WHAT VACCINATIONS DO I NEED?
If you’re about to travel outside the UK, you may require vaccinations or medicines to protect against diseases found in other parts of the world before you set off.
In the UK, the NHS routine immunisation schedule protects against a number of diseases, but does not cover all diseases you may be exposed to abroad.
You may be more at risk of some diseases and the vaccines you may need depend on things like:
- Which regions you are visiting
- What activities you will be doing
- Your accommodation
- Your age and general health
Ideally, you should start to think about the vaccines you may need 6-8 weeks before you travel, as some vaccines need to be given as a course over several weeks or months.
Some countries require proof of vaccination as part of entry or exit requirements, for example Yellow Fever for parts of Africa and South America, or Meningitis ACWY for Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
General information about recommended vaccines and travel health is available online from Travel Health Pro.
International travel is restricted in some places due to COVID-19. There may be COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements for your destination and/or for leaving or returning to the UK. You should keep up to date with the latest UK Government travel advice from https://www.gov.uk/travel-abroad
HOW DO I GET VACCINATIONS?
You should contact your GP surgery to check you are up to date with routine UK vaccinations, and if they offer a travel vaccine service on the NHS. They should also be able to give you a list of your vaccination record history.
You can call the pharmacy on 02380 870582 or visit the pharmacist for general advice about travel vaccinations and travel health such as malaria prevention. You should bring with you your vaccination record from your GP and any private travel vaccine records you may have, and details of your trip such as destination, accommodation, itinerary and travel dates.
PRICE AND SCHEDULE
For some diseases, you may require two or three doses of vaccines for protection before travel. Your pharmacist will be able to advise you and schedule appointments for you at appropriate intervals.
| Name | Price per dose (£) | Number of doses required (primary course) |
|---|---|---|
| Cholera | £75 | Total for single dose course |
| Cholera | £38 | Per dose - Total for two dose course £76 |
| Dengue | £87 | 1 |
| Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio | £35 | 1 |
| Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis | £80 | 1 |
| Hepatitis A | £56 | 1 |
| Hepatitis B | £36 | 3 or 4 |
| Hepatitis B (Paediatric) | £20 | 3 |
| Hepatitis A / Typhoid | £65 | 1 |
| Hepatitis A / Hepatitis B | £65 | 3 or 4 |
| Hepatitis A / Hepatitis B (Paediatric) | £40 | 2 or 3 |
| Japanese Encephalitis | £99 | 2 |
| Meningitis ACWY (Conjugated) | £62 | 1 |
| Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) | £35 | 2 |
| Rabies | £63 | 3 |
| Tick-borne Encephalitis (TBE) | £68 | 2 or 3 |
| Tick-borne Encephalitis (TBE) (Paediatric) | £56 | 2 or 3 |
| Typhoid (injection) | £40 | 1 |
| Typhoid (oral) | £30 | Total for course of 3 |
| Yellow Fever | £83 | 1 including certificate |
| Replacement International Certificate of Vaccine Prophylaxis or Certificate of Exemption |
£20 |
Appropriate number of doses depends on travel dates and individual vaccination history and will be advised during consultation.
MALARIA PREVENTION
Malaria is an infection caused by the bite of an affected mosquito. It can take just one bite to get malaria, and is common in certain parts of the world, including large parts of Africa and Asia, Central and South America, some parts of the Caribbean, Middle East, and Pacific Islands.
It is best to get advice on malaria 4-6 weeks before you travel, but it’s never too late to get advice if you are travelling sooner.
If you were born in a high-risk country but now live in the UK, it is still important to get advice as you will no longer be immune to malaria any more.
To avoid malaria, take any prescribed medication as advised, and practice bite prevention methods, including applying insect repellent on your skin (50% DEET), sleeping under mosquito nets treated with insecticide, and wearing long sleeved clothing and trousers to cover your arms and legs especially in the evening when mosquitos are most active.
- People at higher risk of malaria include
- Pregnant people
- Children
- Travellers aged over 65
- People with no spleen
- People with weakened immune system.
Malaria can be hard to spot, but symptoms include:
- Fever, sweats and chills,
- Headache and confusion
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle aches
- Yellow skin or eyes
- Sore throat or difficulty breathing.
These symptoms usually appear between 7 and 18 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, but in some cases can appear after months or even years after travel.
If you think you have malaria symptoms, you should speak to your GP urgently or call 111.
Medication to prevent malaria is available without a prescription. The tablets recommended depend on your destination, and the duration of your stay.