Canadian Immunization Week (April 26 – May 2) is a good moment to check in on something travellers often leave until the last minute: whether your vaccinations are actually up to date.
Travel introduces variables that routine life doesn’t. Disrupted sleep, new food and water, long flights, and unfamiliar environments all place demands on your immune system. And when you cross borders, the disease landscape changes in ways that catch people off guard.
Start With the Basics
Before thinking about destination-specific vaccines, the most important question is whether your routine immunizations are current. Measles is one of the clearest examples of what can happen when they’re not and what many people don’t know about measles goes well beyond the rash.
Part of the challenge is that Canada’s vaccine records are fragmented across provinces, systems, and healthcare providers. Many people genuinely don’t know their own immunization status. Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has been making the case for a national vaccine registry, a gap that affects both public health responses and individual travellers trying to confirm their records before departure.
Shingles: The Overlooked Item on the Pre-Travel Checklist
For travellers over 50, shingles deserves serious attention before any trip. The physical stress of travel can be a trigger for reactivation of the dormant virus that causes it. We’ve covered shingles and travel in full, including what protection looks like and what the stakes are if you skip it.
Destination-Specific Vaccines
Routine immunizations are the foundation, but international travel often requires additional vaccines tied to specific regions and activities. Our guide to essential vaccinations for international travellers walks through the full picture, from hepatitis A and typhoid to yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and rabies.
Vaccines Available at Destinations Travel Clinic
Our clinic offers a comprehensive range of vaccines and travel health services to keep you protected wherever you’re headed:
- Yellow Fever
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Twinrix (Hepatitis A & B)
- Typhoid
- Meningitis
- Rabies
- Japanese Encephalitis
- Chikungunya
- HPV
- Shingles
- Tetanus & Diphtheria
- Pertussis
- Polio
- Measles (MMR)
- Influenza
- RSV
- Prevnar 20
- Varicella
- Dukoral (traveller’s diarrhea)
- Anti-malarial medication
We are also a Certified Canadian Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, meaning we can provide the official documentation required for entry into yellow fever zone countries, including proof of vaccination and proof of exemption for those with medical contraindications.
Have questions before booking? Get in touch with our team. We’re happy to help you figure out what you need before your trip.
Book your pre-travel consultation today.
Happy Vaccination Week from everyone at Destinations Travel Clinic.
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Because Your Health Doesn’t Take a Vacation — Even When You Do.
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The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information does not substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment. Please do not initiate, modify, or discontinue any treatment, medication, or supplement solely based on this information. Always seek the advice of your health care provider first. Full Disclaimer