Can you tell me exactly what travel vaccinations I will need on the phone or via email?
	I know what vaccinations I need, do I have to have a appointment with the travel doctor?
	What will it cost ?
	What to bring to your appointment?
	How long before should I book?
	How long will I have to be at the clinic ?
	What will happen during my visit ?
	Can I go to my family doctor for these vaccines?
	How will I feel ?
	What are the side effects ?

Can you tell me exactly what travel vaccinations I will need on the telephone or via email? 

However, for those of you that do insist, we have a 'Country Report'  on the left hand menu of our website where you can select the country you are travelling to from the CDC website. This will give you a general idea of what you need to consider for your trip.

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I know what vaccinations I need, do I have to have an appointment with the travel doctor?

Yes... or that leaves us potentially liable and open to litigation, and an appointment fee is payable.  Also having travel immunisations 'herd like' without consultation is poor medical practice. 

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What will it cost?

• All prices quoted include GST of 15%
• Single adult appointment  - $90   (~ 30 - 40 mins with travel doctor > travel assistant 15 mins)
• 2 - 4 adults 30 % discount  - $65 each (so bring along your travelling companion)
• 5 + adults - $60 each
• subsequent administration/ appointment fee is $19.50
• If you  require only a malaria or medical kit appointment, the fee per traveller is $35
• If we have seen you before & you are now off to a new destination, the new trip appointment fee is $60 ( $55 each for two travellers)
• We offer special appointment rates for family ( 2+ 3) , groups and junior rates 
• There is no fee for our travellers requesting our doctors advice + assistance while travelling

• The vaccine costs are per dose and separate and will be clearly explained to you 
• Vaccine costs vary in price from $25 to as high as ~ $300 for specialised vaccines like Japanese Encephalitis.
• The Yellow Fever vaccine costs $95, Hepatitis A is $100 and the combination Hepatitis a+B is $105
• Tetanus/Diptheria is $25 (avoid this 2 in 1 combination as no pertussis protection), Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis $50, and the 4 in 1 combination of Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis/Polio is $95
• Some vaccines appear expensive but give you lifelong immunity
• Total approx costs for a first time traveller : appointment + vaccines for a standard trip eg. 14 days to Asia (tetanus, diptheria, pertussis, polio, hepatitis, typhoid) is $250 + 
• 'Off the beaten' track travel may involve more specialised vaccines eg rabies and will increase the total cost of consult + vaccines to ~ $400 +
• If you are still unsure about  vaccine costs, rather have the full travel medicine appointment only, then plan the vaccines for a later date
• If you require a prescription for any medication  the script fee is $15

• We keep our prices as reasonable as possible, yet deliver a high quality travel medicine service to our travellers
• We purchase our travel vaccines in bulk and pass the discounts onto you
• We receive no funding from the government for attending to you or for our staff 
• Your medical insurance company will usually cover the costs of the appointment, however the vaccine costs are not usually covered as they are considered to be preventative !
• We accept Eft pos, Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Cheques - all invoices to be paid on the day
• Our retail products are very competitively priced and can be purchased online 
• All prices quoted are subject to change

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What to bring to your appointment 

• Past vaccination records, ' yellow book ' , plunket book or baby book; any relevant blood test results if available ( if there are any inconsistencies with your prior vaccine records, we will point it out to you and may recommend blood tests)
• Your passport  (or a copy) if you are having the yellow fever vaccine
• Details of your trip itinerary, so we are can advise you for specific areas of risk
• List of all medical conditions and medications
• If you are unsure of previous disease or immunisations, we can request blood tests for immunity  eg. measles, chicken pox and hepatitis ( NB: antibody blood results need to be interpreted in the context of what you may have had or not had in the past). Some blood tests  may be chargeable by the laboratory eg. rabies
• Do try to get to us on time, so we don't have to rush your appointment

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How long before should I book?

