Stay Safe on Your Summer Adventures: Pre-Holiday Health Tips
Summer is right around the corner. For many of us, one of the sweetest joys in life is that buzzing sense of excitement when planning your next big adventure. Whether you’re jetting off to tropical beaches, road-tripping across national parks, or catching up with loved ones overseas, there’s a lot to be excited about — and a little to prepare for.
We get it. Going on holiday is about escaping the day-to-day and carving out some special time to focus on your passions, your hobbies, and your family. The idea of packing your bags with a cold or cough lingering in the background doesn’t exactly fit with that, and neither do the last-minute complications that can come when travel strikes suddenly.
From vaccinations and travel advice to simple health recommendations, our travel medicine experts at Narangba Station Medical Centre are dedicated to keeping you healthy, so you can make the most of your summer holiday without interruption. The last thing you want to do is add more to your list when there’s so much to be excited about. But trust us when we say, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the steps you take before you leave, and that starts with your first step out of your front door.
Booking a travel appointment with our experienced GPs is the best way to ensure you travel as safely as possible. From assessing your itinerary, taking a health history and giving you a range of vaccine and other advice to protect you against the risks you may face while overseas, our travel experts are a must-visit before you go.
So let’s answer all your questions, take care of any vaccinations you may need and ensure you’ve got all the information you need to have peace of mind before you even leave the door. From the absolute essentials like vaccines and travel health insurance, to useful hacks and tips for every part of your trip, this is everything you need to know before your next summer holiday.
Table of Content
You may not think of seeing a travel doctor before your summer holiday, but it could make a big difference to your health and enjoyment. Whether you’re planning a quick trip to the beach or an exotic adventure in the jungle, your doctor can help you stay well on your travels.
The foods you eat, the climates you experience and the diseases you’re exposed to during your trip are often different from what your body is used to at home. Holiday infections can include everything from contaminated water and insect-borne diseases to accidents, sunburn and vaccine-preventable infections.
A pre-travel health consultation provides advice specific to where you’re going, how long you’re staying and what you’ll be doing. Prevention of disease and illness isn’t as simple as getting a couple of vaccines.
It’s important to stay healthy enough to do all the things you want to do on your trip. Your doctor can help you understand any health risks at your destination, ensure you receive the correct immunisations and provide practical advice to avoid common travel illnesses.
Every country and region of the world has its own health risks and neighbouring countries can have very different entry requirements. There are dozens of vaccines available, and your GP can help you work out exactly what is recommended for your itinerary, personal health history, and the type of travel you’re taking.
Planning to travel abroad? Check out these common travel vaccinations and see which you might need to consider before you go.
Tetanus Shot
We recommend a tetanus booster every 10 years, and travel is a great time to see if you need one. Tetanus bacteria can enter the body through cuts or scrapes, especially if you’re doing outdoor or adventure activities during your trip. If you haven’t had one in a while your GP may suggest a booster.
Yellow Fever Vaccine
Yellow fever is a serious disease that travellers may encounter in parts of Africa and South America. Some countries actually require proof of yellow fever vaccination before you’re allowed in. The vaccine provides long-lasting protection and is generally well-tolerated, but it must be given at an approved clinic and at least 10 days before you travel. Your doctor will let you know if your destination requires it or if it’s recommended for your safety.
Rabies Vaccine
Rabies is a rare but serious disease that is almost always transmitted by animal bites or scratches. Travellers spending time in rural or wilderness areas, working with animals, or visiting countries where stray dogs or wildlife are more common may benefit from pre-exposure vaccination.
It doesn’t replace medical care after a bite or scratch but does allow for faster and much more effective treatment.
Hepatitis A & B Vaccines
Hepatitis A is often spread through contaminated food or water and is therefore important for many countries across Asia, the Pacific Islands, Africa, and parts of South America.
Hepatitis B is usually transmitted through blood or other body fluids, and is recommended for travellers who think they may need medical care overseas, or for those travelling for extended periods. Many people have these vaccines as children, but boosters or “catch-up” doses are available.
Typhoid Vaccine
Typhoid fever is common in many parts of Asia, Africa, and South America, especially in regions with poor water treatment. The typhoid vaccine is available as an injection or oral capsules, and is often recommended for those visiting rural areas, staying with local families, or planning to eat lots of adventurous street food.
Polio Booster
Polio is now very rare in most countries, but some still have a few cases each year. If it’s been a long time since your last polio vaccination, your GP may recommend a booster before you go. They may especially suggest this for longer trips to regions where occasional outbreaks are still reported.
