Travel Clinic - Moving Abroad

If you plan to join the 5.5m British citizens living abroad, make sure you check in to a travel clinic before you go.

Emigrating is dream of thousands of Brits who long to swap the rainy weather for sun, sea and sand. The allure of an outdoor lifestyle has already captured 5.5m British people who now live abroad, according to studies by the Institute for Public Policy Research. It says almost one in ten of us are living overseas. But it’s easy to forget the importance of safeguarding your health at a travel clinic when you’re wrapped up in the excitement of relocating abroad.

Emigrating? Consult your Travel Clinic

You should consult a travel clinic before you fly abroad, especially if you’re heading to Africa, South America or India. Some of the diseases you can be vaccinated against at a travel clinic include:

• Yellow Fever. There are areas in the world that pose a risk. The World Health Organisation highlights at-risk regions, including Brazil, Columbia, Peru and Ecuador. This acute viral disease kills an estimated 30,000 people a year in Africa and Central and South America. (World Health Organisation figures, 2001). The name comes from the jaundice symptoms patients can experience. A vaccination is available – all travellers to these regions must ensure they are vaccinated at their nearest travel clinic before flying. In some countries, you will need to present a yellow fever certificate to enter. When booking your flight or holiday, check with your travel clinic if in doubt.

• Malaria. A travel clinic will provide you with anti-malarial pills which are 90% effective in safeguarding you from the disease. It’s crucial you take the pills as advised by your travel clinic. More British people are contracting the disease which is caught by a simple mosquito bite. There is a growing concern travellers are too blasé about taking the pills, but not taking them can be a fatal mistake. Malaria is common in sub tropical areas including parts of Asia, the Americas and Africa. Between one and three million people a year die from malaria.

Travel Clinic: 8 Weeks before Departure

If you are emigrating abroad, you need to go to your travel clinic early – some vaccinations and boosters take time, and ideally you should be thinking of booking your appointment at the travel clinic eight weeks before you fly. Vaccinations for other viruses and diseases such as tetanus and diphtheria are also important, and in countries where these diseases are prevalent, make sure you book boosters at your travel clinic every ten years. For details of what vaccinations and immunisations you need for your specific country, consult your nearest travel clinic. As more people move around the world, protecting yourself and others from preventable diseases has never been so important.

Choose CityDoc for all your Travel Clinic needs

At CityDoc, you can book over the phone or walk into one of our travel clinics for a same-day appointment. Don't travel abroad without ensuring that you've had the right vaccinations. CityDoc provides a complete travel clinic service, customized to your individual needs. Our pre-travel consultations are with experienced General Practitioners who will assess the impact of any pre-existing chronic medical conditions on your vaccine requirements. We have the full range of travel vaccines in stock including rarer vaccines such as Japanese Encephalitis. CityDoc is a registered yellow fever centre and is able to dispense anti-malarials directly from our in house pharmacy for your added convenience. Choose from our three London travel clinics and Birmingham travel clinics for ease of access.