Sussex Travel Clinic would like to wish all of our customers a very Happy Christmas

Our opening hours over the feastive period are as follows:

Saturday 24th December – Closed
Sunday 25th December-  Closed

Monday 26th December – Closed
Tuesday 27th December – Closed
Wednesday 28th December – 09.00-17.00
Thursday 29th December- 15.00 – 19.00
Friday 30th December- 9.00- 13.00
Saturday 31st December – Closed
Sunday 1st January – Closed

Monday 2nd January -Closed
Tuesday 3rd January – 09.00-13.00
Wednesday 4th January 09.00 – 13.00
Open as normal thereafter

To book please call 01273 749100 or use our ONLINE BOOKING SYSTEM

World AIDS Day is held every year on 1 December. It is held to highlight the fight against HIV and a chance for people to show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. The first World AIDS Day was held in 1988 and was the first ever global health day.

In the UK there are currently more than  90,000 people living with HIV. Globally an estimated 33.3 million people have HIV. Between 1981 and 2007  more than 25 million people have died from the Aids virus , making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.

HIV stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The HIV virus attacks the body’s immune system — the body’s defence against diseases. HIV is passed on though infected bodily fluids, most commonly it is spread via sex without a condom or by sharing infected needles, syringes or other injecting drug equipment

HIV rates abroad are higher than in the UK. In sub-Saharan Africa HIV infection has reached epidemic proportions with 33.2 million people estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2007 [1].

Advice for Traveller’s

• Always practice safe sex.
• Carry an adequate supply of condoms on your trip.
• Make sure condoms are in date and carry the  BSI or CE kite-mark.
• Avoid risky behaviour e.g. unprotected sex, tattoos, piercings, visiting traditional barbers in high risk destinations.
• Carry a Sterile Medical Kit that contains needles and syringes in case you need medical treatment in a remote area.
• Dental and surgical procedures should also be avoided in high risk areas.

 

To pledge your support for World Aids Day click here

Sussex Travel Clinic is part of the C- Card Scheme and can supply free condoms to anyone aged 13 – 25 – just pop into clinic to collect your free pack and card.

Sussex Travel Clinic offers HIV testing for Visa and Employment purposes – please call 01273 749100.

 References

1. www.nathnac.org

 

 

There is currently a short supply of rabies vaccine in the UK. Sussex Travel Clinic currently has rabies vaccine in stock. Cost £48 per dose – 3 doses required for pre exposure on days 0 , 7 and 21 or 28.

To book a rabies vaccine please call 01273 749100 or use our online booking system.

Follow our top 10 Tips to ensure you have a safe and healthy trip abroad.

Before your Trip

• You should consult with your travel clinic at least one month before your departure to ensure you get the necessary vaccinations, travel health advice and malaria tablets. Some vaccinations such as rabies and hepatitis b, require more than one dose, so make sure you book well in advance so that you can complete the course.
• Get all your documents in order- passports, visas etc and make copies of these and store them electronically in case they get lost or stolen on your trip.
• If you take regular medication see your doctor to make sure you will have adequate supplies for the length of your trip. Remember to carry all medication in your hand luggage.
• Take out comprehensive travel insurance and check it covers you for all the activites you plan to do.

During Trip

• Take precautions against malaria when you visit risk areas. Make sure you have malaria tablets, a mosquito net to sleep under and plenty of insect repellent to protect you from mosquito bites. Remember malaria can be fatal so if you feel unwell with fever or flu like symptoms seek urgent medical advice.
• Road safety – many accidents occur when abroad. Always wear seat belts when travelling in cars or coaches and always wear a helmet when riding a bike or motorcycle.
• Avoid casual sex or practice safe sex to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Take an adequate supply of condoms for your trip.
• Eat and drink sensibly- avoid drinking the water abroad, drink only boiled or bottled water to avoid traveller’s diarrhoea. Take diarrhoea treatment or Bimuno which helps prevents traveller’s diarrhoea with you.
• Avoid excessive sun exposure and use a high factor sunscreen. The sun can be very hot abroad and over exposure of the sun can lead to skin cancer.
• Avoid touching animals when abroad. In many countries rabies is high risk so if you get bitten or scratched by any animals seek immediate medical attention.

Remember if you feel unwell during or after your trip seek urgent medical help.

Have a safe trip!

To book an appointment for travel vaccinations or malaria tablets call us on 01273 749100 or use our online booking system

 

Flu Vaccinations in Hove, East Sussex

Influenza (Flu) is a viral infection which affects the respiratory tract. In healthy individuals flu is usually self limiting and most people recover within one to two weeks.Flu symptoms include fever and chills, headache, cough,  fatigue, blocked nose and muscular pain. If you have a medical condition you may be entitled to a flu vaccine through the NHS and should contact your surgery to arrange a vaccination. iF you are not entitled to a flu vaccine through the NHS, we can vaccinate you at our clinic in Hove, East Sussex. The cost of the flu vaccine is £18.

With the recent warm spell in the UK flu activity remains low at present, however we have not yet reached the peak time for flu circulation, which is usually between December and March.

If you are travelling abroad the risk of flu will depend on the time of year, where you are travelling to and the duration of travel.  Travellers can be at risk of flu during summer months of travel. Others at risk are those travelling in crowded places such as cruise ships and  those attending pilgrimages such as Hajj or Umrah.

Sussex Travel Clinic currently has flu vaccinations in stock. Last year demand was great and we had run out of supplies by December- please book early if you want a flu jab this year. Call 01273 749100 to arrange an appointment.

Sussex Travel Clinic offers an on-site flu vaccination service for companies with 10 or more staff requiring the flu vaccine. Please contact our nursing team on 01273 749100 to arrange.

The new Sussex Travel Clinic website is now up and running. Find vital information for your travels, regardless of whether this is your first trip, or if you’re an experienced backpacker!

If you know what vaccinations or malaria tablets you need, use our Online Booking System!