Advice For Travellers

 

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The practice does not provide general travel advice. Comprehensive and reliable advice is available online at Fit For Travel, 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 Fit For Travel website. 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. The Fit For Travel 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.
  • If you find you only need vaccinations that are available on the NHS, then simply make an appointment to see a Practice Nurse. Please tell the receptionist that this is the reason for your appointment.
  • When you attend you will be required to sign a statement that you have read the Fit For Travel 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
 

Some examples of what travellers may need

Mr Singh and his wife are travelling to Pakistan for a
family wedding and staying over for a few months in a
rural area several hours drive from Hyderabad.

They are staying for an extended period in a rural area
and are likely to need vaccinations in the ‘Other vaccines
to consider’ category. This is also a high risk area for
Malaria.

They are going to need vaccinations not available on
the NHS and anti-malarials - they need to visit a private
travel clinic before coming to the surgery.

The Jones family are off to Antalya in Turkey for some
summer sun. Staying for just a week, they’ll be sticking
close to the resort.

Vaccinations needed will be limited to the ‘Courses or
boosters usually advised’ and - as well as checking their
‘normal’ UK vaccinations are up to date - it’s
recommended that Tetanus is given. All available on
the NHS, so the Jones can simply book appointments
here with the Practice Nurse

Mr & Mrs Smith are off to Thailand for a relaxing
fortnight. They plan on staying in their resort for much
of the time, but may visit some of the local sights. The
areas they plan to visit have low malaria risk.

Vaccinations needed will be limited to the ‘Courses or
boosters usually advised’ and - as well as checking their
‘normal’ UK vaccinations are up to date - it’s
recommended that Tetanus is given. All available on
the NHS, so the Jones can simply book appointments
here with the Practice Nurse

The Smiths’ son is also off to Thailand, but for a few
months with his friends. Backpacking around the
country will take them into much more remote areas
and planned river trips are included, in higher risk
zones for malaria.

They are likely to need vaccinations in the ‘Other
vaccines to consider’ category.

They are going to need vaccinations not available on
the NHS and anti-malarials - they need to visit a private
travel clinic before coming to the surgery.

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.