• Plan as early as possible, 6- 8 weeks before departure 
• We are currently booked a week in advance and 3 weeks for Saturday appointments
• However, if you are leaving at short notice, remember  'it's never too late to vaccinate' eg hepatitis A  can be administered on your way to the airport and it will be effective !
• Late is better than never, and we will do our best to fit you in
• Feel free to come in anytime, browse, talk to our travel assistants so you know what to expect before you book an appointment with our travel doctor

The earlier the better for good reasons :

• You can better plan what is best for you
• Some vaccination require several doses eg. rabies ( 3 doses)
• Some immunisations take time to give you protection
• Some malaria tablets need to be tested well before your travel
• Minimise any possible side effects while away

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How long will I have to be at the clinic ?

• The first appointment is approx 60 minutes ( travel doctor > travel assistant) 
• If you have any vaccinations at the same time then allow for a further 15 minutes
• Feel free to bring a friend along, however only the booked traveller is advised by the doctor

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What will happen during my visit ?

• You will be received by our staff
• Fill out a comprehensive questionnaire on ‘you, your health, your trip’ which takes approximately 5 minutes to complete
• You will then be advised by the travel doctor ( 30-40 minutes)
• The travel doctor will discuss the issues and risks for your trip eg. food and water, health hazards, altitude,  insects and animals, malaria, dengue, deep vein thrombosis, womens issues, medical kits, travel insurance, safety  and security, and environmental concerns.
• Following this, a personalised vaccination schedule and ' checklist ' is generated for you
• Our philosophy is not to administer vaccinations unless medically necessary, rather discussing the disease risks, weighing the pros and cons with you
• We will recommend what  vaccines you need to protect yourself , you can then decide what vaccines you wish to have depending on your budget and the degree of protection you want
• Please don't commit to a course of vaccines if you cannot complete eg hepatitis A and B
• The vaccines can be administered at the same time by our doctor or at a later date that suits you. We will advise the vaccine combinations and time frame to have the vaccines 
• All vaccines given and blood tests results are documented on the official " International Health Regulation Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis'" - issued by the NZ Ministry of Health
• No vaccines are administered without your signed consent
• After the vaccines are administered , you are advised to wait in the clinic for at least 15 minutes
• Allow 45 – 60 minutes of time for your first visit
• NB: right of admission to our clinic is reserved

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Can I go to my family doctor for travel advice & vaccines? Why should I come to you?

• GP’s usually refer their travellers to a travel clinic.
• At the travel clinic you get specialist advice regarding vaccines, malaria information, insect avoidance measures, medical kits, water filters, compression stockings, deep vein thrombosis, travel insurance etc.
• It is a one-stop shop for healthy and safe products and covers the A - Z of travel health.
• We give you the latest, correct, up to date information (not advice that may be inconsistent )
• We provide you with the official "New Zealand Ministry of Health - International Health Regulations Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis " which you can use for the rest of your travelling life. This certificate is only available at travel clinics.
• You save time and money by not having two travel appointments, and possibly inappropriate immunisations and vaccination dosing schedules.
• Our travel vaccines are very competitively priced and better priced than family medical centres, as we pass our bulk purchase discounts to you
• We send your family doctor a copy of your visits to our travel clinic (once all your vaccines are completed)

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How will I feel ?

• The side effects of modern vaccines are minor
• You do not need to go without food before you have vaccinations or blood tests
• You can do all your usual activities after the immunisations
• Do drink lots of water after vaccinations as side effects are minimised if you are well hydrated, and avoid or reduce alcohol consumption 
• If you don’t feel well after the 'jabs'’, then take it easy

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What are the side effects of the jabs ?

• There is no ‘gain without pain’, eg the tetanus injection may cause a deep lump or redness and hardness that persists for a few weeks (in younger individuals) 
• You can drive, work, gym but best to take it easy on the day of the jabs
• Expect local pain and discomfort which may last for a few days
• The next day you may feel tired, sore body, slight temperature  and may develop tender enlarged glands ( lymph nodes in the armpit or neck )
• Vomiting is highly unlikely due to the vaccines

Drink lots of water, avoid more than your usual alcohol for a day or two, take it easy or rest if you feel queasy. Use an ice pack and an arm sling if you have a red arm and take paracetamol if you have body aches and/or a fever.

If you still feel unwell, please give our doctor a call and we will consult  you at no charge .

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