Why see a pharmacist before you travel?
Health risks change the moment you cross a border: different diseases, different food and water, different access to care. A travel consultation is a structured review of where you are going, what you will be doing and your own health, so you leave with a plan instead of guesswork. Our pharmacists hold Additional Prescribing Authorization from the Alberta College of Pharmacy, which means they can assess you, prescribe travel medication and give vaccines in a single visit.
What your consultation covers
- Destination risk review: your countries, regions, season of travel, length of stay and the type of trip (resort, backpacking, rural work, visiting family) all change what you need.
- Vaccine check-up: we review your routine vaccines (tetanus-diphtheria, measles, hepatitis B, flu) and recommend the travel vaccines that fit your itinerary.
- Preventive prescriptions: malaria prevention, a standby antibiotic for traveller’s diarrhea, altitude sickness medication and motion sickness treatment, prescribed where appropriate.
- Your health and medications: we check that your regular medications travel well, help you plan enough supply and flag anything that interacts with travel drugs.
- Practical advice: food and water safety, insect bite prevention, sun and heat, travel insurance considerations and what to do if you get sick abroad.
- A written summary of what you received and what to do next, including any second doses.
Travel vaccines we provide
Hepatitis A
Spread by contaminated food and water. Recommended for most destinations in Asia, Africa, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
1 dose before travel; a second dose 6–12 months later gives long-term protection.
Hepatitis B
Spread through blood and body fluids, including medical or dental care abroad. Often given combined with hepatitis A.
2–3 doses; accelerated schedules exist for last-minute trips.
Typhoid
Food- and water-borne. Advised for South Asia and many parts of Africa and Latin America, especially for longer stays or visiting family.
1 injection, about 2 weeks before travel; an oral option is also available.
Rabies (pre-exposure)
For trips to rural areas, long stays, cycling or trekking, work with animals, and children who may not report a bite.
A short series over 1–4 weeks; simplifies treatment if you are bitten.
Japanese encephalitis
Mosquito-borne, in rural parts of Asia. Recommended for stays of a month or more, or shorter trips with lots of outdoor rural exposure in the transmission season.
2 doses, 7–28 days apart.
Meningococcal
Required for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, and advised for parts of sub-Saharan Africa in the dry season.
1 dose; proof of vaccination may be needed at entry.
Cholera & traveller’s diarrhea (oral)
An oral vaccine that offers some protection against cholera and the most common cause of traveller’s diarrhea, for high-risk destinations or travellers.
2 oral doses, finished at least 1 week before travel.
Routine boosters
Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), polio, flu and COVID-19 are often the most important travel vaccines of all.
We check your record and update what is due.
Yellow fever: some countries in Africa and South America require proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry. This vaccine is only given at designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres. We tell you whether your destination needs it and where to get it, and fit everything else around that appointment.
Prescription medication for your trip
- Malaria prevention: if your destination has malaria risk, we choose the right preventive tablets for the region, your health and the length of your trip, and explain exactly when to start and stop.
- Traveller’s diarrhea: a self-treatment plan with oral rehydration advice and, where appropriate, a standby antibiotic to carry with you.
- Altitude sickness: for trips above about 2,500 m, such as Cusco, La Paz, Kilimanjaro or Everest Base Camp, preventive medication and an ascent plan.
- Motion sickness, sleep and jet lag: practical options for long flights, cruises and time-zone changes.
When to book
- 8 weeks before you leave is ideal. Some vaccines need two doses, and most take 1–2 weeks to protect you.
- 3–6 weeks out still works well. Typhoid, hepatitis A, routine boosters and malaria tablets can all be started in this window.
- Leaving within 2 weeks? Please call the pharmacy rather than booking online, so we can fit you in sooner and plan what is still possible: accelerated schedules, standby medication and advice.
What it costs
Travel consultations and travel vaccines are not covered by Alberta Health. There is a consultation fee, and vaccines and prescriptions are charged separately. Many private and employer health plans reimburse travel vaccines, and we give you an itemized receipt. We go through the costs with you before anything is given, and nothing is paid online.
Your travel health kit
We can put together a kit matched to your trip: oral rehydration salts, an anti-diarrheal, pain and fever relief, antihistamines, insect repellent with DEET or icaridin, a broad-spectrum sunscreen, blister and wound care, and hand sanitizer. Bring your regular prescriptions in their original containers, with a copy of the prescription for anything controlled.
When you get back
A fever in the weeks or months after visiting a malaria area is an emergency until proven otherwise: seek care right away and say where you travelled. For diarrhea that lasts more than a few days, a rash, or anything that worries you, talk to our pharmacist and we will advise you or refer you to a doctor.
Questions
Do I need a doctor’s referral for a travel consultation?
No. Our prescribing pharmacists can assess you, prescribe travel medication and give vaccines. Book online or call the pharmacy.
How far in advance should I book?
Eight weeks before departure is ideal, and three to six weeks still works well, because some vaccines need more than one dose and most take 1 to 2 weeks to work. If you leave within two weeks, please call the pharmacy instead of booking online so we can fit you in sooner.
Is a travel consultation covered by Alberta Health?
No. Travel consultations and travel vaccines are a private service in Alberta. Many private and employer health plans reimburse travel vaccines; we provide an itemized receipt.
Can my children come to the same appointment?
Yes. Tell us how many people are travelling when you book, or book one consultation per adult if you prefer. Children’s vaccine schedules differ, so we review each person.
Do you give the yellow fever vaccine?
Yellow fever vaccine is only available at designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres. We check whether your destination requires it, tell you where to get it, and provide everything else your trip needs.