Influenza & COVID-19 Boosters
If your destination doesn’t have any specific vaccine requirements, you may still want to consider having your flu shot and COVID-19 boosters up to date before you go. Long flights, busy tourist spots, and crowded festivals all increase your chance of catching something. Influenza and COVID are preventable with vaccines so this is an easy way to help you stay healthy during your travels.
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine
Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne illness that’s a risk for travellers who spend extended time in rural Asia or the Western Pacific, especially in regions where rice paddies or mosquito season are active. It’s especially recommended if your trip involves camping, hiking, or other activities where you’ll be outdoors for long periods of time.
MMR Booster
Measles outbreaks are still common in many countries and are highly infectious. If you’re travelling to an area where measles are circulating, it’s a good idea to make sure you are up to date with your measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations for your own protection, and to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus. Adults who aren’t sure of their vaccination status can receive a catch-up dose.
“How much is travel health insurance?” is a question we’re often asked. The price will depend on your destination, the length of your trip, your age, and the activities you intend to do. Visiting New Zealand for a few days is going to be cheaper than a month-long adventure in Southeast Asia.
Cost shouldn’t be the only thing that determines the cover you buy. What’s most important is that the policy you take out matches your trip and where you are going. It’s worth shopping around and looking at what’s included in the price tag: emergency medical and hospital treatment, emergency evacuation, lost medication and repatriation, and if you’re planning on doing any extreme activities it’s a good idea to have cover for those too.
If you don’t know what protection you need, book an appointment with your GP. They can help assess the health risks in the destination you are visiting, so you can make sure you get a policy that will cover you if anything goes wrong.
Vaccines and paperwork aren’t the only things that can keep you healthy when you’re travelling. Simple things you might take for granted at home can be useful health hacks when you’re on holiday. Staying hydrated, taking shade breaks and wearing sunscreen will help protect against heat exhaustion and dehydration, so keep topping up that bottle of water (drink more than you think you need, especially if you’re going somewhere humid), seek some shade, and keep applying sunscreen, even if you “won’t burn this time”.
Simple hygiene precautions are also a great way to make sure your holiday runs smoothly. Drink bottled or purified water where the water supply is not reliable, and eat food that is freshly cooked and served hot. This will help you avoid the stomach bugs that can put a real dampener on your week away.
Watch out for insects, too. Mosquitoes, ticks and sandflies can carry diseases that you may not be exposed to at home. Protection with repellents, covering up (light long-sleeved clothing can be ideal) during dawn and dusk (when many insects are most active), and sleeping in well-screened rooms will help to avoid bites. If you’re travelling to an area with diseases like dengue, malaria or Japanese encephalitis, your GP can give you more specific advice based on your travel itinerary.
A pre-departure visit to the travel doctor is sometimes all it takes for your trip to be the smooth experience you want it to be. Best to make an appointment at least 4–6 weeks before you fly though. That way you have enough time for any vaccines, boosters or medications to have full effect.
But we know it’s not always possible to plan that far ahead. In which case, please come in anyway. There’s almost always something we can do to help you travel more safely.
The real value of an in-person appointment is the bespoke advice. Online checklists are useful, but your GP assesses you — your health history, your destination, the activities you have planned and the length of your trip.
Whether you’re hiking a mountain, backpacking in a tent, cruising on a luxury liner, taking a cooking class in a village or sunbathing at a resort, the risks and recommendations vary hugely. With a personalised plan you don’t have to second-guess or overthink, you can travel knowing and feeling prepared.
A little bit of preparation can make a big difference to your well-being when you’re travelling. Booking vaccines, organising travel health insurance, or getting tailored advice for your destination, taking these steps in advance means you can relax and enjoy your holiday with fewer concerns and unexpected events.
If you have an upcoming trip, get in touch with us at Narangba Station Medical Centre and book in for a travel health consultation. Our experienced GPs can walk you through everything you need to know, so you can set off feeling prepared, informed and ready for a safe, unforgettable adventure.
Contact & Bookings
To make an appointment, please call reception or use our online booking system via the button below. You can also visit our contact page to see further details about our location and directions.
Bookings are available from as early as 7AM on weekdays and Saturday. We are also open Sunday afternoon and late evening on Tuesday and Thursday until 8:30PM.
Can't find us? - We are situated across the road from Narangba Train Station next to the Narangba Village shopping complex. Look for signs for Narangba Health Centre and IGA.