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(MENAFN – The Peninsula) By Fazeena Saleem I The Peninsula
Travel Clinic at the Center for Communicable Diseases (CDC) of Hamad Medical Corporation is now available three times a week for travelers, said a senior official.
The clinic only operates on Monday in the meantime and is now open on Wednesdays and Thursdays to cope with the increased demand, said Dr. Muna Al Maslamani, CDC Medical Director at The Peninsula.
The clinic operates as a "one-stop shop" for travelers to Qatar and also provides highly specialized advice and treatment to those returning from trips abroad who suspect travel-related illness. The clinic will work by appointment and patients can call and book in advance and request services Mondays from 12h to 15h and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8h to 11h.
Opened in March 2017, the clinic experienced an increase in demand. In 2018, he received 824 service-seeking travelers and in the first six months of 2019, there were 558, according to Dr. Al Maslamani. "Travelers to countries overseas where vaccination, medication and other preventative measures are required use the services of the Travel Clinic.
The clinic also provides badessment and medical care to travelers returning with travel-related infections. Specialized physicians will conduct a thorough badessment of the traveler's physical condition and state of health, as well as details of the trip. We also provide specific advice and guidance for travelers planning to undertake activities such as diving, mountaineering and cruising, she said.
"Travelers are advised to consult Travel Clinic physicians about vaccines and medications needed for the destination, duration of travel and activities. The World Health Organization recommends travel advice, especially vaccines, four to six weeks before travel. However, we advise people to come to us at least two weeks before the date of travel because this delay is necessary for vaccinations to develop resistance in the body, she added.
Individuals accessing clinic services will be able to obtain a certificate of vaccination (essential for travel to certain countries) as well as advice on disease prevention for the countries they will visit. These include 15 recommended vaccines, including measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, polio, hepatitis A and B, and the annual influenza vaccine.
Some additional vaccines against yellow fever, rabies and diphtheria may also be needed for travel, depending on the country visited. Vaccines will be free for all, unless the required drugs are specialized (eg, Japanese encephalitis). Travelers can now make an appointment at the clinic by calling 40254003 from 7am to 7pm.
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