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Travel Health

Planning your next travel adventure? Stay healthy and prevent travel-related illnesses. Did you know that Pharmasave pharmacists can offer travel health advice, administer travel vaccines, assess if you’re up to date on your routine vaccinations, help you manage your medications, and more? Read on to learn more about our travel health services.

Your health, your Pharmasave. We’re here to help.

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Why get travel vaccines?

Enjoy the journey and the destination without stressing about travel-related illnesses. By getting vaccinated, you can protect yourself and your family from these illnesses. Remember, you don’t have to go on an exotic trip to get travel vaccinations. Each destination has its own health risks to consider.

How do I know which vaccinations to get?

The best way to know which vaccinations to get is to speak to your Pharmasave pharmacist. They offer personalized travel advice, and are there to help. There are Pharmasave locations that are travel-certified pharmacies and can offer full, comprehensive travel consultations. Ask your local Pharmasave pharmacist today.

Recommended travel vaccines:

Depending on your travel destination, length of trip, nature of trip, and types of activities you have planned, there are recommended vaccines to get before you travel. These vaccinations help protect you from travel-related illnesses that could prevent you from enjoying your adventures. Ensure your travel memories are good memories by getting the recommended travel vaccinations.

Speak to your local Pharmasave pharmacist about which recommended vaccines you need.

Examples of recommended travel vaccines:

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Meningococcal (Meningitis)
  • Typhoid
  • Japanese encephalitis
  • Cholera and traveller’s diarrhea

Required travel vaccines:

Did you know that there are countries that require proof of certain vaccines prior to entry? Do not worry, Pharmasave pharmacists can let you know which countries require proof.

 Examples of required travel vaccines in travel destinations:

  • Yellow fever
  • Meningococcal (Meningitis)
  • Polio

Resource:

Government of Canada Travel vaccinations recommendations and requirements by destination

How to prevent illness when there are no travel vaccines:

Unfortunately, there are travel-related illnesses that do not have vaccinations to prevent them from happening. The good news is there are medications and precautions you can take to help stay healthy while travelling.

Examples of travel-related illnesses that do not have vaccines:

  • Malaria
  • High-altitude sickness
  • Tick bites
  • Food poisoning

Your Pharmasave pharmacist can help you prepare and can provide all the health information you need.

Resources:

What travel vaccines will not prevent
Travel Immunizations

Routine vaccines:

It’s important to keep up to date on your routine vaccinations as well. If you’re not sure if you’re up to date, try our interactive vaccination calculator tool and speak to your Pharmasave pharmacist about your results.

 Examples of recommended routine vaccines:

  • Influenza (Flu)
  • Tetanus and Diphtheria (Td)
  • Pertussis (Whooping cough)
  • Varicella Zoster (Chickenpox)
  • Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

Check out our adult vaccinations page for more information.

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What to do before you travel

Pharmasave is here to help you prepare for your travels and have a great experience wherever your travels take you. There are a few considerations to keep in mind before you start your adventure.

Get vaccinated. Travel vaccinations help protect you and your family members from travel-related illnesses. The risk of getting sick while travelling can depend on various factors, but there are certain risk factors that increase your chances of getting sick such as age, immunization status, length of stay, and type of accommodation.

Tip: There are vaccines that require a series of doses for you to be fully protected. Planning ahead by 6 to 8 weeks helps ensure you have time to receive the appropriate doses before you travel and to accommodate any potential issues, such as appointment times, supply issues, and insurance billing.

Don’t forget to keep your routine vaccinations up to date as well. Visit our adult vaccinations page for more information.

Pack enough medications. It is always a good idea to pack enough of your medications for the duration of the trip and few extra days just in case there are trip delays or interruptions.

While you’re busy having fun doing travel activities or travelling to a different time zone, you may forget to take your medications. Did you know that Pharmasave offers blister packaging services to ensure you’re taking the appropriate medications at the appropriate time? Ask us about our MedAlign medication manager services.

Tip: if you’re bringing items that require refrigeration, such as insulin, check with your airline and hotel about storage, pack icepacks with you, and don’t forget to discuss with your Pharmasave pharmacist about dose adjustments while travelling.

