Travel Vaccinations Policy
We can only provide vaccinations to patients registered at the surgery.
In order for us to arrange any travel vaccinations available on the NHS for you, you can either:
- Attend a private travel clinic, they will tell you which vaccinations are needed for the area you are travelling to. You will need to take a printed list of your vaccination history, which we can provide you with. Please bring the written copy of the travel advice recommendations to the surgery.
- Ask for a printed list of your vaccination history, then visit this website which will advise you on the recommended vaccines for your travel area. Once you have done this, fill in our NHS Travel Vaccine Request Form and return it to the surgery.
If possible, provide us with documentation at least eight weeks before you are due to travel, because some vaccinations need to be given well in advance to allow your body to develop immunity and some involve multiple doses spread over several weeks.
The Practice Nurses will check the information provided and ensure that the vaccines are in stock or arrange a prescription for you, you will then be invited to make an appointment.
Free travel vaccinations (available at the GP surgery)
The following travel vaccinations are available free on the NHS:
- Diphtheria, polio and tetanus (combined booster)
- Typhoid
- Hepatitis A (including when combined with typhoid or hepatitis B)
- Cholera
Cholera vaccine is usually only recommended for travel to remote places with little or no access to medical care. The vaccine is not highly effective and best measures are good hand hygiene and using clean water.
Usually, the cholera vaccine is recommended for:
- volunteer/aid workers in disaster relief situations where cholera outbreaks are likely
- those travelling to work in refugee camps, areas affected by natural disasters
- countries experiencing cholera outbreaks where care with food and water is difficult or not possible
These vaccines are free because they protect against diseases thought to represent the greatest risk to public health if they were brought into the country.
The practice will be able to provide these vaccines for you given enough notice.
Private travel vaccinations (available at a private travel clinic)
You will have to pay for travel vaccinations against:
- Hepatitis B (when not combined with hepatitis A)
- Japanese encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Rabies
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Yellow fever
Yellow fever vaccines are only available from designated centres.
The NaTHNaC website can help you find where to get a yellow fever vaccination.
The cost of travel vaccines at private clinics will vary but could be around £50 for each dose of a vaccine. Therefore, if a vaccine requires three doses, the total cost could be around £150. It’s worth considering this when budgeting for your trip.
Malaria prophylaxis
Drugs for malaria prophylaxis are not prescribable on the NHS. You will have to buy them or pay for a private prescription.