Travel Vaccinations and Health Advice
- Article last reviewed 08 July 2022
- 4 mins read
Travel Medicine and Vaccination
Planning your next getaway? Overseas travel can be fraught with potential health hazards. With a little planning and preparation, you can minimise any disruptions from sickness and ensure a healthy and enjoyable travel experience.
Travel Health Services
- Travel health advice and consultation
- Fitness to travel assessment
- Travel vaccinations
- Malaria prophylaxis (prevention)
- Corporate vaccination programme
- Travel health talks
- Sale of travel medicine and first aid kits
Travel Vaccinations
In order to help safeguard you and your loved ones from unwanted exposure to infectious diseases, the clinic provides a comprehensive range of vaccines to prevent the following conditions:
- Hepatitis A and/or Hepatitis B
- H1N1 influenza or seasonal influenza
- Tetanus
- Diphtheria
- Typhoid
- Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
- Japanese encephalitis
- Pneumococcal disease
- Meningococcal disease
- Rabies
- Yellow Fever
Related: Know Your Medication
General Travel Health Advice
Consult a doctor four to six weeks before departure. This allows sufficient time for the relevant vaccinations to take effect and to optimise any specific health concerns.
- If you have chronic medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure), ensure you have enough medicine for your trip
- Buy travel insurance for the duration of your trip
- Prepare a travel kit. Depending on your travel plans, you may wish to include the following:
- Painkillers/anti-fever pills
- Diarrhoea pills
- Antihistamines (for runny nose and mild allergies)
- Motion sickness pills
- Oral re-hydration salts
- Antiseptic solution or cream
- Adhesive dressing (e.g. plasters)
- Thermometer
- Condoms
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
Related: Easy Travel Preparations
Useful Travel Tips
During your journey:
- To minimise the effects of jet lag, try to eat and sleep according to the local time at your destination as soon as you can
- Try to get as much rest and sleep as possible
- Eat light, drink lots of fluids and avoid alcohol
- Exercise your leg muscles and take regular walks around the cabin if the environment permits
Food and water precautions:
- Ensure food is well cooked
- Avoid eating undercooked food, salads and peeled fruits
- Eat food that is hot when served
- Use a serving spoon when eating from a common plate
- Avoid tap water and ice cubes
- Drink only bottled water or boiled water
Protection from mosquito-borne diseases:
- Wear light-coloured, long-sleeve clothing especially at night
- Use insect repellent on exposed skin
- Sleep under a mosquito net
- Light a mosquito coil before going to bed
- Consult a doctor regarding malaria prophylaxis
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Contributed By
- Khoo Teck Puat Hospital