Advice For Travellers

 

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The practice does not provide general travel advice. Comprehensive and reliable advice is available online at Travel Health Pro, and we will provide a copy of the immunisations we hold on record upon request – please remember to update us if you have had any done privately.

The practice will continue to provide all vaccinations for travelling that are free on the NHS as necessary:

  • Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (combined as DTP): combined in one injection updated every 10 years or as needed
  • Hepatitis A: 2 Doses, 2nd dose after 6-12 months which will then cover you for 25 years
  • Cholera (Note, most people do not need this): 2 doses, 1-6 weeks apart, providing protection for up to 2 years
  • MMR: 2 doses, at least 1 month apart (adults)
  • Typhoid:

image depicting travel vaccinations

 

Travel Vaccinations: Assessment and General Advice

The practice is no longer providing general travel advice. This is very time consuming and with limited resources in the NHS, we need to focus our attention on patients who are actually unwell. There is very comprehensive and reliable advice available online and we are now asking patients to make use of this.

The practice will continue to provide all vaccinations that are free on the NHS.

If you are travelling and think you may need vaccinations, this is what you need to do.

  • Go to the Travel Health Pro. This site is provided by the NHS for use by the general public. It is accurate, easy to use and is kept right up to date.
  • Use the Search box to select the country you are visiting.
  • Read all sections of the advice page carefully. For the section on Malaria, check the map to see if you are visiting any high risk areas.
  • Under Immunisations will be listed: 1. ‘Courses or boosters usually advised’ and 2. ‘Other vaccines to consider’. All the vaccinations listed under (1) should be obtained before you travel. Vaccinations listed under (2) may be needed depending on the kind of trip you are planning. Travel Health Pro website has all the information to find out what vaccinations you need.
  • The vaccinations available free on the NHS are listed below. If any of the vaccinations you think you will need are not available on the NHS, we will not provide them. You must first visit a private travel clinic. They will provide advice, give the vaccinations that are not available on the NHS and charge a fee. They will also advise you on malaria risk and provide anti-malarial medication if this is recommended. If you need further vaccinations that are available free on the NHS they will then direct you to the practice.
  • When you contact the surgery to ask about travel vaccinations, we will first send you a text message to assess your travel needs. You must complete and return this questionnaire before an appointment can be booked. Once the questionnaire has been completed and sent back to us, please call the surgery to book your appointment.
  • When you attend you will be required to sign a statement that you have read the Travel Health Pro advice and/or received advice from a travel clinic. The Nurse will check your vaccinations history and give you any vaccinations you need that are available free on the NHS. We will not provide any advice as such.
  • The vaccinations you need will often depend more on the sort of holiday/trip you are having, rather than simply the country you are visiting. Below we’ve given some examples to illustrate this.
 

Available on the NHS

  • Diphtheria
  • Hep A
  • Cholera
  • MMR
  • Polio
  • Tetanus
  • Typhoid

It can take time to do your research and get advice, so make sure you start investigating your vaccination and health needs well in advance, at least 6/8 weeks before your departure.