Vaccines for Travel
Immunisations recommended or required for particular destinations.
Last revised
Key takeaways
- Lead time: ideally 6-8 weeks before travel
- Free on the NHS: some, including typhoid, hepatitis A and cholera
- Most useful single change: Book a travel appointment six to eight weeks ahead.
- Commonest mistake: Leaving it until the week before travel.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Why it matters
Several take weeks to become effective, and some are conditions of entry rather than optional.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Lead time | ideally 6-8 weeks before travel |
| Free on the NHS | some, including typhoid, hepatitis A and cholera |
| Yellow fever | certificate required for entry to some countries |
| Information source | NaTHNaC TravelHealthPro, by destination |
What helps
- Book a travel appointment six to eight weeks ahead
- Check destination-specific advice before booking
- Check routine vaccinations are up to date as well
What to avoid
- Leaving it until the week before travel
- Skipping yellow fever certification where entry requires it
Where to go next
- Vaccines for Travel: Just the Figures
- What the Guidance Really Says About Vaccines for Travel
- Shingles Vaccination: What the Evidence Actually Says
- Pneumococcal Vaccination: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to get help
Seek medical advice before travel if you are pregnant, immunosuppressed, or travelling to a malaria area. See a doctor urgently for fever within twelve months of returning from a malaria area, and say where you travelled.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.