Heading to South East Asia, Africa, Europe, the Pacific or somewhere off the beaten track? Our travel medicine consultations cover destination-specific advice, anti-malarial prescriptions, prescriptions for travel vaccines (collected from your pharmacy) and altitude advice. Book 6–8 weeks before departure for full immune response.
Botanic Ridge Doctors is a bulk-billed family medical clinic with onsite Allied Health, located in Botanic Ridge Village. Our team includes experienced GPs, practice nurses, and a network of visiting specialists.
Standard GP consultations are bulk billed for all eligible Medicare patients. Walk-ins are accommodated where possible.
Travel medicine appointments are a standard 15-minute consultation. We'll work through your itinerary, accommodation type, planned activities, length of stay, medical history and any current medications — then build a personalised vaccine and prescription plan.
Country, region, length of stay, accommodation (hotel vs. backpacker vs. rural), activities (trekking, cruising, business, voluntary medical work), and time of year all change risk profiles.
We pull your full vaccine history from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), then map it against destination-specific recommendations.
Some travel vaccines are 1 dose; others (Hep A, Hep B, JE, rabies) require 2–3 doses spaced over weeks or months. We'll plan timing so you're protected by departure.
Anti-malarials, traveller's diarrhoea antibiotics, altitude medication, and a written destination-specific advice sheet covering food, water, insect bites, sunburn, road safety and embassy contacts.
Book 6–8 weeks before departure for full vaccine schedules. Last-minute travel? Even 2 weeks helps — book sooner rather than later.
We do not keep travel vaccines in stock at our clinic. Your GP will provide a prescription that you take to your local pharmacy to collect the vaccine itself. Routine NIP boosters (e.g. tetanus, MMR) are free.
| Vaccine | Doses | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis A | 2 doses, 6–12 months apart | Almost everywhere outside Western Europe, North America, Australia, Japan. |
| Hepatitis B | 3 doses over 6 months | Most of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe. |
| Typhoid | 1 dose, every 3 years | South Asia, parts of Africa. |
| Japanese Encephalitis (JE) | 2 doses, 4 weeks apart | Rural Asia, Pacific Islands, parts of northern Australia. |
| Rabies (pre-exposure) | 3 doses over 4 weeks | South Asia, Africa, remote travel where post-exposure care is hard to access. |
| Cholera (Dukoral) | 2 oral doses, 1 week apart | Outbreak regions; also reduces traveller's diarrhoea. |
| Meningococcal ACWY | 1 dose, every 5 years | Hajj/Umrah, sub-Saharan "meningitis belt". |
| Tdap (tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis) | Booster every 10 years | Recommended before any international travel if more than 10 years since last. |
| MMR & Varicella | Catch-up if not immune | Measles outbreaks in many regions; check immunity before travel. |
| Influenza | Annually | Strongly recommended for cruise travel and flights. |
| COVID-19 booster | As per ATAGI | Some destinations still require proof. |
Malaria is preventable with the right tablets, started before you arrive in a malarial area. Our GPs prescribe based on the specific drug-resistance profile of your destination, your medical history and trip length.
Cheap, well-tolerated, taken daily. Watch for sun sensitivity and stomach upset. Start 2 days before, continue 4 weeks after returning.
Best-tolerated for short trips. Start 2 days before, continue 7 days after returning. More expensive than doxycycline.
Weekly dose. Avoid if you have any history of mental health conditions. Start 2–3 weeks before, continue 4 weeks after returning.
Anti-malarials are only one part of malaria prevention. We'll also cover insect repellent (DEET 30%+, picaridin), covered clothing, treated mosquito nets, and what to do if you get a fever after returning.
Hep A, typhoid, JE (rural), tetanus booster, malaria tablets (Cambodia rural), traveller's diarrhoea kit.
Hep A, hep B, typhoid, JE, rabies pre-exposure, malaria tablets (lowland), MMR booster, altitude meds (Nepal).
Hep A, hep B, typhoid, malaria tablets, meningococcal ACWY, rabies (rural). Yellow fever required for entry — please contact a yellow-fever-authorised provider for that vaccine.
Hep A, typhoid, malaria tablets (jungle), altitude meds (Andes). Yellow fever required for some Amazon regions — please contact a yellow-fever-authorised provider.
Hep A, hep B, JE (rural), tetanus booster, dengue prevention advice.
Meningococcal ACWY (mandatory), seasonal flu, COVID-19 booster as per Saudi entry.
Ideally 6–8 weeks before departure to allow time for multi-dose vaccines (Hep B, JE, rabies). Shorter timeframes still benefit you — book sooner rather than later.
Most travel-specific vaccines are not Medicare-funded — there's a private fee for both the vaccine and the consultation. Some routine boosters (Tdap, MMR catch-up) are free under the NIP. We'll quote everything upfront.
Yes — most private extras cover some or all travel vaccine costs. Check with your fund. We provide itemised receipts you can submit.
Most inactivated vaccines are safe in pregnancy; live vaccines (yellow fever, MMR, varicella) generally aren't. We'll review your itinerary carefully and may advise postponing travel to high-risk regions.
We can complete travel insurance medical declaration forms. Allow extra appointment time and bring all relevant medical history.
Bulk-billed consultations for eligible Medicare patients. Some procedures may attract a private fee — please contact reception to confirm costs at booking. Open 7 days, walk-ins accommodated where possible.
Important: The information on this page is general health information only. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice from a qualified health practitioner. Outcomes vary between individuals — your GP will assess your specific situation and recommend the right approach for you. If you have urgent symptoms, please call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department.
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