Travel Advice and Immunisation Bentleigh East

The team here at Mackie Road offer travel advice and immunisation for residents in the Bentleigh East area.

Every year Australian travelers become ill, or even die, while travelling overseas. Make an appointment with your doctor for a basic health check-up at least eight weeks before you depart.

Immunisation

Infectious diseases that cause some of the overseas illnesses are often preventable through vaccinations.  It’s important that you discuss your personal travel plans with a health professional to ensure you have the correct vaccinations for your trip and any booster doses of childhood vaccinations you may need.

We offer a large number of travel vaccinations at the clinic which immunize against:

• Hepatitis A

• Polio

• Typhoid

• Diphtheria

• Pertussis

Vaccines can prevent you from contracting some diseases, but remember:

• New vaccines are constantly being released but diseases continue to evolve.

• Vaccinations may be an entry requirement of some countries so check with the embassy or consulate of the countries you are intending to visit or transit. In some countries you may be refused entry or required to have the vaccination at the border. We recommend you seek medical advice from your GP and have any vaccinations prior to leaving Australia.

• It’s never too late to vaccinate; however, some vaccines require a long period to take effect and more than one dose may be needed.

• You may need boosters for childhood vaccines.

• Health risks within a country can vary from one region to another and local authorities may be slow to announce outbreaks of disease.

Medication

If you plan to take medicines overseas, we recommend that you:

• discuss with your doctor the medication you’ll need to take

• carry a letter from your doctor detailing what the medication is, how much you’ll be taking with you, and stating that it’s for your own personal use

• leave the medication in its original packaging so it’s clearly labeled with your name and dosage instructions.

If you’re travelling with medication, make sure it’s legal in the countries you’re visiting by contacting the relevant embassy or consulate in Australia.

If you need to travel with large quantities of medication, it’s good practice to divide portions among different pieces of your luggage in case bags go missing. Keep all medication in the original, labelled container to avoid customs problems.

If you have to inject your medication, it may be preferable to carry your own needles and syringes if permissible in the countries you’re visiting. If you buy needles and syringes overseas, ensure they are sealed and sterile.

Take enough medication to cover the length of your trip. If you need to purchase medication at your destination, be careful to avoid imitation or counterfeit medications and prescription drugs, and always check the strength of a medication with a doctor. Be aware that packaging and labeling may be similar to those available in Australia, but the strength and active ingredients can vary from country to country.