Your Local Travel Clinic in Wembley
Off on your gap year at last? Getting ready for the journey to Mecca for Hajj or Umrah? Or is it a business trip overseas? Wherever you’re headed, it’s worth knowing what your body might be up against once you land, and what you can do about it before you go. That’s exactly what we’re here for at the S&S Chemists Travel Clinic in Wembley. Our pharmacists talk you through the risks for your specific route, sort out the right vaccinations, and send you off with the sort of practical advice that actually gets used, not just filed away and forgotten.
Why Do Travel Vaccinations Matter?
Step outside the UK and your immune system can find itself facing bugs it’s simply never met before. We build up “immunity” to the illnesses we’re regularly exposed to at home, but that protection doesn’t automatically transfer once you’re somewhere new. Hepatitis A, typhoid and yellow fever are a few of the better known examples, and depending on where you’re travelling, some are considerably more serious than others. A handful of countries also demand proof of vaccination, yellow fever being the classic one, before you’re allowed to enter the country. Getting the right jabs beforehand isn’t about being overly cautious. It’s simply about not leaving something this important to chance.
Don’t lose out on your health as well as your sunnies…
How Do Travel Vaccines Actually Work?
Most travel vaccines follow the same basic principle. You’re given a small, safe dose of something that resembles the disease it’s protecting against, and your immune system responds by building antibodies ready to fight the real thing if it ever turns up. Once those antibodies are in place, your body already knows what to do and can usually deal with the threat before it takes hold.
The catch is that this takes time. As a general rule, aim to book your appointment at least two to three weeks before you fly, though certain vaccines, rabies being one of them, need longer than that to take full effect. Leave it until the week before and you may still be able to get partial protection, but you won’t get the full benefit, so earlier is always better.
Trusted by Travellers Across Wembley, Harrow and Beyond
Our pharmacists are trained to give the full range of travel vaccinations and can prescribe antimalarial medication where it’s needed. Just as importantly, we’ll talk you through what’s actually relevant to your trip rather than handing you a generic checklist, so you leave knowing exactly what to expect and how to stay well while you’re away.
If you’re in Hillside, Harrow Road or nearby areas including Ealing, Acton, Notting Hill, Harlesden, Harrow, Wembley, Neasden or Cricklewood, S&S Chemists is here to provide professional advice and support.
Click here to see the vaccinations we offer and our current pricing.