Pack your essential items. Depending on where you’re travelling, what kind of activities you’ll be doing, where you’ll be staying, and who you’re travelling with, there are certain recommended items to pack with you.

For example, if you’re travelling to a sunny, outdoor destination where there’s a risk of bug bites, you should consider packing sunscreen, insect repellent, after-bite and after-burn care. At Pharmasave, we carry a variety of travel items for your convenience.

Packing your medications and essential items in more than one location (checked luggage and carry-on) or only in your carry-on luggage is ideal just in case your checked luggage gets lost or damaged (don’t forget to check the airline for details about liquids/devices).

Learn more about travel prevention tips and advice. You may experience jetlag, altitude sickness, sunburns, heat stroke, or insect bites. Your Pharmasave pharmacist can answer your questions, provide advice, and address your concerns!

Consider getting travel insurance. Purchasing travel insurance helps put your mind at ease knowing you’re covered in case you get sick and require medications or hospitalization in a different country.

Tip: ask us for a printed copy of your prescriptions and don’t forget to have your medications labelled in their original bottles.

Your health, your Pharmasave. We’re here to help.

Click here to access our travel checklist to ensure you have packed everything you need for your next adventure!

Resources:

Government of Canada resource: comprehensive information for travellers

COVID considerations: check with destination location for travel COVID advisories and with Health Canada COVID travel, testing and borders information for your return home.

Last-minute travellers:

There are travel vaccines that require multiple doses for you to be fully protected and they’re required to be given on a specific schedule. However, last-minute travellers may have an option for an accelerated schedule to get partial protection before their travel adventures, an example is the hepatitis A and B vaccine. Ask your Pharmasave pharmacist if you’re eligible for an accelerated schedule. *

*Eligibility depends on type of vaccine and the time you have before you travel.

 Additional Needs:

Are you planning to travel while pregnant, breastfeeding, with young children, or have chronic conditions? There may be special considerations or extra essential items to bring with you. Have a discussion with your local Pharmasave pharmacist and let’s plan together!

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During your travels: General travel health and safety tips

It is important to stay healthy and safe while travelling. Here are a few things to keep in mind and consider before you take off on your travel adventures.

Be cautious of food and water-borne diseases. Each destination has different food and water safety advisories. Always wash your hands with soap and warm, running water, if possible. Or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t readily available. Speak to your Pharmasave pharmacist today about tips to avoid food and water-borne illness.

Want to read more about food and water safety precautions? Check out our travel brochure.

Be aware of insect and tick-borne diseases. Consider wearing light-coloured, long-sleeved, and loose-fitting shirts, using insect-repellent spray, staying in well-screened or enclosed, air-conditioned rooms, or using bug nets.

Resources:

Eat and drink safely abroad
Public Health Agency of Canada’s information on Travel Health: travel health kit
Travel health notices
Travel advice and advisories by destination
Medication on vacation

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After you travel and while you are at home

There may be occasions when you experience symptoms upon your return from a trip. If you don’t feel well after travelling, inform your healthcare provider about where you travelled, what you ate or drank, and your travel activities. Sharing the information will help the healthcare provider identify possible diseases or infections.

Resources:

Government of Canada “if you get sick after travelling
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “after travel tips

Check out our travel brochure for information on travel health and considerations.

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How can Pharmasave pharmacists help?

Pharmasave pharmacists have the knowledge and information to provide advice, tips, and administer travel vaccines, including keeping you up to date on your routine vaccinations.

Check with your local Pharmasave pharmacy to see if they offer comprehensive travel consultations!

Read our travel brochure  to find out more about travel health services Pharmasave offers, how to prevent travel illnesses, types of travel illness and vaccinations, and more.

Head to your local Pharmasave for vaccinations. We can:

  • Assess if you are up to date on routine vaccinations
  • Advise which travel vaccines are recommended and required for destination
  • Administer the vaccinations

Seek out your Pharmasave pharmacist for advice:

  • Travel health advice
  • What types of precautions to take
  • How to prepare before trip, during trip, after trip

Ask us about how to manage your medications while travelling and over-the-counter products:

  • Advice on which over-the-counter products and medications to bring
  • Prescription medication management with our MedAlign@Pharmasave services

Looking for a travel checklist to ensure you packed everything you need? Click here

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