Travel Clinic
A travel clinic is a specialist healthcare service that provides pre-trip vaccinations, advice, and prescriptions for travellers.
A travel clinic is a specialist healthcare service that provides pre-trip vaccinations, advice, and prescriptions for travellers.
Also known as
Travel health clinic, Pre-travel consultation, Travel medicine clinic, Vaccination clinic
Why travellers need to know
A travel clinic visit 4-8 weeks before departure is the single most effective health preparation for international travel. Standard GPs often lack up-to-date knowledge of destination-specific risks, required vaccinations, and prophylaxis options. Travel clinics specialise in exactly this. They also issue the International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card) required for yellow fever.
Real-world example
Six weeks before a 3-month trip across East Africa, you visit a travel clinic. In a single 45-minute appointment, you receive yellow fever and hepatitis A vaccinations, a malaria prophylaxis prescription, and advice on altitude acclimatisation for Kilimanjaro. The consultation costs GBP 40; vaccines and prescriptions are additional.
Country-specific notes
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
NHS provides some travel vaccines free; others are private
Some travel vaccines (hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera) are free on the NHS. Others (yellow fever, rabies, Japanese encephalitis) are only available privately through registered travel clinics. The NaTHNaC website lists NHS and private travel clinics by postcode.
Book 6-8 weeks ahead. Some vaccine courses require multiple doses spread over weeks, and yellow fever certificates need 10 days to become valid.
🇺🇸 United States
Travel clinic consultations: $100-300 plus vaccine costs
US travel clinics charge a consultation fee ($100-300) plus vaccine costs. Many pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens) now offer basic travel vaccines, but complex itineraries benefit from a specialist travel medicine provider. The CDC Yellow Book is the reference standard.
🇦🇺 Australia
Australia has a well-developed travel clinic network — most GP practices offer travel health services but appointments are not bulk-billed
A standard Australian travel health consultation costs AUD 80–150. Specialist travel medicine centres (Travelvax, Travel Doctor) offer more comprehensive services for complex itineraries.
Book at least 6–8 weeks before departure — some vaccine series (Japanese encephalitis, rabies) require multiple doses spaced over several weeks.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I visit a travel clinic?
Ideally 6-8 weeks before travel. Some vaccines require multiple doses over several weeks, and yellow fever certificates need 10 days to become valid. If you're leaving sooner, still go; many vaccinations and prescriptions can be given same-day.
What is the difference between a travel clinic and a regular GP for pre-trip health advice?
A travel clinic specialises in destination-specific health risks, required and recommended vaccinations, antimalarial prescriptions, and altitude or dive medicine. GPs can handle routine vaccinations but may not stock travel-specific vaccines (such as Japanese encephalitis or yellow fever) or have current knowledge of regional disease outbreaks. Travel clinics also issue International Certificates of Vaccination, which some countries require at the border.
Bring your Nomedic record to your travel clinic appointment — your vaccination history and medications are already translated into the language your destination uses.