You’ve bought your plane ticket, booked accommodation and got your passport ready, but have you checked if you need any vaccinations or medications ahead of your overseas trip?

No one likes getting sick, especially on holidays. The reality is that overseas travel can expose you to serious diseases typically not seen in Australia.

Health risks vary between countries and can change over time. It is important before any overseas trip to check that you’re up to date with routine vaccinations, and whether you need others that are specific to the regions you are travelling to.

 If you're heading overseas soon, it's recommended to talk to your GP or a travel clinic before you depart.

6 things to do before your travel

• Check if you need vaccines or medications (6–12 weeks ahead).
• Download a copy of your Immunisation History Statement.
• Book a GP or travel clinic visit.
• Pack a basic medical kit including items such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, bandaids, alcohol based santiser/anti-bacterial wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium, insect repellent and any prescription medications you are taking.
• Double check vaccine or entry rules for your destination.
• Organise travel insurance.

It’s recommended that you talk to your GP or a travel clinic around 6-12 weeks before you travel to allow time to:

• receive any required vaccinations
• complete multiple doses if needed
• build immunity before starting your travels.

Why see a doctor or travel clinic before travel?

Even if you feel well, a pre-travel check-up is one of the best ways to ensure you stay healthy overseas.

A doctor or travel clinic can provide health advice about:

• the countries you are visiting
• your planned activities whilst overseas
• any previous vaccination history
• pregnancy and travel.

Travel clinics and GPs can advise on how to protect yourself from diseases that may pose a risk at your destination, including vaccine-preventable diseases such as:

• Measles
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Yellow fever
• Rabies
• Typhoid
• Cholera
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Tetanus

Some of these diseases can lead to severe health consequences, potentially requiring hospital care, or in some cases be fatal. Others, like measles, are highly infectious and can spread quickly among unvaccinated people.

Travellers can unknowingly bring home diseases that are preventable with vaccination. This poses risks to themselves, their families and communities.

Seeing a doctor before you travel could save you from having to find a pharmacy or doctor in a foreign country, which can be difficult if you’re unwell and even harder if there’s a language barrier. It could also help you avoid an expensive overseas hospital stay.

Prevention is much better than cure, so it pays to be proactive about your health.

What vaccines may be recommended prior to travel?

Vaccine recommendations can vary based on your travel destination and personal health, in addition to seasonal or location-specific disease outbreaks. Always seek current advice from your GP or travel clinic.

Vaccines that may be recommended include those needed for travel, along with any updates to your routine immunisations, such as:

• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Pertussis
• Polio
• Pneumococcal disease
• Meningococcal disease
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Yellow fever
• Cholera
• Japanese encephalitis
• Rabies
• Tuberculosis
• Typhoid fever
• Influenza
• COVID-19

How do I check my vaccination history?

You can access your Immunisation History Statement online via the Medicare app or MyGov.

This includes all vaccines recorded in the Australian Immunisation Register since 1996.

Even if you were vaccinated as a child, immunity to some diseases can wane over time.

If you're unsure what vaccines you've had, your doctor can help you work out what you may need.

What can happen if I don’t get vaccinated?

Travelling to areas with disease risks without appropriate vaccination can lead to serious illness or hospitalisation.

Travel insurance may not cover medical costs if you haven’t followed vaccination advice.

Some countries or airlines also require proof of certain vaccinations, like yellow fever. Always check entry requirements before you travel.

Vaccination helps protect you, your travel companions, and the broader community when you return to Australia.

 No one likes getting sick on holidays. Getting recommended vaccinations before you travel could mean you avoid a trip to a doctor or emergency department.

Do I need travel vaccinations?

Depending on where you're travelling, your doctor may also recommend medications to prevent illnesses such as malaria or altitude sickness.

Some medications, like anti-malarias, may need to be taken before, during, and after your trip to be effective. It's important to discuss this early as part of your pre-travel plan.

If you take regular medication, ask your doctor for a letter listing what you’re taking, why you need it, and the generic drug names. Check local laws as some countries restrict certain medications.

Always carry medicines in their original packaging and take enough to last your whole trip.

What else can I do to stay safe?

Diseases you might be exposed to while overseas can spread in different ways, through the air (like measles), contaminated food or water (like hepatitis A or typhoid), or mosquito bites (like dengue or malaria).

Vaccination is the best protection, but there are other important steps you can take to stay healthy while travelling:

• Wear a mask in crowded places like airports or public transport.
• Drink bottled or treated water.
• Avoid raw or undercooked food.
• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• Use insect repellent.
• Wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing to reduce mosquito bites.
• Sleep under a mosquito net if staying somewhere without screens or air-conditioning.

You should also avoid contact with wild or stray animals, even if they seem friendly. Rabies is a life-threatening disease that can be spread through bites or scratches. It is present in many countries, and access to vaccines or treatment may be limited. Talk to your doctor or travel clinic if you’re going somewhere where rabies is a risk.

If you get a fever while you're overseas or after you return, see a doctor and tell them where you've been, even if your symptoms are mild.

Where can I find more information?

Visit the Queensland Health website for health information and precautions, and up to date health alerts. You can also visit www.smartraveller.gov.au for destination-specific travel health advice.

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from illness while travelling. Don’t leave it too late, speak to your doctor or travel clinic as early as possible before you travel.