Travel Vaccinations

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If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements. This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required.

There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the Fit For Travel website

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.

Antimalarial tablets and some immunisations are not available on the NHS, and the nurse will advise you of the cost of the immunisations and prescriptions you will need. You will be required to pay at reception when you see the nurse, so please bring cash or your cheque book.

It is best to see the nurse about six weeks before you travel, or even earlier if you have a complicated itinerary e.g. long-term travel, multiple countries, backpacking.

If you are travelling at short notice the nurses will try to help you, but if they cannot, they will recommend that you contact a travel clinic such as one of those listed below. All these charge for all services.

Travel Health Questionnaire

To help us offer the appropriate advice, please fill out the online form before coming to see the nurse.

Travelling in Europe

If you are travelling to Europe the EU has published useful information for travellers on the European website.

Please note:

The following travel immunisations are available on the NHS:

• Hepatitis A 
• Diphtheria, tetanus and polio 
• Typhoid 
• Cholera

The following travel immunisations are not available on the NHS and have to be paid for:

• Hepatitis B when required solely for travel
• Meningitis ACWY
• Yellow Fever

The Staunton Group practice does not provide the following travel immunisations:

• Rabies
• Tick-borne and Japanese B Encephalitis
• BCG, i.e. protection against tuberculosis.

They can be obtained from the travel clinics listed below.

Travel clinics

These private clinics provide the full range of immunisations.

Antimalarial tablets

Malaria can kill and many malarial parasites have become immune to traditional antimalarials. Protection from the bites of the mosquitoes which carry the malarial parasite is essential, but we strongly recommend that travellers take the antimalarials internationally recommended for the area they are visiting.

Some antimalarials are available over the counter. Prescription-only antimalarials have to be written on a private prescription, i.e. the pharmacist will charge you the cost of the tablets.
Our nurses will advise you on the latest advice on antimalarials for the area you will be visiting and will tell you if they are available over the counter and will issue a prescription if they are not.

Regular medication

Please check that you have enough of your regular medication to last for your trip.

A charge is made for the following:

• Insurance claim for travel cancellation
• Confirmation that you are fit to travel, including flying during pregnancy
• Negative HIV certificate
• Freedom from Infection certificate
• Certificate that you need to take needles, syringes etc in your hand luggage (though the list of your medications on the right side of your prescription is usually accepted – check with the airline)