Visit a doctor - pre-departure: General Travel Health Visit a doctor or travel clinic 4 to 8 weeks before departure, since in general vaccines do not produce immunity until at least two weeks after they’re given.
Request an International Certificate of Vaccination (known as "the yellow booklet") this will list the vaccinations you’ve received. This document is mandatory for countries requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination upon entry (in certain circumstances also required in Australia).
It’s sensible to carry a record of your vaccinations wherever you travel.
Prescribed medications should be in their original, clearly labelled containers with an accompanying, dated letter from your doctor, describing your medical conditions and medications, including generic names.
If you require syringes/needles, make sure you carry a doctor’s letter, documenting their medical necessity.
Travel Health Insurance Check you have adequate travel health insurance and find out if your insurance cover will make payments directly to providers or reimburse you later for overseas health costs. In Australia doctors expect payment at the time of consultation. If you do receive medical treatment, get an itemised receipt detailing the service and keep contact details for the health provider.
Vaccinations Proof of yellow fever vaccination is only required from travellers entering Australia within six days of having stayed overnight or longer in a yellow fever-infected country. You will find a full list of these countries on the:
World Health Organisation website: www.who.int/wer Centres for Disease Control and Prevention website: www.cdc.gov/travel/blusheet.htm Visit the Travel Medical and Vaccination Centre No other health certificates are needed to enter Australia.http://www.tmvc.com.au Recommended Vaccinations There are a few vaccinations you could consider for Australia if you are particularly concerned about travel health. The World Health Organisation recommends that all travellers should be covered for tetanus, measles, mumps, diphtheria, rubella, polio and chickenpox, as well as hepatitis B, regardless of their destination.
Medical Kit It is essential to take a medical kit with you on your trip. Ready made kits are usually available from specialist trekking/travel stores as well as many pharmacies. Why not order your travel medical kit via online store Extras 4 travel, www.extra4travel.com Tropical Ear One thing to watch out for in the hot and humid north is tropical ear, a very painful fungal infection of the ear canal. Treatment is with ear drops and if you think you might be susceptible, use them anyway after getting wet.
Health Services Doctors and dentists are highly trained and hospitals are well equipped. The national health-care scheme, Medicare , offers a reciprocal arrangement - free essential health-care - for citizens of the UK, New Zealand, Italy, Malta, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden. This free treatment is limited to public hospitals and casualty departments (though the ambulance ride to get you there isn’t covered); at GPs you pay up front (about $40 minimum) with two-thirds of your fee reimbursed by Medicare. The whole process is made easier by the production of a Medicare Card , available from any Medicare Centre. Anyone eligible who’s staying in Australia for a while - particularly those on extended working holidays - is advised to obtain one. Dental treatment is not included: if you find yourself in need of dental treatment in one of the larger cities, try the dental hospital, where dental students may treat you cheaply or for free.
For general health information while in Australia, check out the website www.travmed.com.au Customs and Health Controls There are strict customs and health controls on entering and leaving the country, and Australian law can inflict severe penalties on health infringements. Australia reserves the right to isolate any person who arrives without the required certificates. All arriving aircraft are sprayed before disembarkation to prevent the spread of disease-carrying insects.
Quarantine Arrangements When entering Australia, it’s vital that you declare on your Incoming Passenger Card any food, live plants and animals and any items made from wood, plants or animals. Quarantine officers use detector dog teams, X-ray machines and random baggage checks to detect undeclared quarantine items. More quarantine information for travellers is available on the Australia Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) web site: www.aqis.gov.au
