Travel health consultation in Ireland, from an Irish-registered GP

What a NovaGP travel health consultation covers

A travel health consultation is a video or phone appointment with an Irish-registered GP, focused on your trip. In it, the GP will:

• look at the countries you are visiting and what you plan to do there
• check your health, your medicines and past vaccinations
• tell you which travel vaccines are recommended for your trip
• prescribe antimalarial tablets and other travel medicines where they are suitable
• give you clear advice on staying well while you are away

You leave with a personal plan and any prescriptions sent to your pharmacy, so you know exactly what to do before you fly.

How it works, and what it costs

1. 1

   Book your consultation. Choose a time and complete a short, secure questionnaire about your trip.

2. 2

   Speak to a GP. An Irish-registered GP assesses your destination, health and plans by video or phone.

3. 3

   Get your plan and prescriptions. The GP tells you which vaccines you need and, where suitable, sends prescriptions for antimalarial tablets or other travel medicines to your pharmacy through Healthmail.

4. 4

   Arrange your vaccines. For vaccines given by injection, the GP guides you on where to go, such as a pharmacy or a specialist clinic.

• NovaGP travel health consultation: a fixed €50.
• Vaccines and medicines: charged separately by the pharmacy or clinic that provides them.

The €50 covers the GP's time and advice. A prescription is never guaranteed, and the GP will explain anything that is not suitable for you.

Can this be done online, or do I need an in-person clinic?

Much of travel health can be handled online. A GP can assess your trip, advise you on vaccines, and prescribe antimalarial tablets and other travel medicines without you leaving home. In Ireland, only a doctor can prescribe these, which is what a NovaGP consultation gives you.

What cannot be done online is the injection itself. Vaccines given as a jab, such as hepatitis A or typhoid, must be given in person at a pharmacy or clinic. Yellow fever is a special case and is only given at HSE-approved yellow fever centres. Your GP tells you clearly which parts you can sort online and where to go for the rest.

Which travel vaccines might I need?

The vaccines you need depend on where you go, what you do and how long you stay. Common travel vaccines include:

• Hepatitis A: spread through contaminated food and water, advised for many destinations.
• Typhoid: also linked to food and water, often advised for Asia, Africa and South America.
• Tetanus, diphtheria and polio: a combined booster many travellers need.
• Hepatitis B: for longer trips, healthcare work, or certain activities.
• Rabies: for trips to remote areas, or where contact with animals is likely.
• Yellow fever: required or recommended for parts of Africa and South America, and only given at approved centres.
• Cholera: for some higher-risk trips.

Your GP will tell you which of these apply to you. You do not simply get all of them.

Travel vaccines by destination

This is a general guide only. Your exact needs depend on the countries you visit, your activities, how long you stay and your health.

Your GP gives you a plan for your exact trip, not a one-size-fits-all list.

Antimalarial medicine

Malaria is spread by mosquito bites in many tropical countries and can be serious. There is no vaccine for most travellers, so prevention relies on antimalarial tablets and on avoiding bites.

An Irish-registered GP can prescribe antimalarial tablets online where they are suitable for you. Which tablet is right depends on your destination, your health and your other medicines. Most are started before you travel, taken during the trip, and continued for a period after you return, so it is important to begin in good time. Your GP explains how and when to take them and sends the prescription to your pharmacy.

Yellow fever and rabies

Yellow fever. Some countries in Africa and South America require proof of yellow fever vaccination before you enter, and others recommend it. In Ireland, yellow fever can only be given at HSE-approved yellow fever vaccination centres, which also issue the official certificate. NovaGP does not give this vaccine, but your GP tells you if you need it and points you to an approved centre.

Rabies. For some trips, especially to remote areas or where you may be near animals, a rabies vaccine course is advised. It is given as a series of injections over several weeks, so it needs planning well ahead. Your GP advises whether it is worth it for your trip.

When should I book?

Book your travel health consultation as early as you can, ideally four to six weeks before you travel. This leaves time for vaccines that need more than one dose, and for antimalarial tablets to be started at the right time.

If your trip is sooner than that, it is still worth having the consultation. A GP can often still help with last-minute advice, antimalarial tablets and the vaccines that can be arranged quickly.

Travel health advice beyond vaccines

Staying healthy abroad is about more than vaccines. Your GP can advise on:

• Food and water safety: avoiding stomach upsets from unsafe food and water.
• Insect bite protection: repellents, covering up and nets, which also help prevent malaria.
• Sun and heat: staying safe in strong sun and hot climates.
• Altitude: planning for trips to high ground.
• Road and personal safety: simple steps that prevent the most common travel problems.
• A travel first aid kit: what is worth bringing with you.

When you return

If you feel unwell after travelling, especially with a fever, see a doctor and tell them where you have been. Some illnesses, including malaria, can appear days or even weeks after you return, so your travel history helps the doctor find the cause quickly.