Travel Clinic Cool

I was to receive three needles and, spying the suckers, I thought: why wait?

It’s kind of cool, a travel clinic. The waiting room is packed with soon-to-be travelers — adventurous souls heading to exotic locales. And, for the first time, I was one of them.

I’ve had Hep A and Heb B shots in a previous year but my upcoming trip to India is the first to require a visit to a real travel clinic. A rite of passage, if you’ll allow the pun.

What to expect at a travel clinic.

Now, my experience is limited to one clinic but I believe they did a pretty good job so I think it’s worth sharing the experience.

When I checked in at the front desk they asked me where I was going. While I filled out forms with my medical history, the receptionist put together a package for my specific destination. I leave for India tomorrow. One destination is simple but I’m sure that other patients have more complicated packages.

Next I was called in to have my file reviewed by a nurse. She asked for my specific destinations in India which she checked on a map for the diseases that I would be vulnerable to in those locales. Yes, going with your itinerary mapped out is a good idea.

Then, it was to the doctor’s office. He reviewed my plans and the medications that the nurse was suggesting. For some reason, I was born with only one kidney so this is something I highlighted to the doctor. He did extra research on the possible medications and any considerations they may have for kidney function before finalizing what I would take. Here’s what I got and what it cost.

There were maps all over the place showing diseases all over the world.

• $69.00 – Doctor’s Consultation fee (travel medicine advice is not covered by health insurance in Canada)
• $56.79 – Doxycyline
• $89.98 – Dukoral – 2 doses
• $29.55 – Zithromax
• $69.98 – Typhim IV
• $00.00 – Poliiomyelitis (covered by the government health plan)
• $   4.50 – Immunization card

I left the travel clinic $319.80 poorer but much more secure that I would travel healthy.

The travel clinic’s recommended packing list.

Being prepared for medical issues by taking advance precautions and carrying the right things on you is particularly important for the solo traveler. I went to the Travel Vaccine Clinic in Toronto. Here’s their medical packing checklist.

• Travel Health Booklet
• Pain Reliever/Aspirin
• Cold Medicines
• Contact Lens Items
• Medic Alert Bracelet
• Eye Drops
• Diarrhea Medicine (Pepto-Bismol)
• Altitude Sickness Pills
• Jet lag Pills
• Allergy Medication
• Antacids
• Nasal Spray
• Laxative
• Insect Repellent
• Sun Screen
• Sunburn Relief
• Antibiotic Medication/Cream
• Malaria Medication
• Motion Sickness Medicine
• Birth Control

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