2016 is already shaping up to be a great year for sport. From football and tennis, to cricket and rugby, it’s not hard to get excited about the number of sporting events taking place this summer, and that’s before TeamGB and ParalympicsGB arrive in Rio!
With less than eight weeks before the Olympic Games, it’s an ideal time for travellers to #StayAheadOfTheGames and check with their GP whether they need any vaccinations before they leave the UK.
It’s important to make sure you’re up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters, such as MMR and Tetanus, as well as ensuring you’ve had a hepatitis A vaccination.
If you’re planning to explore Brazil beyond Rio, you should research whether the areas you’re going to have an increased risk of rabies, TB, typhoid or yellow fever.
A full guide to the health risks in Brazil can be found at Travelhealthpro.org.uk.
We’ve teamed up with Olympic gold medal winning sprint kayaker and medical doctor Tim Brabants, to highlight the importance of travelling safely, and to avoid being left up the creek without a paddle:
“As a doctor I think it is really important that you check with your local GP or travel clinic, at least four to six weeks before your trip, what medication and vaccinations you might need to travel to Brazil; especially if you’re travelling to some of the more remote parts of the country.”
You can view our full interview with Tim Brabant and other Olympic and Paralympic stars on YouTube to learn how they are preparing for Rio.
We’ve produced a handy checklist to help you tick off your preparations over the coming weeks.
We will be sharing further details to help you #StayAheadOfTheGames including useful phrases for your trip and key FAQs on travel plans and your time in Brazil. We will also be unveiling our Pocket Travel Guide, which holds all the information you need for whilst you’re away.
For more information, you can visit our dedicated page at gov.uk/rio2016 and keep track of our campaign using #StayAheadOfTheGames and #GetReadyForRio.