Published by Aafiyat Medical Centre · September 2026

Short answer: Book a travel health visit about six weeks before you leave, or as soon as your travel dates are set. Some vaccines need more than one dose or time to start working, and a yellow fever certificate only becomes valid 10 days after the vaccine. If you are leaving sooner than that, it is still worth coming in.

Why six weeks ahead?

The Government of Canada advises seeing a health care provider or travel health clinic, preferably six weeks before you travel. Booking early gives you the most options:

Some vaccines are given as a series of doses spread over weeks
Vaccines take time to build protection
Some prescriptions, such as medicine to prevent malaria, are started before you leave
A yellow fever certificate is only valid from 10 days after vaccination

What we go over at a travel health visit

Your doctor looks at your whole trip and your health, then recommends the vaccines, medicines and precautions that fit. This usually includes:

Where you are going, including cities, rural areas and any stops along the way
How long you will be away, and what you will be doing
Your health history, medicines and allergies
Whether your routine vaccines, such as tetanus and measles, are up to date
Special situations, such as pregnancy, travelling with children or older relatives, or a long-term condition

What to bring

Your itinerary and travel dates
Your vaccine records, including any old yellow fever certificate
A list of your current medicines and allergies
Questions about managing a long-term condition while you are away

If you take regular medicines, plan to carry enough for the whole trip in their original labelled containers, and keep them in your carry-on bag.

Travelling for Umrah or Hajj

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health requires Umrah and Hajj pilgrims to have a meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine at least 10 days before arriving. The conjugate vaccine is accepted for 5 years, and the older polysaccharide vaccine for 3 years. Other vaccines may be required or recommended depending on your age, your health and the country you are travelling from, and the rules are updated each season, so check the current requirements before you go and bring your vaccine record with you.

Yellow fever

Some countries in Africa and South America require proof of yellow fever vaccination. In Canada, this vaccine can only be given at a designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, and Aafiyat Medical Centre is one of them. Your certificate becomes valid 10 days after the vaccine, and for most travellers one dose gives protection for life. A booster is advised for a few groups, so ask us if you have had the vaccine before.

What does it cost?

In Ontario, OHIP does not cover travel health consultations, and many travel vaccines are paid for by the traveller. Some workplace and private drug plans cover travel vaccines, so check your plan. Ask us about costs when you book.

Travel medicine at Aafiyat Medical Centre

At Aafiyat Medical Centre in Mississauga, our doctors offer pre-travel consultations, travel vaccines including yellow fever, travel prescriptions such as malaria prevention and medicine for traveller’s diarrhea, and help with vaccine records and medical letters. Learn more about travel medicine at Aafiyat, or call, text or WhatsApp 289-813-0786 to book.

Sources

This article is general information and is not a substitute for advice from your own doctor.