Travel Medications Prescription Authority for Canadian Pharmacists [By Province]
Brianna Anderson & Taneya Raguram
January 28, 2025
A guide on pharmacist's travel medications prescription authority in various provinces of Canada.
Pharmacists play a vital role in ensuring timely access to travel health services. In many regions, they are authorized to prescribe, dispense, and administer various vaccines and medications to safeguard travelers’ health and safety. Pharmacists also provide valuable consultations, advising on required immunizations, preventive medications, and strategies for managing travel-related ailments.
By integrating with Telemed MD, pharmacists can extend these services and offer seamless access to travel medicine prescriptions when required, ensuring travelers receive this care in a timely manner. For cases outside the pharmacist's scope, such as prescribing restricted vaccines or managing complex health histories, Telemed MD offers a consult form to connect pharmacists and patients with physicians who can provide prescriptions or further evaluations.
Refer to the chart below to identify how Telemed MD can support your pharmacy based on your scope, ensuring a streamlined and efficient process for patients preparing for travel. Together, we can help travellers stay safe and healthy wherever their journeys take them.
Pharmacists play a vital role in ensuring timely access to travel health services. In many regions, they are authorized to prescribe, dispense, and administer various vaccines and medications to safeguard traveler health and safety. Pharmacists also provide valuable consultations, advising on required immunizations, preventive medications, and strategies for managing travel-related ailments.
By integrating with Telemed MD, pharmacists can transform their pharmacy into a one-stop travel health clinic, offering seamless access to travel medicine prescriptions and vaccinations all in a single visit. Prescriptions are sent back to the requesting pharmacy within 15 minutes, ensuring travelers receive timely care. For cases outside the pharmacist’s scope, such as prescribing restricted vaccines or managing complex health histories, Telemed MD offers a consult form to connect pharmacists and patients with physicians who can provide prescriptions or further evaluations. On average, each patient generates four vaccinations or medications per consultation, plus additional over-the-counter purchases, making this a high-value service for both the pharmacy and the patient.
Refer to the chart below to identify how Telemed MD can support your pharmacy based on your scope, ensuring a fast, efficient, and patient-friendly experience for those preparing for travel. Together, we can help travelers stay safe and healthy wherever their journeys take them.
British Columbia
Vaccine/Medication
Prescribe
Administer with Rx
Administer without Rx
TDaP
No
Yes
Yes
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
No
Yes
Yes
Hepatitis A
No
Yes
Yes
Hepatitis B
No
Yes
Yes
Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
No
Yes
Yes
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
No
Yes
Yes
MMR
No
Yes
Yes
Meningococcal
No
Yes
Yes
Rabies
No
Yes
No
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine
No
Yes
No
Traveler's Diarrhea (Oral) Vaccine
No
N/A
N/A
Typhoid Vaccine
No
Yes
No
Yellow Fever Vaccine
No
Yes; if designated centre
Yes; if designated centre
Altitude Illness Medication
No
N/A
N/A
Malaria Medication
No
N/A
N/A
Antibiotics for Traveler's Diarrhea
No
N/A
N/A
Alberta
Vaccine/Medication
Prescribe
Administer with Rx
Administer without Rx
TDaP
Yes
Yes
Yes
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Hepatitis A
Yes
Yes
Yes
Hepatitis B
Yes
Yes
Yes
Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Yes
Yes
Yes
MMR
Yes
Yes
Yes
Meningococcal
Yes
Yes
Yes
Rabies
Yes
Yes
Yes
Japanese Encephalitis
Yes
Yes
Yes
Traveller's Diarrhea (Oral) Vaccine
Yes
N/A
N/A
Typhoid Vaccine
Yes
Yes
No
Yellow Fever Vaccine
Yes
Yes; if designated centre
No
Altitude Illness Medication
Yes
N/A
N/A
Malaria Medication
Yes
N/A
N/A
Antibiotics for Traveler's Diarrhea
Yes
N/A
N/A
Saskatchewan
Vaccine/Medication
Prescribe
Administer with Rx
Administer without Rx
TDaP
Yes
Yes
No
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Yes
Yes
No
Hepatitis A
Yes
Yes
No
Hepatitis B
Yes
Yes
No
Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
Yes
Yes
No
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Yes
Yes
No
MMR
Yes
Yes
No
Meningococcal
Yes
Yes
No
Rabies
Yes
Yes
No
Japanese Encephalitis
Yes
Yes
No
Traveller’s Diarrhea (Oral) Vaccine
Yes
N/A
N/A
Typhoid Vaccine
Yes
Yes
No
Yellow Fever Vaccine
Yes
Yes; must be designated center
No
Altitude Illness Medication
Yes
N/A
N/A
Malaria Medication
Yes
N/A
N/A
Antibiotics for Traveler’s Diarrhea
Yes
N/A
N/A
Manitoba
Vaccine/Medication
Prescribe
Administer with Rx
Administer without Rx
TDaP
No
Yes
Yes
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
No
Yes
No
Hepatitis A
No
Yes
No
Hepatitis B
No
Yes
No
Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
No
Yes
No
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
No
Yes
Yes
MMR
No
Yes
No
Meningococcal
No
Yes
No
Rabies
No
Yes
No
Japanese Encephalitis
No
Yes
No
Traveller’s Diarrhea (Oral) Vaccine
No
N/A
N/A
Typhoid Vaccine
No
Yes
No
Yellow Fever Vaccine
No
Yes; if designated centre
No
Altitude Illness Medication
No
N/A
N/A
Malaria Medication
No
N/A
N/A
Antibiotics for Traveler’s Diarrhea
No
N/A
N/A
Ontario
Vaccine/Medication
Prescribe
Administer with Rx
Administer without Rx
TDaP
No
No
No
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
No
Yes
Yes
Hepatitis A
No
Yes
No
Hepatitis B
No
Yes
No
Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
No
Yes
No
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
No
Yes
Yes
MMR
No
No
No
Meningococcal
No
Yes
Yes
Rabies
No
Yes
No
Japanese Encephalitis
No
Yes
No
Traveller’s Diarrhea (Oral) Vaccine
No
N/A
N/A
Typhoid Vaccine
No
Yes
No
Yellow Fever Vaccine
No
Yes; if designated centre
No
Altitude Illness Medication
No
No
No
Malaria Medication
No
No
No
Antibiotics for Traveler’s Diarrhea
No
No
No
Quebec
Vaccine/Medication
Prescribe
Administer with Rx
Administer without Rx
TDaP
Yes
Yes
Yes
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Hepatitis A
Yes
Yes
Yes
Hepatitis B
Yes
Yes
Yes
Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Yes
Yes
Yes
MMR
Yes
Yes
Yes
Meningococcal
Yes
Yes
Yes
Rabies
Yes
Yes
Yes
Japanese Encephalitis
Yes
Yes
Yes
Traveller’s Diarrhea (Oral) Vaccine
Yes
N/A
N/A
Typhoid Vaccine
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yellow Fever Vaccine
Yes
Yes; if designated centre
Yes; if designated centre
Altitude Illness Medication
Yes
N/A
N/A
Malaria Medication
Yes
N/A
N/A
Antibiotics for Traveler’s Diarrhea
Yes (requires referral to physician or np upon prescribing)
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