-size-fits-all checklist.

Two people travelling to the same country can have completely different recommendations depending on where they’re staying, what they’re doing and how long they’re going.

During your virtual consultation, your Travel Medicine Professional can review factors such as:

• Your destination and specific regions you’re visiting
• Travel dates and length of stay
• Planned activities
• Accommodation
• Previous vaccinations
• Medical history
• Allergies and current medications

From there, you can discuss appropriate travel vaccines, medications and practical ways to reduce common travel health risks.

What can you discuss?

The goal isn’t to give you a giant list of everything that could possibly go wrong on vacation.

It’s to help you understand the health risks that are actually relevant to your trip.

Why Kitchener-Waterloo Travellers Are Choosing Virtual Care

You don’t need to add another appointment across town to an already busy pre-travel checklist.

With Virtual Travel Clinic, your travel health consultation happens online.

That means you can prepare from home in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, or the surrounding area without needing to visit a dedicated physical travel clinic.

Less running around. More getting ready.

No waiting room

Meet virtually with a Travel Medicine Professional instead of spending time in a clinic waiting room.

No unnecessary travel

Your travel health consultation happens online.

Personalized recommendations

Your advice is based on your actual trip rather than a generic destination checklist.

Travel prescriptions

When medically appropriate, prescriptions for travel vaccines and medications can be provided following your consultation.

Local pharmacy support

Once prescribed, vaccines and medications can be coordinated through an appropriate local pharmacy.

Your consultation and pharmacy visit work together, giving you a straightforward way to prepare for your trip.

Heading Somewhere Warm? Your Destination Matters

Kitchener-Waterloo travellers head all over the world, and every destination comes with different considerations.

Mexico & the Caribbean

Planning a beach getaway?

While resort travel can be relaxing, international travel still comes with potential food, water, mosquito and infectious disease risks.

Depending on your destination and itinerary, you may want to discuss travel vaccines and other preventative measures before departure.

Europe

Travelling through Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal or another European destination?

Your travel health needs may depend on whether you’re spending your entire trip in major cities or venturing into rural areas, hiking, camping or staying for an extended period.

Southeast Asia

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

Depending on your itinerary, your travel health plan may include vaccine recommendations, mosquito bite prevention, food and water safety, and travel medications.

Africa

Going on safari?

Travel to countries such as Kenya and Tanzania can involve more detailed travel health preparation, including malaria prevention, Yellow Fever considerations and insect protection.

Multi-country trips can be particularly important to review because recommendations can change from one destination to another.

South America

Planning to visit Peru, Brazil, Colombia or another South American destination?

Your recommendations can depend on the specific regions you visit and what you’ll be doing while you’re there.

Travel Vaccines in Kitchener-Waterloo

One of the biggest travel health questions is also one of the simplest:

“What vaccines do I actually need?”

Unfortunately, there isn’t one answer for every traveller.

Travel vaccine recommendations can depend on your destination, activities, length of stay, accommodation and individual health history.

Some vaccines that may be discussed include:

The important part is that your recommendations are personalized.

A week at a resort and six weeks backpacking through rural areas are two very different travel experiences, even if the travellers are visiting the same country.

What About Travel Prescriptions?

Travel health planning isn’t only about vaccines.

Depending on your trip, your Travel Medicine Professional may also discuss medications that can help prevent or treat certain travel-related illnesses.

These may include:

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

A prescription isn’t automatically appropriate for everyone. Your healthcare professional will review your medical history, destination and itinerary before determining whether a medication is appropriate.

If a prescription is provided, it can be sent to a pharmacy for dispensing.

Malaria Prevention: Don’t Let Mosquitoes Join Your Trip

If you’re travelling somewhere where malaria occurs, prevention should be part of your travel health conversation.

Malaria is spread by infected mosquitoes, but the level of risk varies by destination and region.

Your travel health plan may include both medication and practical mosquito protection.

Think beyond the bug spray.

🦟 Use insect repellent.

👕 Wear protective clothing when appropriate.

🏠 Choose accommodations with screens or air conditioning where possible.

💊 Discuss malaria prevention medication if it is recommended for your destination.

Your exact itinerary matters. A traveller staying in a major city may have different recommendations from someone spending several weeks camping or travelling through rural areas.

Nobody Plans a Vacation Around the Bathroom

But traveller’s diarrhea can happen.

It is one of the most common travel-related illnesses, particularly in destinations where food and water safety can be different from what you’re used to in Canada.

A few simple habits can help lower your risk.

Before you eat:

Wash your hands.

Especially before meals and after using the washroom.

Be cautious with water.

Follow local recommendations about tap water and ice.

Think about how food is prepared.

Freshly prepared and thoroughly cooked food is generally a safer option where foodborne illnesses are more common.

Bring hand sanitizer.

It takes up practically no room in your luggage and can be useful when soap and water aren’t available.

You can also discuss appropriate traveller’s diarrhea treatment options before your trip.

When Should Kitchener-Waterloo Travellers Book?

If possible, start your travel health planning 2 to 4 weeks before departure.

This gives you time to:

• Review your destination
• Discuss vaccine recommendations
• Complete multi-dose vaccine schedules where needed
• Allow vaccines time to take effect
• Arrange any recommended prescriptions
• Prepare your travel health kit

But what if you’re leaving sooner?

Don’t write off travel health preparation just because your departure date is approaching.

A last-minute consultation can still help identify important recommendations and provide advice based on the time you have available.

Going away next week? It’s still worth asking.

A Quick Pre-Travel Checklist

Before your suitcase is completely zipped, make sure you’ve thought about more than your outfits.

Your travel health checklist

☐ Review your destination’s health risks

☐ Check your vaccination history

☐ Book a travel health consultation

☐ Discuss travel vaccines

☐ Ask whether malaria prevention applies to your itinerary

☐ Discuss travel medications if appropriate

☐ Pack your regular prescriptions

☐ Prepare a small travel health kit

☐ Save important health information somewhere accessible

☐ Make sure you have enough time before departure

A little preparation before leaving Canada can go a long way once you’re overseas.

Travelling as a Family?

Family holidays come with enough logistics already.

Everyone may have a different vaccination history, medication list and set of health considerations.

Before your appointment, have the following information available for each traveller:

• Vaccination history
• Current medications
• Allergies
• Medical history
• Travel dates
• Destination details
• Planned activities

This can make it easier to discuss the health needs of everyone travelling.

Virtual Travel Clinic also offers group discounts for eligible travellers booking together on the same itinerary.

FAQ’s