South America has many enticing destinations, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Whether you are travelling for adventure, wildlife or culture, South America has something to offer.
What health risks are there to travellers in South America?
The travel health risks in South America include food- and water-borne diseases as well as diseases carried by insects and mosquitoes. Travellers to South America may also have to contend with heat and altitude.
Which vaccines will I need for South America?
The specific vaccines you should get ahead of your trip to South America will depend on where you are going and when. Your planned activities will also have a bearing on the vaccines you should get before you go to South America.
To get a reliable recommended vaccine list ahead of your trip to South America, make a travel health appointment with Canadian Travel Clinics. At our Ottawa Downtown travel health clinic, we can advise on which vaccines are needed when you go to South America.
We can also administer the vaccines, and we can arrange appointments for subsequent doses to give complete protection.
Where can I get reliable advice about the risks of travel in South America?
Check the Government of Canada’s travel advisories to get up-to-date information about risks at your destination.
At your appointment with Canadian Travel Clinics, we can give you up-to-date health advice for a holiday or business trip to countries in South America such as Paraguay, Uruguay, and Suriname.
As well as travel vaccines, we can advise on avoiding insect and mosquito bites, and on keeping yourself safe from food and water-borne diseases.
Should I get a yellow fever certificate for my trip to South America?
It’s best to check with a travel health professional before you go to South America as countries often update their requirement for the yellow fever certificate – also known as the international certificate of vaccination or prophylaxis (ICVP). At our travel health clinic, we have access to the latest information about whether you need to get vaccinated against yellow fever for travel in South America.
What do I need to know about altitude before travelling to South America?
If you will be spending time at altitude in South America (above 2,400m), it’s important to be aware of acute mountain sickness, or altitude sickness. Acute mountain sickness is uncomfortable; but it can also progress to potentially lethal conditions, HACE and HAPE. We have an article about altitude sickness and you can get more information about staying safe in the Andes at your travel health appointment.
How do I make an appointment with Canadian Travel Clinics to get my travel vaccines?
Use our clinics page to pick the travel health centre nearest to you. Our clinics are conveniently located at downtown addresses. We have plenty of travel health appointments, with some available at the start and end of the day so that you don’t need to take time off work to get your travel shots.
When should I get my vaccines ahead of my trip to South America?
We would like to see you six to eight weeks before your departure date. This is because some shots have to be given in multiple spaced doses to ensure optimal protection.
We can still help with travel vaccines, though, if you are travelling last minute. Some vaccines can be given in an accelerated schedule, and we can give travel health advice to reduce your risks of exposure to some diseases.