PEOPLE now travel more and visit more interesting destinations for business and recreation and they also now have many more options in travel vaccinations, immunisations and medications. The speciality of travel medicine has evolved in the last 20 years to help travellers understand their options and make appropriate choices to stay healthy.

Before you depart for points north, south, east, or west, be prepared. It requires more than just packing your suitcase and toting your passport.

With a bit of preparation, you and your loved ones can better prepare for any healthcare issue that you may encounter. When you spend money and invest time on your trip - you don't want to waste days being sick. Get the best advice you can from your GP and prepare wisely.

Before you go

Whether you need vaccinations, a repeat prescription or insect bite treatment, don't forget about your health as you prepare to travel.

"It is important that patients speak with their doctor about the trip, be it six to eight weeks in advance or even two days prior about specific health risks related to their allergy, vaccination and medical history. This is especially important if a patient has a known condition," says occupational health specialist Dr Alagendran.

"Make sure your vaccinations are up to date and that you check whether you need any extra vaccines by discussing your itinerary with you GP or healthcare provider and get the necessary recommendations for vaccines and medications you need to stay healthy when you travel," he adds.

Determine your vaccination needs and get the appropriate immunisation.

Business travellers are finding themselves at increased risk of contracting diseases like yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis A, pneumonia and influenza. It makes business sense to mitigate unnecessary risks. Companies and business travellers can best deal with international travel health-related issues with proper immunisation, medications and personalised health counselling before travelling.

"Don't be fooled by 'No one got sick the last time we travelled there.'" The immunisation cost is a fraction of what it will cost if just one person becomes sick or injured. Nobody is immune to all travellers' health problems," says James Pereira, from Sanofi Pasteur Malaysia.

Travelling to the less-developed tropical parts of the world often presents a range of serious hazards. The sanitation, food preparation and healthcare will be sub-standard to what you are familiar with at home. Even the most careful traveller can become ill, especially mission and volunteer travellers, children, older travellers, and those who already have some weakness in their immune system.

Your specific travel vaccination choices depend on your destination, duration and type of travel and accommodations, your age, vaccination and health history, tolerance for risk and your budget.

What vaccination and immunisation do you really need?

"What shots do I need to go to Brazil, Nepal etc?" This is the most common question we hear when travellers are preparing for their trip.

No matter where you are travelling, you should be educated about the environment you'll be visiting. Hepatitis A and typhoid fever are in more places than you think, especially if you are travelling to developing countries and the Asian region. Learn about the health risks that may be present at your chosen travel destination.

Once you've assessed your risk, explore websites such as www.who.int that offer general recommendations and learn important steps you can take to help keep yourself safe, healthy and protected when you travel.

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