Nowadays, more people are able to visit countries in all corners of the Earth because they have greater spending power and lower traveling costs. The number of worldwide air travelers has been increasing every year. From 4.1 billion in 2005, the figure has risen to about 5.2 billion in 2010 and it’s forecasted to reach almost 9.1 billion in 2025. With budget airlines and budget accommodations, people can afford to go almost everywhere they wish. Perhaps, you are planning a vacation to a faraway country in South Africa, Asia, Africa or Europe? Well, the most important thing is to make early preparations and plan your trip as meticulously as possible. In the haste to get the best air ticket deal and the best accommodation, sometimes, people neglect the most important thing, which is health. This is the main reason why it’s best that you visit a travel clinic before you embark on your journey.
Peace of Mind
Whether you are traveling for pleasure or business, it’s essential to have good health. When you visit a travel clinic, you will have the peace of mind that you will not be infected by the various diseases found in the foreign country. Many people travel to Peru to experience wonderful attractions like the Machu Picchu, Nazca, Colca Canyon, Inca Trail, Batan Grande, and Huacachina. Imagine traveling all the way to Peru, all ready to enjoy the vacation of your life when without warning, you contract malaria, which may be a deadly disease. To be treated, you will have to be hospitalized, and even after you recover, it’s doubtful that you will want to continue the journey because your enthusiasm may be gone. If you are traveling with your family or friends, they will be worried and the entire trip will be a grand disaster. Is it worth it? Malaria is preventable with just a prescription antimalarial drug. In Peru, there’s also the risk of yellow fever, rabies, typhoid, hepatitis B, and others. There are various health risks for travelers to each different country so it’s best to pay a visit to a travel vaccination clinic to find out more.
Vaccinations
One of the main reasons why people go to travel clinics is to get the necessary vaccinations. In some African and South American countries, travelers are required to get yellow fever vaccination before they are allowed to enter the countries. If you are traveling to these countries, the travel doctor will recommend that you get yellow fever immunization because it’s the best way to prevent the disease, which can be life-threatening. Other diseases which can be prevented with vaccines are hepatitis A & B, European tick-borne encephalitis, typhoid, influenza, cholera, polio, Japanese encephalitis, and rabies. Travelers are advised to be up-to-date with their routine shots such as MMR vaccine, DPT vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, and so on. It’s best to visit a travel clinic at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to departure to the foreign country.