Travel Vaccines at Benoni Health Centre: What You Need Before You Go
Planning an international trip from South Africa? Before you pack, it’s worth making sure your vaccinations are up to date. Travelling to certain regions — particularly in Africa, Asia, and South America — can expose you to infectious diseases that are rare or absent here at home. Benoni Health Centre operates a registered travel clinic, with doctors affiliated with the South African Society of Travel Medicine (SASTM), serving travellers across Benoni and the East Rand.
Why Are Travel Vaccines Important?
Travel vaccines protect you against serious infectious diseases that you may encounter abroad. Depending on your destination, some vaccines are strongly recommended for your own health, while others are a legal requirement for entry into certain countries — most notably Yellow Fever.
Getting vaccinated before you travel means:
- Protection against diseases your immune system hasn’t encountered before
- Reduced risk of becoming seriously ill during your trip
- Compliance with entry requirements for your destination country
- Peace of mind for you and your family
Common Travel Vaccines
The vaccines you need will depend on your destination, your travel itinerary, and your personal medical history. Commonly recommended travel vaccines include:
- Yellow Fever — required for entry into many African and South American countries
- Hepatitis A and B — recommended for most international travelers
- Typhoid — particularly for travel to parts of Africa, Asia, and South America
- Tetanus booster — especially if your last booster was more than 10 years ago
- Rabies — recommended for travel to high-risk regions or rural areas
Your doctor will advise you on exactly which vaccines are relevant for your specific trip.
When Should You Get Vaccinated?
Ideally, visit our travel clinic at least 4 to 6 weeks before your departure date. This allows enough time for vaccines to take full effect and for any course vaccines (such as Hepatitis B) to be administered correctly.
That said, if your trip is coming up sooner, a last-minute consultation is still worthwhile. Some vaccines offer protection quickly and even partial protection is better than none.
What Happens at a Travel Consultation?
Your appointment at Benoni Health Centre’s travel clinic is a thorough but straightforward process. Your doctor will:
- Review your destination and travel itinerary
- Assess your current vaccination history and medical background
- Recommend the appropriate vaccines for your trip
- Administer vaccines on the same visit where possible
- Provide a valid Yellow Fever certificate if required
- Give you personalised health advice for your destination
Additional Travel Health Advice
Beyond vaccines, your travel consultation may also cover:
- Malaria prevention — prophylactic medication and practical precautions
- Food and water safety — what to avoid and how to stay well
- Managing chronic conditions while travelling — medication, scripts, and planning
- Travel health kits — what to carry with you
Who Should Visit a Travel Clinic?
A travel consultation is recommended for anyone travelling internationally, but particularly for:
- Families travelling with young children
- Business travellers visiting multiple destinations
- Travellers visiting high-risk regions in Africa, Asia, or South America
- First-time international travellers who are unsure what they need
- Travellers visiting friends and family in their country of origin
Visit Our Travel Clinic in Benoni
Benoni Health Centre’s travel clinic is open to walk-in patients — no referral or prior appointment required. Our doctors are registered with the South African Society of Travel Medicine and can advise, vaccinate, and certify you for travel in a single visit where possible.
We see patients from Benoni, Farrarmere, Northmead, Lakefield, Boksburg, Brakpan, and across the East Rand.
Original Map Source: CDC South Africa