A new study has revealed that just one in seven (15 per cent) Australians planning overseas trips this year have fully researched and understand the health advice for their destinations.
Furthermore, one in three (31 per cent) Aussies said they would not see a doctor to discuss travel health and vaccination requirements or would leave a consultation too close to departure to get full protection from treatment, according to the Travel Poll conducted on YouGov.
With this in mind, a leading travel health expert has warned that many of the 8.5 million Australians planning international travel would be unprepared and put themselves at risk of contracting diseases like measles, hepatitis, typhoid and polio.
“A consultation with a doctor at least six weeks before travelling could be the difference between lying on a beach or lying on a hospital bed in a foreign country,” said Dr Deb Mills, Medical Director of the Travel Medicine Alliance group of travel health clinics.
“Last-minute vaccinations do not give the immune system long enough to do its job. Timing is an incredibly important factor for good travel health.”
Beyond Covid-19, Dr Mills said many people do not realise the dangers of infectious disease, which can have “serious health consequences, including hospitalisation and long-term illness”.
“Australians need to look beyond COVID and understand other health risks and prevention strategies before they travel. There are many other travel-related diseases that have not gone away,” Mills remarked.
“Preventable illness can turn a long-awaited and expensive trip into a holiday from hell, where not only time is lost but financial losses are significant as well.”
Travel advisors could be key
For their part, travel advisors would do well to talk to their customers about maximising their safety whilst abroad. And given the number of Australians who are at risk of not being fully covered by travel insurance, the conversation around travel health becomes even more crucial.
Dr Mills also recommends travellers follow Government recommendations on www.smartraveller.gov.au or visit www.vaccinehub.com.au/travel.
The Travel Poll surveyed more than 1,000 Australians nationwide in September 2022.
