Hi
We are planning a holiday to South Africa next year. We need to have some travel vaccinations and Malaria tablets.

In the UK we could go to our GP or they also have drop in Travel Clinics.

How does it work here in Switzerland? Do we go to any doctors? Does our Medical Insurance cover this. I doubt it so does anybody have ideas of cost.

We need to decide to have the injections and buy the tablets here or get them from a Travel Clinic in the UK when were are back for a holiday in November.

Many thanks in advance for any advice.

Gary

Not sure what is available in Valais, but here are the details for Lausanne and Geneva Travel clinics.

Lausanne:

http://www.polimed.ch/pmu_home/pmu_q...u_cvmv_qsn.htm

Geneva:

http://medecine-internationale.hug-g...epartures.html


Another suggestion:


I strongly recommend that you go for TWINRIX which is a Hep. A and B combined vaccine.

Ask your doctor is they will do it or if you need to go to a travel clinic.

Here is the link for some info on Twinrix.

http://www.healthunit.org/immunizati...pb_vaccine.htm

It consists of three shots.

Twinrix is given in a series of three doses

• the first dose on day 0
• another dose 1 month later
• the third dose 5 months after that.

If you are traveling soon, there is an accelerated schedule.

'A rapid schedule of three injections given at 0, 7 and 21 days may be an option when travel is anticipated within one month after initiating the vaccination course and where insufficient time is available for the standard schedule. When the rapid schedule is applied, a fourth dose is recommended 12 months after the first dose'

I paid 600-650CHF for all my jabs inc yellow fever and TBE for hiking (which you may not need) plus malaria tablets last year

The malaria tablets accounted for over half of the expense. I was charged for every 15 minutes I was in the clinic plus I was also charged for each time the doctor had to stick the needle in my arm in addition to the charge for the vaccination serum so if you can combine vaccinations do so. Less needle pricks means more spending money

I would advise where possible to get everything from the UK as it's probably much cheaper

However if money is no object or like me you leave things until the last minute, need things done in a hurry and can't get back to the UK than I can recommend here.... They were very professional and for someone like me who is terrified of injections they were very good at keeping me calm and relaxed.

As for Health Insurance coverage you may need to check your policy. It wasn't covered on mine but I don't have all the fancy add ons that you can pay extra for.

This is where you want to go.

http://www.uzh.ch/news/articles/2005/1841.html