What happens at a travel health consultation?

Travelling somewhere new raises the same questions every time: which vaccines do I need, which are only recommended, and what should I take with me? A travel health consultation answers all of them in one appointment. Here is what happens at one, what to bring, and how early to book, so the visit itself is short.

Who should book one

Book a consultation for any trip where the vaccines or health risks are new to you, especially rural travel, long stays, or destinations in Africa, Asia, and Central or South America. It is also worth booking if you have a long-term health condition, are pregnant, are travelling with children, or take regular medication that has to fit around a new time zone.

What to bring

Your itinerary, with every country on the route, including layovers.

Your travel dates.

Your vaccination record, if you have one.

Your passport, if yellow fever might be involved.

A list of the medications you take.

What the pharmacist goes through

The pharmacist starts with your trip: where you are going, for how long, and what kind of travel it is (city, rural, resort or backpacking). Then they check your routine vaccinations are up to date, work out which vaccines each country on your route requires or recommends, and talk through any health conditions or medications that change the plan. Most people leave with their vaccines done and their travel prescriptions in hand.

You can answer most of those questions before you arrive. Our travel form takes about five minutes and covers your route, dates, vaccination history and medications. It is optional, but filling it in first means the pharmacist has already read it, and the appointment is spent on your trip instead of on paperwork.

Travel vaccinations you might be offered

Which travel vaccinations you need depends on your route. The common ones are hepatitis A and B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, cholera and traveller's diarrhea, meningococcal meningitis, and a tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis booster. Some of these need more than one dose. If yours does, we book the next dose before you leave.

Yellow fever is the one that comes with paperwork. Some countries require the International Certificate of Vaccination before they let you in, and the certificate only becomes valid ten days after the shot. Our 20 Ave NW and Royal Vista NW stores are designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres, so the vaccine and the certificate happen at the same visit.

Prescriptions for the trip

Alberta pharmacists can prescribe, so you do not need a separate doctor's visit for the medicines that go with your trip. Depending on where you are going, that can mean malaria prevention tablets for your route, treatment to carry for traveller's diarrhea, or medication for altitude sickness.

How early to book

Four to six weeks before you leave is ideal, because some vaccines need time to work or a second dose. Leaving sooner? Come anyway. Most vaccines still give useful protection, and a yellow fever certificate is valid from ten days after the shot.

In person or by phone

The consultation is $40 and includes the $20 injection fee for vaccines given at that visit. You can do it in person at any of our three Calgary pharmacies, or by phone: the pharmacist calls you at the time you choose, and you come to the store afterwards for the vaccines and to pick up prescriptions.

Book a travel consultation online, or walk in. Walk-ins are welcome at all three stores; booking guarantees your time.