Planning a holiday, business trip, or long-haul adventure abroad? Whether you’re heading to tropical destinations, high-altitude locations, or remote areas, your health should always be part of your travel checklist. A visit to a London travel clinic is one of the most important things you can do to prepare. At Eltham Pharmacy Travel Clinic, we’re here to help you travel safely and confidently.

We’ve created a simple and practical pre-travel checklist to guide you through what you need to do before your trip, including why visiting a travel clinic matters and what services you can expect.

✅ 1. Check the Entry Requirements for Your Destination

Before you book anything else, check the official government travel advice for your destination. Some countries require proof of certain vaccinations, such as Yellow Fever or COVID-19, as part of their entry requirements.

• –> Visit gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

• –> Check if any vaccines are mandatory or recommended

• –> Look for advice on malaria, altitude sickness, or local disease outbreaks

A London travel clinic like ours can help you interpret this advice and make personalised recommendations based on your itinerary and health history.

✅ 2. Book Your Travel Clinic Appointment in Advance

Some vaccines require more than one dose, and others take time to become fully effective. Ideally, book your appointment at least 6–8 weeks before travel, especially if you’re visiting high-risk destinations.

At Eltham Pharmacy, our travel health consultations include:

• –> A review of your current vaccines and medical history

• –> Destination-specific health risk assessments

• –> Advice on any preventative medications you may need (e.g. malaria tablets)

• –> A full plan of recommended or required vaccinations

We also offer evening and weekend appointments, ideal for busy London schedules.

✅ 3. Make Sure Your Routine Vaccinations Are Up to Date

Before you focus on travel-specific jabs, it’s important to ensure your routine UK vaccinations are up to date. This includes:

• –> Tetanus, diphtheria, and polio (usually combined in one injection)

• –> MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)

• –> COVID-19 boosters

• –> Flu vaccine, especially if travelling during flu season

Your London travel clinic visit is the perfect opportunity to catch up on any missing doses or boosters.

✅ 4. Know Which Travel Vaccines You Might Need

Depending on your destination, you may need one or more of the following vaccines:

• –> Hepatitis A and B

• –> Typhoid

• –> Yellow Fever (we are a certified Yellow Fever vaccination centre)

• –> Rabies

• –> Japanese Encephalitis

• –> Cholera

• –> Meningitis ACWY

We tailor your vaccinations based on where you’re going, how long you’re staying, the activities you’ll be doing, and your personal risk level. For example, a business trip to a city might carry different risks than a backpacking trek through rural regions.

✅ 5. Consider Preventative Medication

Vaccines aren’t the only protection you might need when travelling. Your London travel clinic can also prescribe or supply:

• –> Malaria tablets for at-risk areas, with clear guidance on when to start, stop, and what to do if you miss a dose

• –> Altitude sickness prevention for high-altitude destinations like Peru or Nepal

• –> Traveller’s diarrhoea packs that include rehydration sachets, anti-diarrhoeals, and advice on food safety

We also offer mosquito repellents, water purification tablets, and other essentials right here in the pharmacy.

✅ 6. Plan for Any Long-Term Health Needs Abroad

If you take regular medication, don’t forget to:

• –> Bring enough for your entire trip (plus a few extra days in case of delays)

• –> Request a repeat prescription letter if you’re carrying controlled drugs or injecting medication

• –> Carry your medicine in its original packaging and bring a copy of your prescription

Our pharmacy team can provide travel letters to help with customs and airline security checks if needed.

✅ 7. Get Personalised Travel Health Advice

Every traveller is different. You may have existing conditions such as diabetes, asthma, or allergies that need special consideration while abroad. At Eltham Pharmacy, we provide:

• –> Individual risk assessments

• –> Advice for pregnant travellers

• –> Tips for managing chronic illness in hot or humid climates

• –> Guidance on avoiding altitude sickness, heat stroke, or food-borne illness

Because we’re a London travel clinic based within a community pharmacy, you get both accessibility and professional medical support in one place.

✅ 8. Don’t Forget Post-Travel Care

If you return home feeling unwell (especially with fever, diarrhoea, or unusual symptoms), don’t ignore it. Some tropical diseases can present symptoms weeks after travel.

Let your GP or pharmacist know where you’ve been, and we can help arrange further tests or specialist referrals if needed.

Book Your Travel Health Appointment at Eltham Pharmacy

Whether it’s a family holiday, business trip, or once-in-a-lifetime backpacking adventure, visiting a London travel clinic before you go is one of the most important things you can do for your health.

Book your travel health consultation today or contact Eltham Pharmacy and enjoy expert advice, convenient service, and comprehensive protection, all in one local, trusted clinic.

This blog was written on behalf of Eltham Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor.