Travel Information

Information and advice for travelling abroad

Travel Vaccinations

There's no point spending hours choosing your swimwear, beach bag and flip-flops if you barely think about the bugs and other health risks that could ruin your holiday.

Almost one in four UK holidaymakers don't get any vaccinations despite travelling to areas that have life-threatening infectious disease.

If your holiday itinerary is more complicated, for example multiple destinations, dangerous activities, working and living with the local population, or you are away for over one month, we would encourage you to go to a private travel clinic for a "travel risk assessment". They will also be able to provide private vaccinations for Hepatitis B, Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis, Meningitis ACW and Y and Yellow Fever. You can still have the free ones here at Waterfield House Surgery.

Read the latest health advice for the country you're travelling to on the Fit for Travel website, and check the travel safety updates with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

Prepare a kit of travel health essentials, including sunscreen, painkillers, antiseptic, insect repellent and anti-diarrhoea pills. These will be useful wherever you're going.

Sexual health experts advise taking condoms with you to avoid the risk of buying fake brands, which may be unsafe, when you get there.

It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible - at least 6 weeks before you travel - as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations. These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine. Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.