Whether you are heading to Rio, Mecca, a rain forest or on safari, disease can be just a plane ride away. Many diseases are preventable through vaccines, so make an appointment at the travel clinic (278-6460 or 278-6461) at least six weeks before you go away. By protecting yourself, you will also be protecting your family, friends, colleagues and the larger community. Vaccinations are not just for children. It is important to keep your vaccinations up to date, too, like tetanus or measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), for example. You should discuss your vaccination status at your annual health check and, if traveling, seek a travel health consultation. Hamilton Health Clinic’s travel health doctors use the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta to recommend the correct vaccines according to your itinerary. Your personal immunisation record or International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow booklet) helps you take an active role in preventive health care. This booklet will also help health professionals recognize opportunities to vaccinate or boost previous inoculations. If you or your children are immunised at the Department of Health and have a private doctor, remember to take the booklets to your usual doctor so their records can be updated. You should safeguard the immunization card, Child Health Record or yellow International Certificate of Vaccination for each family member. Place the booklet somewhere that will be easy to find, for example where passports or travel items are stored, and protect it from insect and water damage. Anyone needing immunisations for travel can make an appointment by emailing childhealth@gov.bm or telephone 278-6460. Travel Clinic hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. by appointment only at Hamilton Health Centre, 67 Victoria Street, Hamilton. You may wish to fill out this travel questionnaire before visiting the travel clinic: https://www.gov.bm/sites/default/files/01_chf_trip_planning.pdf