Travel health
Erica Donovan
Sometimes you just get bitten
by the travel bug and want to
get away for a while. If holidays
consist of overseas travel it can
good for patients (and us
ourselves) to consider health.
Patients may enquire what they
need to in terms of vaccinations
and medications to take with
them
overseas.
However,
providing
straightforward
advice isn’t always easy as it can
depend on where they’re
heading to, what activities
they’re planning on doing, and
in what areas they’re staying.
Some vaccinations may be as
common as an influenza
vaccine, where as if they are
travelling to certain countries,
they may be refused entry if the
person
cannot
provide
evidence of vaccination.
they’re away, which can lead to
costly Doctor’s visits.
And speaking of what can be
costly – getting sick overseas.
It’s always important to remind
people to consider travel
insurance. We don’t like to think
that we’ll spend a holiday in
hospital or sick in a hotel, but
the reality is that it happens.
If you want to learn more about
travel health, Pharmac has a
great series of videos around all
things
travel
including
vaccinations, medical kits,
diseases patients need to be
wary of when travelling and
travel related injuries.
Travelers can also head to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade website which as an area
dedicated to staying heathy
while travelling.
When
providing
travel
information, it is also important
to remember the basics – safe
sex, safe drinking advice, being
sensible about hand hygiene
and sun safety.
Patients also need to consider
if they have enough of all their
medications and if these
require documentation from
their Doctor. From working at
a walk-in clinic, I can tell you
there are many people who
don’t consider how much
medication they need while
Ta’u Island, National Park of American Samoa: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usinterior/9109117816
Winter2019
L.O.G.I.C
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