When you’re planning an international trip, it’s easy to get caught up in the fun details booking flights, researching attractions, choosing hotels, and deciding which outfits to pack. But for safe and successful travel, there’s one vital step that is just as important as renewing your passport or buying travel insurance: protecting your health before you leave home.

In a world where global health risks change quickly,  sometimes overnight,  visiting a travel health clinic before departure can make the difference between a trip full of memories and one cut short by illness. This has never been clearer than in 2025, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issuing a travel warning for parts of China due to a large chikungunya outbreak.

Whether you’re traveling to a tropical rainforest, a busy city, or a luxury resort, here’s everything you need to know about travel health clinics, why they matter, and how they can keep you safe no matter where in the world your adventures take you.

What is a Travel Health Clinic?

A travel health clinic (sometimes called a travel medicine center or travel vaccination clinic) is a medical facility focused on preventing and managing health risks for international travelers. These clinics are staffed by professionals trained in travel medicine, a field that blends infectious disease expertise, preventive care, and destination-specific health risk management.

Their goal is simple: help you avoid preventable illness, meet international health requirements, and prepare for any medical issues you might encounter abroad. They work in line with guidance from the CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), and similar global agencies.

Why They’re More Important Than Ever

Travel health clinics have always played a role in safe travel, but recent events have made them essential. In August 2025, the CDC issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Guangdong Province, China, following an outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne illness that has infected over 7,000 people there since June.

The outbreak is linked to severe monsoon flooding that created ideal mosquito breeding grounds. According to Dr. Todd Ellerin, chief of infectious disease at South Shore Health in Massachusetts, travelers “should absolutely take precautions” when visiting affected regions including wearing long sleeves, using DEET-based repellents, and using mosquito netting for infants.

For travelers, this kind of emerging health risk underscores why visiting a travel clinic before departure is crucial. Clinics not only offer preventive vaccines  in the case of chikungunya, there are now two vaccines available in the U.S.  but also provide up-to-date advice that reflects real-time outbreaks and regional health concerns.

What Services Do Travel Health Clinics Provide?

Travel health clinics do far more than simply give shots. Their services are tailored to your trip’s destination, timing, activities, and your personal health profile.

1. Destination-Specific Risk Assessment

Your consultation begins with a review of:

• Where you’re going and for how long
• What you’ll be doing (e.g., urban sightseeing, rural trekking, business travel)
• Your current health, past illnesses, and vaccination history

For example, a traveler spending two weeks volunteering in rural Africa faces different risks than someone on a weeklong Caribbean cruise. This personalized risk analysis allows clinicians to recommend only the vaccines and precautions you truly need.

2. Vaccinations and Immunizations

Vaccines remain a cornerstone of travel medicine. Some are required for entry into certain countries (yellow fever is a common example), while others are recommended to reduce risk. Travel clinics typically offer:

• Yellow fever (required for entry in some countries)
• Hepatitis A & B
• Typhoid
• Cholera
• Rabies (especially for travelers in rural or high-risk animal contact areas)
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Japanese encephalitis
• Meningococcal meningitis
• Polio, tetanus, and diphtheria boosters
• COVID-19 updates as required
• Chikungunya (where available and relevant to current outbreaks)

Clinics will also provide official International Certificates of Vaccination or Prophylaxis if needed.

3. Prescriptions for Travel Medications

Vaccines aren’t the only preventive tools. Travel health clinics may prescribe:

• Malaria prophylaxis
• Antibiotics for traveler’s diarrhea
• Altitude sickness medication
• Motion sickness prevention
• Insect bite prevention treatments (such as permethrin for clothing)

For those visiting areas with active mosquito-borne outbreaks  such as the current chikungunya situation,  these medications and repellents are often emphasized alongside vaccination.

4. Advice and Education

Travel health professionals give practical, science-backed advice on:

• Safe food and water practices
• Avoiding insect bites and vector-borne illnesses
• Recognizing early symptoms of diseases like malaria, dengue, or chikungunya
• Heat safety, dehydration prevention, and altitude adjustment
• Accessing emergency medical care abroad
• Managing chronic conditions during travel
• Understanding country-specific health entry requirements

In the chikungunya example, this could mean learning exactly how long after visiting an outbreak zone symptoms might appear (typically less than a week) so you can monitor your health effectively.

When to Visit a Travel Health Clinic

Ideally, you should book your appointment at least 6 weeks before departure. This allows time for multi-dose vaccines, for your body to build immunity, and for you to fill prescriptions.

If your trip is last-minute, don’t skip the clinic  even a few days’ notice can make a big difference, especially if you’re traveling to a region with an ongoing health alert.

How to Find a Trusted Travel Health Clinic

• Ask your primary care doctor for referrals
• Check local hospitals or public health departments
• Search the International Society of Travel Medicine directory for certified providers
• Contact your health insurance provider to see which clinics are covered

Before booking, confirm that the clinic offers:

• The vaccines you need (especially outbreak-specific ones)
• Official travel vaccination certificates
• Up-to-date outbreak and health risk information

The Role of Travel Clinics in Outbreak Response

When sudden outbreaks occur  whether it’s chikungunya in China, dengue in Brazil, or measles in Europe,  travel health clinics act as a real-time information hub. They bridge the gap between global health alerts and practical steps you can take to stay safe.

For example, during the current Guangdong chikungunya outbreak:

• Clinics can advise whether vaccination is recommended for your trip.
• They can teach proper insect bite prevention methods.
• They can screen your health on return if you develop symptoms.

This real-time responsiveness makes them far more reliable than relying solely on outdated travel blogs or generic online advice.

Why Prevention Should Be Part of Every Trip

International travel brings unforgettable memories, but it also exposes you to unfamiliar health risks  from contaminated food and unsafe water to insect-borne viruses and environmental hazards.

By making a travel health clinic part of your pre-trip checklist, you:

• Reduce your risk of illness
• Meet entry requirements without last-minute stress
• Gain confidence that you’re prepared for emergencies
• Protect your travel companions and communities you visit

Final Word: Health is a Travel Essential

Booking a visit to a travel health clinic may not feel as exciting as booking a beach resort, but it’s an investment in the safety and success of your trip. In an era where outbreaks like chikungunya can develop rapidly and cross borders quickly, being prepared is non-negotiable.

From vaccines to outbreak updates, tailored advice to preventive prescriptions, these clinics help ensure your next trip is memorable for the right reasons.

Before your passport is stamped and your suitcase zipped, put “Visit a travel health clinic” at the top of your to-do list. Your health  and your journey  depend on it.