Luxembourg Travel Clinic recommends vaccination before travelling to the tropics

In Luxembourg, only the Travel Clinic at the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL) is authorised to provide the vaccinations required for travel to the tropics, including the yellow fever vaccine. Doctors are now warning that demand is increasing sharply, especially before summer and winter holidays, so you need to make an appointment in advance.

According to Dr Pit Braquet, the clinic has already seen about 2,500 patients this year alone, compared to more than 5,000 before the pandemic. The yellow fever vaccine, which is compulsory for entry into many African countries and highly recommended for visits to the Amazon in South America, is in particular demand. The vaccination should be given at least ten days before travelling, and preferably a month in advance. The advantage is that it provides lifelong protection.

In addition to yellow fever, the clinic offers vaccinations against typhoid fever, Japanese encephalitis and rabies, as well as malaria prophylaxis. For routine boosters, for example against tetanus or hepatitis A, you can also contact your family doctor.

But the risks are no longer confined to the tropics. Climate change is expanding the range of mosquitoes, and infections such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika fever and West Nile virus are appearing in places where they did not exist before, such as parts of Italy and France.

Dr Brackett emphasises: simple protective measures remain indispensable. Repellent, mosquito nets, long clothing, air conditioning and fans can help reduce the risk. And in high-risk areas, malaria prevention pills may also be needed.

The doctors' main advice is to make an appointment for a consultation 4-6 weeks before departure, as soon as tickets are bought. But even for those who make a last-minute appointment, CHL tries to help by offering urgent appointments.