Travel Health Advice

flight_and_luggage

1. Do I need vaccinations?

Vaccines are not normally necessary for anyone travelling to Western Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand (although you should ensure that your poliomyelitis and tetanus are up to date).

If you are travelling to other destinations, you should consult your doctor or the practice nurse, who will advise you on which vaccines you need to get before travelling.

Note: you must be fully registered with our GP practice to be eligible for travel vaccinations.

2. When should I have them?

You must plan for any vaccinations needed for your trip and visit the practice nurse at least three months before your travel date. This is because:

  • Some vaccines can only be done over the course of 6 weeks, and you may require up to 3 or 4 of each for maximum protection.
  • Many vaccines must be given a few weeks before travelling to ensure their full effectiveness.
  • Your pharmacist needs time to order them.

3.What information do I need to provide?

If you need vaccinations, complete the form below:

clock2Travel Questionnaire

Please include:

  • Your contact information, including your email address, so the nurse can contact you if necessary.
  • Personal profile (as much as possible, but we can also check your medical records).
  • Full details of where you are travelling to and the type of accommodation you will be staying at (if you plan on camping out in rural areas instead of staying at a resort, you may need extra cover).

Once you have completed this, please return it to reception as soon as possible. The form will be processed within ten working days. There is a £10 administration charge for the practice nurse to review your form and check your medical history; this is payable in cash when you hand in your completed form.

If you are travelling with your family, we do not charge for children if the adults have completed forms.

4. Do I need to pay for the vaccinations?

Some vaccines will be available on the NHS, but others may not, so you need to budget to allow for the cost of additional vaccines required for your travel.

GPs can give the following vaccines free of charge:

  • Diphtheria
  • Hepatitis A
  • Polio
  • Tetanus
  • Typhoid
  • MMR (mumps, measles, rubella)

GPs cannot give the following vaccines on the NHS

  • Hepatitis B (course of 3-4 vaccines schedule)
  • Japanese Encephalitis (course of 2 vaccines)
  • Meningococcal
  • Rabies (course of 3 vaccines)
  • Tick-borne Encephalitis (Course of 3 Vaccines)
  • Yellow fever

For vaccines that are not available on the NHS, your GP must write a private prescription for these vaccines, and you will have to pay for these at your local pharmacy. They will be able to tell you when the vaccines will be in stock and how much they cost. Some of these vaccines are very expensive. 

You can then make an appointment with the practice to have the vaccine(s) administered. Please note that an additional charge of £7.50 per vaccine for the doctor or nurse administering these vaccines is payable in advance.

For information on vaccines and what they prevent, go to www.dh.gov.uk/greenbook.

5. How do I store them?

The vaccine(s) should be stored appropriately, as advised by the community pharmacist, until your appointment with your doctor or nurse, who will administer the vaccine(s).

6. Information Regarding Malaria

If you are travelling to an area where you need to take medication against malaria, GPs issue this on a private prescription. You can also buy some antimalarial medications from your local pharmacy without a prescription. Our practice nurse will advise you about the most appropriate preventative treatment for the country you are visiting.

Additionally, you can check out the malaria maps below for more information on protection against malaria. The website provides information regarding the best malaria protection, as well as the cheapest option (but you may prefer to spend more to get the best protection).

EuropeEurope & RussiaNorth AmericaNorth America
Central AmericaCentral AmericaindiaSouth America
egyptCaribbeanlithuaniaAfrica
bulgariaMiddle EastpolandCentral Asia
chinaEast AsiachinaAustralasia and Pacific

 

7. Information about long-term medication and preventative medication

If you are on medication that you require on a regular basis for an illness or condition, please ensure that you have enough with you to last for your whole holiday.

If you are travelling for more than three months, you should find a doctor who can continue your care in the country that you are visiting.

If you want to bring medicines that you do not normally take to use in case you become ill when abroad, such as antibiotics, these are not available on NHS prescription. If necessary, your GP may issue a private prescription.

pdf For more information, download our Travel Health Booklet.



 
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