Patient Information

About Your Clinic Visit

We need to work out exactly what you need for your trip, and in order to do that, it is best that you make an appointment to see the Travel Doctor.

What you will need will depend on where you are going, style of accomodation, activities while you are there, your past medical history, allergies, and a range of other factors that are best discussed during your consultation.

Please allow 45-60 minutes for your consultation, and you will need to bring:

• Past vaccination records
  
• Details of your trip itinerary
  
• Names of any medications you take regularly or intermittently
  

Past Vaccination Records

If you have an international vaccination record book, please bring it with you. You may need to contact your doctor to ask for a written vaccination record. You will be issued with an international vaccination record book during your consultation with TMVC.

How Long Do Vaccinations Last?

The table below outlines the usual duration of protection once the vaccination course is complete. For some vaccines, the duration of protection is uncertain.

		Cholera (certificate)	6 months
		Diphtheria	10 years
		Flu vaccine (Fluvax)	1 year
		Hepatitis A (Vaqta / Havrix/Twinrix)	10 years ?longer
		Hepatitis A (G Glob) 2mls	3 months
		Hepatitis A (G Glob) 5mls	6 months
		Hepatitis B (HBVax II/Engerix B/Twinrix)	10 years
		Japanese B Encephalitis	3 years
		Measles, Mumps, Rubella	?15 years ?life
		Meningitis (Menomune/Mencevax)	1-3 years
		Pneumonia (Pneumovax)	?5 years ?Life
		Polio (Sabin)	10 years
		Rabies (pre exposure)	2-3 years
		Tetanus	5-10 years
		Typhoid (Typhim Vi)	3 years
		Typhoid capsules x 3	1 year
		Typhoid capsules x 4	5 years
		Typhoid (original injection)	3 years
		Yellow Fever	10 years

What Are The Likely Side Effects?

These days, vaccines cause fewer problems than in the past. On the day of vaccination, most people can work, drive a car, play sport or go to the gym, but it is best to 'take it easy'. Modern vaccines do not leave a scar.

1. Fainting

The people most likely to faint are 20-29 year old men of above average height, receiving a Tetanus or ADT vaccine plus another vaccine. If you have a history of fainting after injections, make sure you tell the doctor. You will need to lie down during vaccination and for up to ten minutes afterwards.

2. Allergic reactions (Anaphylaxis)

Allergic reactions are rare but may be very serious. After vaccinations, notify your doctor immediately if you feel:

Symptoms usually develop within 30 minutes of vaccination, (hence the need to wait in the clinic after receiving certain vaccines esp Yellow Fever). Occasionally allergic symptoms occur up to 10 days later (esp Japanese Encephalitis). If you develop one or more of the above symptoms within 10 days, immediately call your doctor or go to the nearest casualty department or well equipped medical centre.

Persons with allergies to eggs cannot have vaccines against yellow fever, flu, and sometimes measles/mumps/rubella. Travellers with penicillin allergy can be vaccinated safely.

3. Sore, red arm

Usually vaccinations cause nothing more serious than a sore arm for a few days. If you keep your arm moving, it will help ease the soreness. The ADT injection may cause a deep lump or hardness which persists for a few weeks. If your arm is red, hot and/or sore, place an ice pack over the affected area. You may take paracetamol. Intradermal vaccines (e.g. rabies) may cause itchiness at the injection site and a small surface lump which may persist for weeks.

4. Fevers and feeling sick

Yellow fever vaccine may cause a slight fever, headache, tiredness, and muscle aches in 2-10% of persons, starting 3-9 days after vaccination. MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) may cause a fever in 5-15% of persons, starting 5-12 days after vaccination, along with a temporary rash in 5% persons. The old typhoid/cholera combination made many persons feel very 'unwell'. Most of the new 'dead' vaccines do not generally cause fevers. The flu vaccine is 'dead' and cannot cause you to develop the flu. If you develop a fever or become unwell after vaccination, call the doctor who gave you the vaccines.

5. Diarrhoea or stomach problems

The oral typhoid (capsules) may cause mild to moderate nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhoea within 12-24 hours after taking each capsule. If symptoms are more severe after the second capsule, call your doctor.

Will vaccines weaken my immune system?

Careful investigations have shown absolutely no evidence for any 'weakening'. The vaccines are a 'drop in the bucket' compared to what one's immune system is exposed to every day. A little bit of 'exercise' is probably very good for the immune system. Vaccinations are only recommended when the risk of the disease is far greater than that of the vaccine.

What if I have a cold?

It is safe to be vaccinated while you have a bit of a runny nose, sore throat or cough. Delay vaccination if you have a fever over 39°C or if you are sick enough to be in bed.

Can I drink alcohol after vaccines?

If you are having Japanese Encephalitis vaccine, you must avoid 'more than your usual' alcohol for 48 hours after each dose. If taking typhoid capsules, alcohol (or food) must not be taken within a few hours of each capsule. However it is OK to have alcohol in the 48 hours after other vaccinations - however, stay under the legal limit - approximately one standard drink per hour.

The myth about "no alcohol after receiving vaccines" may have begun this way... Apparently army recruits used to be given numerous vaccines and then be given a day off to recover...and what did the army recruits do when they had the day off? They went to the pub and got drunk and obnoxious, so the army advised them not to drink any alcohol for 48 hours after their vaccines.