Avoid common health slip-ups with this simple checklist
Booking flights is the fun part. Sorting your health before you go is the part people skip.
We see it every week at our travel clinic in Christchurch. Someone books a trip to Bali, Fiji, or Europe, gets excited about the itinerary, and then shows up two days before departure asking about vaccines. By then, some options are already off the table.
This guide covers the five things Christchurch travellers forget most often, based on what we actually see walk through our door. We will also tell you how to fix each one so your trip starts well instead of with a scramble.
Key Takeaways
Routine vaccines like MMR, tetanus, and whooping cough matter just as much as destination-specific ones.
Jet lag and motion sickness are manageable with basic prep, not just luck.
Travel insurance policies vary a lot. Read the fine print before you fly, not after something goes wrong.
A proper first aid kit should be built around where you are actually going.
Some destination vaccines, like Japanese encephalitis or yellow fever, need to be booked weeks in advance.
Book a pre-travel health consult at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure for the best protection.
What Should You Do Before Flying Out of Christchurch?
Before any overseas trip, visit a travel clinic in Christchurch at least 4 to 6 weeks before you fly. Get your routine vaccines checked, book any destination-specific vaccines you need, read your travel insurance policy properly, and pack a first aid kit built around where you are actually going.
That single appointment covers most of what people forget. The five sections below break down exactly why each one matters and what happens if you skip it.
1. Not checking routine vaccines are up to date
Most travellers only think about vaccines needed for their destination. But many forget that some routine vaccinations also need to be current. These include tetanus, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), whooping cough, and the flu.
Routine vaccines worth checking include:
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
Tetanus and whooping cough (often combined as one booster)
Annual flu vaccine, especially if you are travelling during winter in either hemisphere
COVID-19 boosters, depending on your risk factors and destination requirements
Being overdue on these leaves you are exposed even on a "safe" trip. Diseases do not check your itinerary before they travel.
Tip: A quick check-in at your local travel clinic will let you know what’s missing.
2. How Do You Avoid Jet Lag and Motion Sickness on Long Flights?
Long-haul flights dehydrate you and throw off your sleep cycle, and a bit of prep beforehand makes the first few days of your trip far more comfortable.
Nobody plans their first day in Tokyo to be spent lying in a hotel room feeling awful. But it happens constantly, and it is almost always preventable.
A few things help more than people expect:
Start shifting your sleep schedule two or three nights before you fly, not the night before.
Drink water steadily through the flight. Skip or limit alcohol and coffee, both of which make dehydration worse.
Pack motion sickness tablets or sea bands if you are prone to nausea on boats, buses, or turbulent flights.
Get some natural light as soon as you land. It helps reset your body clock faster than sleeping the day away.
Our tip: Ask your pharmacist which motion sickness option suits you. Some tablets cause drowsiness, which is fine for a night flight but not ideal if you are landing and heading straight into a full day.
3. Buying travel insurance but not reading it properly
A basic travel insurance add-on from your flight booking often has gaps in medical cover, so it pays to check the policy details before you need to use them.
We are pharmacists, not insurance brokers, but we talk to enough travelers dealing with claim headaches to know this one matters. The cheapest policy is rarely the right one if something actually goes wrong overseas.
Before you commit to a policy, check:
Whether it covers overseas medical treatment, hospital admission, and medical evacuation
Whether you have declared any pre-existing conditions honestly (undeclared conditions are the top reason claims get rejected)
Whether remote or rural areas of your destination are actually covered, not just major cities
Whether adventure activities you are planning, like diving or skiing, are included or need an add-on
Our tip: Spend five minutes reading the exclusions section specifically. That is where the surprises usually hide.
For destination-specific safety information alongside your insurance research, the New Zealand government's official safe travel advisory service is a solid place to check current conditions before you finalize cover.
4. Forgetting to pack a proper first aid kit
A travel first aid kit is one of those things you don’t think about until you really need it. Whether it’s a blister, a bite, or a dodgy street meal, being prepared makes a big difference.
Include:
Plasters, antiseptic wipes and pain relief
Rehydration salts and anti-diarrhoea tablets
Allergy and motion sickness medication
Insect repellent and bite cream
Any personal prescriptions in original packaging
Tip: You can buy a pre-packed kit, but building one for your destination is even better.
5. Skipping destination-specific vaccines
Each region carries different health risks. Many Christchurch travellers visit Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands or Africa. Each of these areas has its own recommended vaccines.
Here are just a few examples:
Southeast Asia: Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies (for extended or rural travel)
South America: Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Rabies (depending on destination and activities)
Africa: Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Rabies, and Malaria prevention
Tip: Book a pre-travel health consult to get tailored advice based on your trip plans.
Your Travel Clinic Booking Timeline, Sorted by Weeks Before Departure
Book the moment you confirm your flights. Working backward from departure, here is exactly what to prioritize at each stage, based on what we walk Christchurch travellers through every week.
Most people treat this as one task, when really it works better as a short timeline. Spreading it out means fewer rushed decisions and fewer missed doses.
8+ Weeks Before Departure: Lock In Multi-Dose Vaccines
This is the sweet spot for anything that needs more than one dose. Japanese Encephalitis and hepatitis B both follow multi-week schedules, and starting early means the doses land naturally without cramming.
It is also the best time to flag anything unusual, like pregnancy, existing conditions, or current medications, so we can plan around them instead of adjusting at the last minute.
1 to 2 Weeks Before Departure: Damage Control, Not Panic
Some vaccines will not reach full effectiveness in this window, but partial protection still beats none. We will prioritize whichever vaccines and advice matter most for your specific trip and skip anything that will not have time to work.
This is also when practical advice tends to matter more than vaccines: malaria prevention, food and water safety, and what to actually pack for your destination's climate.
The Pattern We See Most From Christchurch Travellers
Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands come up constantly in our appointments, followed by longer trips through Europe and South America. Knowing these patterns lets us move faster once you are in the chair, since we already know what typically applies to trips leaving from here.
Final Check: Ready to travel with confidence?
Small health oversights can ruin a great trip. Taking a few minutes to check your travel health needs before you go can make all the difference once you arrive.
At Sumner Pharmacy Travel Clinic, we offer:
Personalized vaccine plans
Destination-specific advice
Same-week appointments right here in Christchurch
Book your appointment now or visit our travel clinic homepage to see all the ways we help Christchurch travellers head off prepared. You can also check our travel clinic price list before you book or head back to our homepage to explore the rest of our pharmacy services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I visit a travel clinic in Christchurch before flying?
We recommend booking 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Some vaccines need multiple doses spaced weeks apart, and your body needs time to build immunity before you travel.
Do I need travel vaccines if I am only visiting Australia or the Pacific Islands?
Possibly, yes. While these destinations carry lower risk than some regions, routine vaccines like tetanus and MMR should still be current, and some Pacific Islands do carry specific risks like dengue or typhoid depending on conditions at the time.
What should I bring to my travel clinic appointment?
Bring your passport, a copy of your itinerary including any rural or remote stops, and your vaccination history if you have access to it. This helps us tailor advice instead of giving generic recommendations.
Can I get travel vaccines and general advice at the same appointment?
Yes. Our travel clinic consultations cover vaccine recommendations, malaria prevention advice, medication for common travel illnesses, and general pre-trip health guidance in one visit.
What if I am travelling on short notice?
We still recommend coming in as soon as possible. Some protection is better than none, and we can prioritize the vaccines and advice that matter most for your specific trip timeline.
