All About Travel Clinics

Table of Contents

What is a Travel Clinic?

Travel clinics specialize in health advice, vaccinations, and medication for individuals with plans for international travel.  Clinics with an emphasis on providing medical services for travel abroad are also known as travel medicine or travel health providers.  Travel clinics are different than a pharmacy or regular doctor office because they have a sole focus on travel health and may have access to hard-to-find travel vaccines not available elsewhere. 

Why Visit a Travel Clinic Before an International Trip?

Health and safety recommendations for travel abroad can change frequently, and travel clinics have access to up-to-date information to keep you healthy during your overseas adventures. Travel clinics offer expert advice, vaccinations, and preventive measures tailored to your specific travel destination and itinerary.  Other reasons to visit a travel clinic before your departure include;

  1. Recommended Travel Vaccines: Vaccination before travel helps protect against diseases prevalent in other regions of the world such as typhoid fever, cholera, Japanese encephalitis, polio, rabies, and yellow fever.  Many times, these vaccines are not routinely administered or readily available at regular doctor’s offices.
  2. Medications: Some travelers may need to take prescription medication to prevent illness.  The most common medication provided by travel clinics is for malaria prevention.  Because malaria infection is still  common in nearly 90 countries, many travelers may need a prescription for  malaria tablets, including people going on safari in popular destinations like Kenya or Tanzania.  Medication to prevent altitude illness is given routinely for people with plans for mountain trekking like in Nepal or Inca Trail in Peru.  Other medications to help with traveler’s diarrhea or motion sickness are also commonly discussed. 
  3. Personalized Health Recommendations: During your visit to a travel clinic, the clinician will assess your individual health history, specific travel plans, and potential exposure risks to provide personalized recommendations.  Health advice on disease prevention, food and water safety, insect precautions, and other travel-related health concerns is a standard part of a pre-travel consultation. 
Your visit to a travel clinic will include discussing risk for malaria for your trip and medication may be recommended for your trip to Latin America.
If your travel plans take you to a country with risk of yellow fever, visit a travel clinic for vaccination

What are Travel Vaccines?

Travel vaccines refer to immunizations not routinely given to people in the United States because there is no risk of the disease.  For example, typhoid fever is no longer a public health concern while living in the US, however, for many destinations worldwide, typhoid infections are still common and the vaccine is recommended before departure.  Other vaccines for travel include cholera, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, and yellow fever.

What is the Difference Between Routine Vaccines and Travel Vaccines?

Routine vaccines refer to immunizations regularly administered by a doctor’s office or pharmacy regardless of your plans to travel abroad.  Many routine vaccinations are given in childhood and adolescence like MMR (measles), hepatitis B, meningitis, polio, and tetanus.  As we age, several routine vaccines are also recommended including shingles, pneumonia, and RSV. Some routine vaccines are good for lifetime while others require additional doses or boosters.

Why Doesn’t My Doctor’s Office Provide Travel Vaccines?

Many physician offices choose not to offer vaccines for travel for several reasons including; 

  1. Limited demand; they do not have enough patients in their practice traveling abroad
  2. Cost; purchasing and storing travel vaccines can be very expensive and some vaccines have a short expiration date resulting in thousands of dollars in losses
  3. Specialized training; many pediatrician and primary care offices aren’t familiar with the vaccine recommendations for each country and guidelines for vaccinations can vary for different regions within a country or depending on the time of year of travel. 
  4. Poor reimbursement; sometimes health insurance does not cover the cost of the travel vaccines or may provide a payment to the physician office that is less than the cost of the vaccine.

 

Why Can’t My Doctor’s Office or Pharmacy Administer the Yellow Fever Vaccine?

Only clinics authorized by CDC and their state health department can purchase, store, and administer the yellow fever vaccine.  In order to be a yellow fever provider, each clinic must complete additional training and certification. Because yellow fever infection often results in hospitalization or death, and because it can cause widespread outbreaks between countries, international rules for administration and documentation of the yellow fever vaccine exist to ensure quality and safety.  For these reasons, many physician offices and pharmacies do not carry the yellow fever vaccine and instead refer patients to a local travel clinic.

Visit a travel clinic for vaccines for travel before your next overseas adventure

How Do I Find Travel Vaccines Outside of the United States?

 If you have already departed from the US and arrived to your destination without receiving vaccinations, it’s not too late! Similar to in the US, clinics specializing in travel health and travel vaccines can be found in most countries.  In some cases, the same immunization brand from the same manufacturer is available outside of the US too. While some vaccines brands may be different, the immunization will protect in a similar way.  

To find a travel clinic near you while outside of the US, simply use an internet search just as you would at home.  Many clinics provide websites in English and employ English-speaking staff.  Look for clinics with ample patient reviews and when contacting ask specific questions about the vaccines recommended for your trip, pricing, and if malaria or other prescription medications can be provided. 

If you have a travel health insurance policy, you may be able to receive reimbursement for the cost of any vaccines you receive abroad, so be sure to keep payment receipts.

While it may take some vaccines 10-14 days to reach peak efficacy, some protection is better than none, so schedule an appointment as early as possible on arrival. 

Travel Clinic Options in Asia

Travelers and expatriates can find safe and reputable care internationally including vaccinations, medications, and health advice.  Destination Health Travel Clinic recommends travelers to Asia contact the following locations for an appointment. 

Travel Clinic in Bangkok, Thailand

WellMed Bangkok Clinic offers all recommended travel vaccines you may need for a short or longer-term trip to Thailand including hepatitis A, typhoid fever and Japanese encephalitis. The clinic is conveniently located near both subway (MRT) and Skytrain (BTS) stops in a well-appointed neighborhood of Bangkok. The clinic offers online appointments and well trained staff with English proficiency.  

Travel Clinic in Vietnam

Family Medical Practice Vietnam offers locations in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), and Da Nang (Danang).  All offices carry vaccinations for travel including any recommended for living or traveling in Vietnam like typhoid fever and Japanese encephalitis.  Their offices routinely provide care to expats and other foreign travelers and staff are English speaking. Request an appointment via their website or phone.