Travel vaccinations: what the NHS says about which are needed and when to arrange them

When should travel vaccinations be arranged?

The NHS advises seeing a GP practice nurse or a private travel clinic well before a trip. Some vaccines need time to build protection, and some come as a course of several doses spread over weeks or months. The NHS travel vaccinations page gives around four to six weeks before departure.

Leaving it late is not a reason to skip the appointment. TravelHealthPro says some vaccines can still be given at the last minute, and malaria tablets can be started on the day of travel if needed. It adds that people who are pregnant or have a long-term condition may need to be seen earlier.

Where can country-specific advice be found?

Needs differ from one country to another. TravelHealthPro, run by the UK's National Travel Health Network and Centre, publishes country pages that list the vaccines and other health advice for each destination.

The NHS says a GP practice or travel clinic decides which vaccines are suitable and whether they can be given on the NHS.

Which travel vaccines does the NHS list?

The NHS lists several vaccines that may be advised for travel, depending on the destination. These include hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, hepatitis B, tick-borne encephalitis, meningitis and tuberculosis (TB).

The NHS also lists the combined diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccine among the vaccines relevant to travel.

Which are free on the NHS and which are paid for?

The NHS says some travel vaccines are free through a GP practice. These are the combined diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccine, typhoid, hepatitis A and cholera.

Other travel vaccines are usually paid for. The NHS names hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, meningitis, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis, tuberculosis (TB) and yellow fever.

What is the yellow fever certificate, and how is malaria prevented?

The NHS says yellow fever vaccination is available only at designated centres and is not free on the NHS. It says the vaccine needs to be given at least 10 days before travel, and a checklist is used to confirm that a person can have it. A single dose is thought to give lifelong protection, and the certificate issued afterwards, the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, is valid for life.

Malaria is prevented with tablets rather than a travel vaccine. The NHS advises getting advice from a GP, nurse, pharmacist or travel clinic before travel, ideally four to six weeks ahead, though advice can still be sought at the last minute.

What about pregnancy and long-term conditions?

The NHS advises telling the person giving a travel vaccine about any health conditions or pregnancy, and bringing a list of any medicines.

In pregnancy, the NHS says to avoid areas where yellow fever is common where possible. It lists yellow fever among the live vaccines not usually advised in pregnancy, but says it may be considered necessary when travelling to areas where yellow fever is common, because the risks of the illness are so high. The NHS advises anyone unsure to talk to a midwife or GP about the risks and benefits.