The Travel Doctor

05/28/2025

05/24/2025

What should you wear on an airplane?

Walter Owsianik, the medical director of Hamilton travel clinic Travel Doctor, typically opts for loose clothing when he travels.

Dr. Owsianik told The Globe and Mail:

“You want to wear loose clothing and be able to move around freely to prevent blood clots, which is a small, but real risk,” says Owsianik. The risk rises for those folks who have a pre-existing heart condition or other health problems. He says everyone benefits from selecting an aisle seat for longer flights, so you can get up “at least every hour and a half just to get moving.”

From there, it’s just about getting comfortable in your seat. The first thing Owsianik does once in his seat is take his shoes off in favour of a pair of wool socks or slippers. He only suggests compression socks if you normally experience feet or leg swelling on planes.

Read more: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/article-what-to-wear-on-an-airplane-according-to-frequent-travellers/

01/24/2022

Whether it’s a spinal cord injury, joint disorder, or mental illness, travelling with a disability can be difficult. You may need to plan your trip around your limitations and make sure you pack the right supplies.

Read on for some tips to help make your next journey more accessible.

Whether it's a spinal cord injury, joint disorder, or mental illness, travelling with a disability can be difficult. You may need to plan your trip around

10/08/2021

Fully vaccinated travellers are no longer required to
quarantine for up to 14 days upon returning to Canada from travel abroad.

However, the federal government still advises against international travel.

Fully vaccinated travellers now get to skip quarantine when returning to Canada. But travelling abroad during the pandemic is still complicated — and not yet recommended by the government. Here’s what you should know before booking a trip.

10/06/2021

The World Health Organization approves the first malaria vaccine.

"This is a vaccine developed in Africa by African scientists and we're very proud," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"Using this vaccine in addition to existing tools to prevent malaria could save tens of thousands of young lives each year.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday the only approved vaccine against malaria should be widely given to African children, potentially marking a major advance against a disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people annually.

09/02/2021

"Hamilton public health has confirmed that primary care providers in the city have been reaching out to vulnerable patients to set up third COVID-19 vaccine shots amid concerns over rising case number across Ontario."

Hamilton public health confirm its partners are now reaching out to those eligible for a third COVID-19 vaccine dose.

02/24/2021

Posted • Vaccine q’s that you asked us to clarify💉💉

02/02/2021

Hamilton’s COVID-19 vaccine program, slowed by a retooling of Pfizer’s European manufacturing facilities, is expected to start booking appointments for those needing a second dose from the city’s fixed clinic in about a week.

The city's medical officer health says the mobile clinic began second doses for long-term care and retirement homes on Sunday.

01/19/2021

Hamilton's medical officer of health, Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, says COVID-19 outbreaks are on the rise even as the city sees a slight dip in new cases, with 102 recorded on Monday.

Hamilton is reporting 102 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, six fewer than the 108 reported the previous day. There was one additional death reported in the last 24 hours, bringing that total to 220.

12/18/2020

Hamilton will move into the Grey – Lockdown category within the Provincial COVID-19 Response Framework as of Monday, December 21, 2020 at 12:01 am.

Restrictions are expected to last at least 28 days.

The City of Hamilton website outlines what this means for people and businesses. https://www.hamilton.ca/government-information/news-centre/news-releases/city-hamilton-moves-grey-lockdown-category-in

12/15/2020

“The vaccine came into Hamilton airport in a ‘dry-ice sandwich,’” reports CBC Hamilton

Ontario's medical officer of health says Hamilton may not have to wait long before it gets the COVID-19 vaccine.

12/12/2020

Which age group first receives the COVID-19 vaccine—old or young— may first depend on when the vaccine becomes available.

According to a team of researchers from the University of Waterloo and the University of Guelph:

"If vaccination starts sufficiently early in 2021, a strategy of vaccinating individuals 60 years of age and older will prevent the most deaths. But more surprisingly, we found that if the vaccine is not available until later in 2021, we might be able to prevent more deaths by first vaccinating younger age groups.."

A study shows giving the COVID-19 vaccine to seniors will prevent the most deaths only if it is administered widely enough in early 2021.