We answer your most-asked questions about travel vaccinations, so they can be the least of your holiday worries
Passport? Check. Sunscreen? Check. Travel vaccinations? Check.
Ensuring you’ve considered any recommended vaccinations is an important part of any holiday checklist. Here, we answer some of the most-asked travel vaccination questions so you can prepare successfully for a trip abroad.
What are travel vaccinations?
Travel vaccinations are recommended before visiting certain countries. In fact, some countries’ entry requirements state that certain jabs are compulsory. Vaccinations help to protect against serious illnesses that the body may not have encountered before and there is a risk of this disease in the country of destination. Think cholera and yellow fever as examples of the kinds of diseases the body could be exposed to.
Just like vaccinations you may have received in the past – for example, a flu or COVID-19 vaccination – those for travel work by triggering the immune system, which then ramps up its defences against the disease or virus concerned. If you’re planning to travel abroad, vaccinations should help protect the body from some infectious diseases and limit health risks when abroad.
Why do I need travel vaccinations?
The UK has a national childhood vaccination programme and if you took advantage of this, you might remember having jabs at a GP practice or even at school. These vaccinations help provide protection against some diseases, such as measles, mumps and rubella, but for infectious diseases that are found further afield, the health risks remain.
If you’re considering travelling abroad, it’s important to check what vaccinations are recommended for the country of destination, even if you spent your childhood in the UK and took advantage of the national programme. Here are a few reasons why:
• You may need booster shots
• You may need to complete a course of childhood vaccinations that you started but didn’t finish
• You may have been unable to take part in the childhood vaccination programme at the time
• Some diseases not covered by the programme may be a risk in your country of destination
So, if you’re jetting off to somewhere exotic, entering a part of the world you’ve not visited before or spending time in rural areas, travel vaccinations could be recommended for the trip to help protect against some infectious diseases.
Which vaccinations will I need & where can I get them?
The vaccinations to consider depend on where you’ll be visiting, the activities you’ll be doing and your age and general health. The Boots Travel Vaccinations & Health Advice Service can help you decide which vaccinations and antimalarials to consider for your trip, and offer general travel healthcare advice on how to help keep you safe while abroad. Or, speak to a GP for advice.
Use our Travel Vaccinations & Health Advice quick check tool to find out which diseases are found in which countries.
Some travel vaccinations are available for free on the NHS – speak to a GP or practice nurse to find out which ones are recommended and to book an appointment. Our Travel Vaccinations & Health Advice Service can also offer the following vaccinations if deemed appropriate and clinically suitable:
• Cholera
• Rabies
• Typhoid
Are any travel vaccinations mandatory to enter a country?
There are some countries that require proof of vaccination upon entry, which must be documented on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP). For example, a yellow fever vaccination may be required in certain parts of Africa. Proof of a meningococcal meningitis ACWY vaccination is required for Saudi Arabia for those wishing to take part in Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
In general, travel vaccinations aren’t often legally required.
When should I book an appointment?
Okay, so vaccinations might not be top of the list when planning a trip away, but it’s important to think about them sooner rather than later. We recommend booking an appointment with your GP or travel vaccination clinic six to eight weeks before travel. However, if time is short, we may still be able to help you with options to consider.
How can I access Boots’ Travel Vaccinations & Health Advice Service?
Our Travel Vaccinations and Health Advice Service* is available in selected UK stores, with appointments lasting around 40 minutes. Our specially-trained pharmacists can advise on vaccinations to consider and offer personalised travel health advice.
It’s simple to book an appointment online. Our service is suitable for adults and children aged two or over. Our pharmacists may also be able to offer antimalarials as part of this service, without needing to book a separate appointment with the Boots Malaria Prevention Service*.
Interested in learning more? Check out our guide on malaria.
* Eligibility criteria and charges apply. Available in selected pharmacies, subject to availability
Further information
For more travel information, from what to do before booking anywhere, products to remember for packing and vaccinations to consider, watch the video below.
Planning your next holiday? Check out our guides to some popular destinations:
• Travel advice and what vaccinations you may need to travel to Thailand
• Travel advice and what vaccinations you may need to travel to India
• Travel advice and what vaccinations you may need to travel to Australia
• Travel advice and what vaccinations you may need to travel to Vietnam
• Travel advice and what vaccinations you may need to travel to South Africa
