Vaccination in Toronto

Hi everyone!

I am a Swede living in Toronto for a couple of months and planning a trip to Guatemala from here. Since I haven't been in the city that long I don't know good places to get vaccinations, so I was hoping that someone could recommend me a good (and cheap!) place to get malaria vaccination (and possibly other vaccines) in TO?

Also, if someone knows a good travel store where I could buy necessary things like first aid kit, mosquito net and things like that, that woudl be very helpful!

Thanks all for your help!

Hi,

You can find every travel clinic and tropical disease centre (for vaccinations, etc.) at this site. Scroll down to Ontario and then find the one that suites you best relative to where you are in Toronto. I've used the one at 700 Bay Street in the past.

Canadian Travel Clinics and Tropical Disease Centres

King Street West, but before Spadina, for your other question. There you'll find Europe Bound and Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Good luck.

There is no vaccine for malaria, you have to take pills. You can buy them, under the brand name Aralen, cheaply in a Guatamelan pharmacy as soon as you arrive, check on the internet for the dosage which is not on the package: I took 3 pills each week. You probably want to get Hepatitis A vaccine, and perhaps others, a good source for information is: here.

Since you don't have medicare, it is probably cheapest to go to a travel health clinic rather than try to go through a doctor.

There are a few travel medicine clinics in Toronto, including one at 200 Danforth Avenue (Albany Clinic) and one I think at 700 Bay Street.

And there are several travel gear shops in Toronto, including Mountain Equipment Coop on King Street West, which would be my choice.

But going by my experience some years ago preparing for a trip to India, the medical clinics are not cheap and not covered by public health plans. I seem to recall being prescribed some extremely expensive anti malarial pills as well as receiving shots for various things, including Hep C.

Have a great time in Guatemala.

Sorry about the duplication. Three of us must have posted almost simulaneously.

just curious, where are you planning to go? In the rainforest of Petén or something?

Aah, thorntree - what would I be without it (you guys)??

Sorry I wasn't very clear about this in my first posting, but I was in a hurry while writing it: I have already taken Hep A and B shots, Typhoid and things like that, a couple of years ago since I travel to tropical countries frequently. So the only thing that is left, I believe, is the malaria pills and maybe Ducoral (however that has never stopped me from getting the travel stomach anyway!?!!). And yes, I know it isn't a vaccine against malaria...

Hm, buying them in Guatemala...is that really a good idea? Read somewhere about scams concerning these pills...

I intend to go to El Mirador amongst oter places. I believe that is in Petén, but I am not certain since I haven't had time to read up on the country properly yet...

I don't have medicare, only a Swedish health insurance, that properly doesn't cover my vacation plans. In Sweden I know the prices vary quite much between different vaccination centrals, that was why I was hoping that someone could give me advice instead of just searching the net. I might just try the Bay street one since it is mentioned by two different people.

Thanks all for your advice - it is really helpful and saving me a lot of time!!

Malarone seems to be the best of the anti-malarial pills, and Ducoral will help avoid E. Coli but not traveller's diarhea (personal experience talking here).

Different travel clinics charge different fees. You may want to call them up about the charges.