Health is a key pillar of any trip. When you’re heading far from home, sometimes for several months, planning ahead for your medical needs becomes essential. Between check-ups, required vaccines and more, here’s a guide to help you travel with peace of mind.
- General practitioner: for an overall check-up, renewing prescriptions and anticipating your needs.
- Dentist: better to treat a cavity before you fly!
- Ophthalmologist: essential if you wear glasses or contact lenses (bring a spare pair).
- Gynaecologist / other specialists: depending on your personal medical follow-up.
Get a full medical check-up before you leave
Before any long trip, it’s strongly recommended to see your usual doctors. Why does it matter?
- Catch and treat any health issue ahead of time.
- Update your vaccines.
- Get the certificates or prescriptions your travel insurance may require.
Travel vaccines: plan as far ahead as possible
Some vaccines are mandatory or strongly recommended depending on your destination. They often need to be done several weeks before departure (sometimes in several doses). Common examples: yellow fever (mandatory for some countries in Africa and South America), hepatitis A and B, typhoid, rabies (depending on the region).
Useful resources: your country’s international-vaccination centre, or a dedicated travel clinic near you.
Tip
Book your appointment as early as possible – some vaccination centres have several weeks of waiting time.
Prevent malaria and tropical diseases
In some regions, preventive treatment against malaria may be prescribed. Your doctor can also advise you on mosquito protection (mosquito net, repellents, long clothing) and food/water-related health risks (traveller’s diarrhoea, cholera, etc.).
Travel-medicine websites can also give you tailored advice on vaccines and other recommendations based on your itinerary.
Prevention is always better than cure!
Put together a travel first-aid kit
A well-thought-out kit saves you a lot of stress on the road. It should include:
- First aid: plasters, disinfectant, gauze, healing cream.
- Everyday health: painkillers (paracetamol, ibuprofen), anti-diarrhoeals, antihistamines.
- Travel: motion-sickness treatment, saline solution, water-purification tablets.
- Tropics: mosquito repellent, high-protection sunscreen, burn ointment.
Your doctor can adapt the kit to your medical history and destination.
Health insurance and medical follow-up
Don’t leave without checking your travel insurance: medical costs, hospitalisation, repatriation. These guarantees are essential, especially outside Europe where costs can be very high. Also keep your prescriptions, useful phone numbers (24/7 medical assistance, embassies, consulates) and a digital copy of your medical records.
Plan B
Always carry your travel insurance’s assistance number, the address of the nearest embassy or consulate, and a copy of your vaccination record.