If you’re planning an overseas trip, it’s important to take steps to protect your health before you depart. Whether you’re travelling for business, visiting family, or heading abroad for leisure, checking your vaccination needs is an essential part of travel preparation. Some destinations may require specific vaccines to protect against serious illnesses, and having the right vaccinations in place can help ensure a safer, healthier trip.
At Kardinia Health Medical Centre in Geelong, we’re here to support you with travel health advice and vaccinations, so you can travel with confidence and peace of mind.
Planning Travel Vaccinations with Your GP
When planning your holiday, we recommend booking a travel consultation with your GP at least 6 to 8 weeks before you leave. This allows plenty of time to discuss your destination, understand the health risks involved, and receive any necessary travel vaccinations.
Our Travel Medicine Consultations cover:
- Pre-travel health assessments
- Recommended vaccinations
- Advice for staying well during your trip
- Post-travel care if needed
We’re also a registered provider of the Yellow Fever vaccine for those visiting areas where it’s required.
Recommendations to Protect Your Health While Travelling
Before you travel, it’s important to check that your routine vaccinations are up to date. This includes:
- Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) – Two doses are needed for protection against measles
- Diphtheria, Tetanus and Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
- Polio
- Chickenpox (Varicella)
Other vaccines may also be recommended based on your travel plans, including:
- Hepatitis A
- Typhoid
- Yellow Fever
- Mpox (for eligible travellers)
- Rabies
We also encourage all travellers to be up to date with their influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations before heading overseas. For additional guidance, travellers can also visit the Australian Government’s Smartraveller website for destination-specific health advice, including recommended travel vaccinations and alerts for disease outbreaks.
Who Is at Higher Risk When Travelling?
Anyone travelling overseas may be exposed to infectious diseases. However, some travellers face a higher risk of illness, including:
- People who are not fully vaccinated against common infectious diseases
- Older adults and those with underlying health conditions
- Travellers returning to their country of birth or visiting friends and family
Travellers visiting friends and family or returning to their country of birth may face additional risks due to longer stays, reduced immunity, consuming local food and drinks, and closer interaction with the local community.
It’s also important to consider that people in close contact with recently returned travellers may also be at risk of certain infections.
Plan Your Travel Vaccinations Ahead with Kardinia Health Geelong
Planning your travel vaccinations well in advance is an important step in reducing your risk of illness while overseas. At Kardinia Health Medical Centre, our experienced GPs provide comprehensive travel health consultations, offering tailored advice and vaccinations to help you prepare for your trip.
When booking your appointment, please inform our reception team that it is for travel health so we can allocate sufficient time for your consultation. You may also need to bring your passport
Our team is here to support your health and wellbeing, wherever your travels may take you.
To make an appointment, contact our friendly reception staff at the clinic on (03) 5202 9333.
