A World Cup trip is not like an ordinary holiday. There are flights to catch, matches to get to, busy stadiums, unfamiliar food, new climates, long days, late nights and sometimes more than one destination to think about.
Whether you are heading to one match, following your team across different cities, or building a bigger holiday around the tournament, a little travel health planning can make the whole trip feel easier.
At Dears Pharmacy, our World Cup Travel Health Services bring together the practical support football fans may need before travelling to Mexico, Canada or the United States.
Start with the essentials
Before you go, it is worth checking whether your routine vaccinations are up to date and whether any additional travel vaccinations may be recommended for your itinerary.
Our pharmacy teams can help with travel health essentials such as Hepatitis A, Typhoid, MMR, Covid, Flu, Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio vaccination services, depending on your needs and suitability.
This can be especially useful if you will be travelling through busy airports, spending time in crowded stadiums, moving between cities or adding sightseeing before or after the football.
Travelling to Mexico?
If your World Cup plans include Mexico, your travel health needs may be different from a simple city break.
Depending on where you are staying, how long you are travelling for and what you plan to do while you are there, you may want to think about traveller’s diarrhoea support, Hepatitis A vaccination, Typhoid vaccination, malaria prevention where relevant, altitude sickness support for higher-altitude destinations, and mosquito-related travel health advice.
A consultation can help you understand what is suitable for your specific trip rather than guessing or leaving it until the last minute.
Don’t forget long-haul travel
Long flights and time zone changes can take the shine off the start of a trip. Jet lag, nausea, migraine, acid reflux, hayfever, asthma symptoms or period timing can all become more frustrating when you are away from home and trying to enjoy the football.
Our Long-haul Travel Support services are designed to help you prepare for some of the common issues that can affect travel, match days and time away.
That might include advice or treatment consultations for jet lag, nausea and vomiting, migraine, acid reflux, hayfever and allergic rhinitis, asthma support, salbutamol inhaler supply or period delay, where clinically appropriate.
Extra support for longer or higher-risk trips
Some supporters will be doing more than flying in and out for one match. You may be travelling for longer, visiting rural areas, spending time outdoors, travelling onwards to other countries or taking part in higher-risk activities.
In those cases, you may need extra advice about services such as Hepatitis B, combined Hepatitis A and B, Rabies, Cholera, Chikungunya, Dengue Fever or Yellow Fever vaccination, depending on your destination and itinerary.
Not everyone will need these services, but it is worth having a proper conversation if your travel plans are more complex.
A simple way to prepare
You can book a World Cup Travel Health Consultation with our pharmacy team and we’ll guide you through which services may be relevant for your trip.
During the appointment, we’ll ask about where you are going, when you are travelling, what you are doing while you are away, your medical history and any medicines you currently take. From there, we can explain what may be suitable and help you plan the next steps.
You can also book individual services directly online if you already know what you need.
Travel health support across Central Scotland
Our World Cup Travel Health Services are available across Dears Pharmacy locations in Lothian, Fife, Glasgow and Tayside, subject to availability at individual branches.
Before you pack your shirt, scarf and match tickets, take a little time to think about your health too. A short appointment before you travel could help you feel more prepared, more confident and ready to enjoy the tournament.
