You’ve booked the flights. You’ve found the accommodation. You’ve probably even started a packing list.
And then it hits you: vaccines, malaria tablets, traveller’s diarrhoea treatment, altitude sickness… what do you actually need for your trip?
Travel health can feel like a maze — especially when every destination (and every traveller) is different. The good news: it doesn’t have to be complicated.
At Dears Pharmacy, our Travel Clinic across Lothian, Fife, Glasgow and Tayside is here to help you travel with confidence, using clear advice, practical support, and clinically assessed treatments — without turning your holiday planning into a second job.
Why travel health matters (even for “simple” trips)
Many travel-related illnesses are preventable — but only if you prepare early enough.
Some vaccines need time to become effective. Others require multiple doses. And in some countries, malaria prevention or proof of vaccination may be strongly recommended (or required).
Even if you’re going somewhere you’ve been before, recommendations can change by region, season, itinerary style, and your own medical history.
Travel well starts with a plan.
What we can help with at the Dears Pharmacy Travel Clinic
Our travel service is designed to make preparation straightforward, with support that matches real life — including last-minute travel.
1) A full online travel consultation (structured, quick, clear)
If you want the most efficient route, start with our online travel consultation.
It’s a focused review of:
- Your destination(s) and itinerary
- Your departure date
- Your medical history and current medications
- Any risk factors that might affect recommendations
You’ll receive clear next steps for what’s needed (and what isn’t), then you can visit your local Dears Pharmacy for supply and support.
2) Travel vaccinations (with guidance on timing and schedules)
We offer access to a wide range of travel vaccines, administered by trained professionals with practical advice on when to have each vaccine and how to plan a schedule that works.
Our travel vaccines include:
- Cholera
- Dengue fever
- Diphtheria
- Hajj & Umrah (MenACWY)
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis A & B combined
- Japanese encephalitis
- MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella)
- Polio
- Rabies
- Tetanus
- Tick-borne encephalitis
- Typhoid
- Yellow fever
- (Plus other services listed on our Travel Clinic page)
If you’re unsure what you need, that’s exactly what the consultation is for.
3) Anti-malaria tablets (often available quickly, when suitable)
If malaria prevention is recommended for your destination, we can supply appropriate options following clinical assessment — and where suitable, it can often be arranged the same day.
We’ll also explain:
- When you need to start taking tablets (sometimes weeks before travel)
- How long to continue after returning
- How to reduce mosquito bites alongside medication
4) Travel medicines for common travel problems
Some issues are predictable when you travel: changes in food and water, long flights, unfamiliar climates, higher altitude, different time zones.
We can support a range of travel-related needs, including:
- Altitude sickness treatment support
- Traveller’s diarrhoea treatment support
- Jet lag tablets
- Period delay treatment (where clinically appropriate)
The goal is simple: fewer ruined days, fewer “wish I’d sorted this earlier” moments.
Travel-ready tips (that actually help)
A few simple principles make travel health much easier:
- Don’t leave it too late. Some vaccines need time — and some require multiple doses.
- Let your destination guide decisions. Risk changes by country, region, and trip style (resort vs rural, city vs jungle, short stay vs long stay).
- Think beyond vaccines. Malaria prevention, traveller’s diarrhoea treatment, altitude support and practical advice can make a huge difference.
And if you have left it late? Come in anyway — we regularly help last-minute travellers prioritise what matters most.
What to bring (if you can)
To make things quick and accurate, it helps to bring:
- Your itinerary (countries/regions and departure date)
- Any previous vaccine records (if you have them)
- A list of your current medications
If you don’t have everything, don’t worry — we’ll still guide you.
“Do I need an appointment?”
Not always.
Some services can be booked, and you can also begin with the online consultation. In many cases you can also pop into your local Dears Pharmacy and our team will direct you to the right next step for your branch.
A couple of important notes
Travel treatments and vaccinations are supplied based on clinical assessment, suitability, and the specific service. We’ll always be clear about what’s appropriate — and if something would be better handled elsewhere, we’ll tell you.
Travel Clinic across Central Scotland
Our Travel Clinic service is available locally across Lothian, Fife, Glasgow and Tayside — with supportive, practical guidance from start to finish.
If you’re getting ready to go, start your travel consultation online or speak to the team in-pharmacy. We’ll help you prepare properly, so you can focus on the trip itself.
