Your March Break Travel Checklist

May 4, 2023

6 minute read

by MD Connected

YOUR MARCH BREAK TRAVEL CHECKLIST

Are you ready for a vacation?

Every March, elementary and high school children and their teachers are given a break to rest and prepare for the rest of the term. Many families take advantage of this time off to go on vacation. Whether you are travelling internationally or staying within Canada, there are things that you should consider in advance. MD Connected has prepared a convenient travel checklist that will help to create a smooth start to your trip.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL CHECKLIST

There is a lot that needs to be done in advance to prepare for international travel. Check off the items on our International Travel List:

International Travel Checklist

Check Airline Updates and Travel Advisories

1

Make sure that you are regularly checking travel updates from airlines in case your flights get cancelled or changed. Also check what documents and procedures are required from you upon entry into the country you are visiting. With the presence of COVID-19, many countries have specific entry and exit requirements.

Gather Travel Documents2

2

Did you know that even newborn babies need a passport to travel internationally? Make sure that everyone in your travel party has a valid, up-to-date passport that isn’t at risk of expiration. If your passport expires while you are away, problems could occur on your way home. Along with a passport, some countries may also require an approved visa to enter, which needs to be done in advance.

Make sure to create backup copies of important documents to keep in a separate bag as the originals. You could also leave copies with a trusted family member or friend in Canada in case of emergency.

*COVID-19 Documents

If the country that you are traveling to requires proof of vaccination, check what is accepted by that country. It is possible that they may deny your proof of vaccination if it doesn’t meet the requirements of their country. Check the government of Canada page to find out how to travel with your COVID-19 proof of vaccine.

Confirm Healthcare Coverage

3

Check with your healthcare insurance provider to understand what services are covered while you are out of the country. Be aware that there are some countries that require you to have specific travel insurance and proof of that insurance to be approved entry. Double check these requirements in advance to ensure that you have proper documentation if you do have to purchase a travel insurance plan.

Prevent Against Diseases and Illness Before you Leave

4

There are some vaccinations that may be recommended by doctors or required by the country that you are travelling to. For example, vaccinations to protect from diseases that are less common in Canada like Yellow Fever, Measels, and Malaria are often recommended by a doctor or required for entry. A doctor may also give you tips to avoid common traveler illnesses like food poisoning or travellers’ diarrhea.

Speak with one of our doctors to learn how to prevent falling ill on your trip.

Take Precautions Against COVID-19

5

Every country has different COVID-19 travel guidelines in place. Check those guidelines and prepare any documents needed for a smooth entry into the country you’ve chosen to vacation in. We recommend getting a COVID-19 test done 2 weeks before your trip to provide time for quarantine if needed. If you need proof of a negative test upon entry, we have clinics in Ottawa and Toronto that can provide that for you. We offer PCR, Serology, and Rapid Antigen Tests.

Remember to continue to follow safe COVID-19 protocol while on vacation. Contracting the virus will interrupt your vacation and may cause problems when it is time to return home.

MD Connected offers COVID-19 testing in partnership with JC Health. Book an appointment before your departure date.

Prepare your children for COVID-19 testing by reading the tips in this article!

HANDY TIPS TO PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR COVID-19 TESTING

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we live, from being quarantined and working at home, to social distancing. For many

5 minute read

DOMESTIC TRAVEL

If you plan to travel within Canada, there is a lot less to worry about preparing in advance.

Identification for Air Travel

1

To board a domestic flight, you will only need either one government-issued photo ID or 2 government-issued non-photo IDs. They must not be expired or expiring, and you should ensure that minors travelling with you have at least one form of identification as well. It is always a good idea to bring backup ID. Valid IDs for domestic travel include:

Passport
Citizenship Card
Permanent Resident Card
Driver’s License
Health Card
And More!

The only cards not accepted as ID for domestic air travel are hunting, fishing and boating licenses. If you are traveling to other provinces by car or train, you won’t be asked for proof of identification.

COVID-19 Guidelines

2

Via Rail and many airlines are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination to travel. Be sure to have documentation ready to show when asked. Children under 12 years of age are not required to be vaccinated or tested to travel by air or train. Children who are 12 years and 4 months of age and older are asked to follow the same vaccination requirements as adults. Remember that people of all ages are required to follow mask and social distancing guidelines set by provinces, individual airlines and Via Rail.

There are some acceptations for those who are unvaccinated. Make sure you check with the airline or Via Rail to see if you qualify before purchasing tickets.

Healthcare

3

Most people don’t need to purchase travel insurance when they are visiting other provinces for a short period of time, as many services can be reimbursed by your home provinces’ healthcare insurance. Since healthcare is provincially defined, it is still possible that you will have to pay out of your own pocket if your provincial insurance doesn’t cover the services given by another.

If you do need to speak to a healthcare professional while you are away, try MD Connected! You can have your consultation from the comfort of your hotel room through video on your computer or over the phone.

CLINIC SPOTLIGHT: AMHERSTBURG

Located inside Rexall at 71 Sandwich St S, Amherstburg, ON, N9V 1Z5.

When you visit the Amherstburg telemedicine clinic, expect to receive friendly and compassionate care from our team of medical professionals. Look for the sign that says “Medical Clinic” inside of Rexall near the pharmacy at the back of the store. The Amherstburg clinic is equipped to provide many healthcare services such as:

General consultations

Prescription refills

Skin concerns

Ear or eye infections

Medical notes

Referrals

Lab requisitions

And More!

Appointments are not required. Please feel free to stop by for walk-in consultations.

HOURS:

Monday – Friday: 9 AM – 8 PM

Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM

Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM

MD CONNECTED: VIRTUAL PRESCRIPTIONS IN TORONTO

MD Connected Ltd. can help you save time and energy when you book an online doctor’s appointment. After the appointment, if necessary, a virtual prescription by one of our Canadian doctors will be sent directly to your pharmacy.

MD Connected Ltd. is led by a diverse team of doctors with varying backgrounds and provides its services in multiple languages. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians have used MD Connected for general consultations, prescription renewals, sexual health, mental wellness, travel health, sick notes and forms, and more.

To learn more about MD Connected Ltd., contact us by visiting www.mdconnected.ca or e-mail us at mydoc@mdconnected.ca.

Ready to see the doctor?