About TRAVAX

TRAVAX is an interactive website providing up to the minute travel health information for health care professionals. TRAVAX began in 1984 in response to the demand for information from primary care in Scotland, but since then has rapidly become very widely used throughout the UK and overseas.

TRAVAX is maintained and continually updated by the Travel Health Team of Health Protection Scotland (HPS). It is provided as an NHS resource for health care professionals who advise patients about avoiding illness and staying healthy when travelling abroad. Registration is required for access.

This service should not be confused with the service provided in the USA by the company Shoreland, Inc. which also uses the name 'TRAVAX'

Where does the information come from?

TRAVAX aims to give evidence-based, but also practical, information and is well-suited to the clinical setting. HPS undertakes continual monitoring of travel related health risks and available preventive measures and the travel health team is actively involved in research, education and delivery of travel health services. They have direct contact with travellers through the network of NHS travel clinics based in infectious diseases units throughout Scotland, particularly the specialised travel clinic in Glasgow. Quality is strictly regulated by the clinical governance procedures in place within HPS.

TRAVAX utilises and takes account of various other authoritative sources, including the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations for the United Kingdom (JCVI), the Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention for UK Travellers (ACMP), the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

What will I find on TRAVAX?

Destinations

There is an entry on TRAVAX for every country in the world. Included in each are details on general health risks, outbreak news, immunisation recommendations, malaria prevention, other infection risks, and medical services at the destination. Countries with a risk of yellow fever include additional detail and individual maps.

Risk Assessment Help

A critical element of the travel health consultation, TRAVAX is designed to make risk assessment easier. Vaccination recommendations are graded by considering epidemiology of the disease at the destination.

Throughout the country pages you will see arrow icons .  These indicate that you can get further information on the vaccine to assist in making a sound risk assessment based on the type of traveller and travel being undertaken.

Malaria Maps & Information

A feature of TRAVAX is the multilayered malaria maps indicating risk areas, points of interest, rivers, airports and altitude. Advice about malaria and its prevention is comprehensive, including diagnosis and treatment, prevention and chemoprophylaxis, and emergency standby treatment.

Post Travel Assessment

TRAVAX provides a large amount of information on non-vaccine preventable disease, including cause, distribution, clinical features, diagnosis, prevention and treatment. This is provided country-by-country for many of the key diseases, and makes TRAVAX a useful tool to assist with patient diagnosis in the post-travel setting.

Traveller Advice Suitcase

A new feature of TRAVAX. The traveller advice sheets are specifically written for the general public, so are clear, concise and easily understood. They can be found on the fitfortravel site. The Suitcase function allows you to select and save a variety of advice sheets as you progress through the travel consultation and then print or email directly to your traveller. You can also save a note of what you have sent for your own patient or clinic records.

Health Professional Advice

This is clearly separated from the traveller advice sheets on TRAVAX and covers a broad range of topics both disease and non-disease related. Includes links to consultation tools and other resources.

International News & Outbreaks

These are searchable and are linked to destination pages on TRAVAX. Individual users are able to sign up for daily or weekly news and outbreak alerts to be sent directly to their email account

FAQ index

TRAVAX has an extensive, easily searchable FAQ repository which we are constantly adding to. Often the answers to common and perplexing problems can be found here. The telephone helpline which the HPS travel health team operate for TRAVAX users generates many of these questions - so they reflect the real issues arising in clinical practice.

How do I Register for TRAVAX?

Only registered users can have access to the information on TRAVAX via a user name and password. To register or enquire about registration please complete the online registration request form.

If you would like to look at TRAVAX for a trial period before deciding whether or not to register please email the TRAVAX administrator.

What does it cost to subscribe?

TRAVAX is funded by the Scottish Government Health Department and is provided free to those using the service for NHS purposes in Scotland. There is a small charge for NHS users in other parts of the United Kingdom. Those working in the UK but outside the NHS, group, private and overseas subscriptions are also available. We are obliged to charge VAT on subscriptions but those working within the NHS may be able to reclaim this. Current subscription charges (excluding VAT):

• Accessibility
• Terms and Conditions
• Copyright
• Privacy

© Health Protection Scotland - a division of NHS National Services Scotland

http://www.travax.nhs.uk

© Health Protection Scotland