Travel Health & Vaccine Program

Overseas travel exposes employees to unfamiliar environments and diseases. Minimising unnecessary risk will help staff operate to their full potential while travelling and give employer’s peace of mind. Country specific information and relevant immunisations are an effective way to decrease the serious risk of disease. By implementing Employmenthealth’s travel health program, medical checks based on travel frequency and destination are a useful way to provide the necessary information to better manage your employees health.

Generally speaking, 6-8 weeks is the optimal time for immunisations to take effect, especially if a series of treatment is required, however it is never too late to implement our travel health program. Rapid deployment does not necessary allow adequate preparation time, however, this does not mean that staff should not consult our expert medial team before travelling overseas. Employees who know they will be travelling, but are not sure exactly when and where, are advised to seek travel health advice as soon as possible. This will ensure basic immunisations are up to date and boosters can be given if necessary which will allow faster deployment for employers moving forward.

Travel health program may include:

• Vaccines for Tetanus, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Hepatitis A and B – All travellers need to be up to date.
• Vaccines for Chickenpox, Measles, Mumps and Rubella – If person has not had these diseases. Persons born between 1966 and 1982 may need measles booster.
• Other vaccinations for Typhoid, Flu, Rabies, JE, Yellow Fever, Polio, TB – May be necessary, depending on the trip and the degree of risk.
• Malaria medication or information – If visiting risk areas.
• Medical kit – Most travellers, contents vary depending on health status, activities and destination.
• Information – How to prevent and treat common travellers health problems, e.g. food and water borne diseases, insect borne diseases, travellers thrombosis, jetlag, altitude sickness.
• Medical checkup – For travellers visiting areas with poor access to medical care. This may include physical assessment plus test of hearing (audiometry) , breathing, (spirometry) cardiac testing {ECG) and blood tests. This may need to be repeated every 1-2 years.
• Specialised medicals for a visa e.g. PNG visa, for a work site e.g. Tintaya Peru or for activities e.g. UKOOA for offshore operations.
• Vaccine management – 1. Reminders for boosters. 2. Once basic vaccinations are up to date and on file at Employmenthealth, employees who will be visiting unfamiliar destinations can contact us for confirmation that health precautions are satisfactory for the new destination.
• Post travel check – For persons who have finished travelling or are sick on return from travelling.

The Issue…

Preparing your staff for the health risks of travel.

Our Solution…

Travel to various regions can be a major risk to the heath of your staff. These risks include:

• Sickness overseas.
• Sickness on return to work.
• Cross infection of other employees.
• Our experienced clinical team can provide expert medical advice, vaccinations and preparation to manage the risks of travel.
• We can educate your team to ensure healthy and productive travel.