Vaccinations Guide

When planning a trip abroad, it is important that you research the destination you are intending to visit, to check whether you need vaccinations or preventative medicines before you travel.

Below are some things to take into consideration when planning a trip;

• If you are planning to visit Australia or a country in Northern / Central Europe, or North America, you will most likely not need any injections. However if you are planning to travel further afield you will probably need some form of jab, even if it is simply a booster.
• Remember that the region of the country, and the time of year you are visiting could make a difference – do plenty of research and consult your GP.
• You should arrange to see your GP a minimum of eight weeks before you have planned to depart. Some vaccinations and tablets take this long to take effect.
• It is important to remember that not all vaccinations are offered on the NHS, if your vaccination is not available you will need to research a private clinic. Unfortunately you will need to pay for these jabs, the cost can vary depending on the dose you need, but they will normally cost around £50.00 for one dose.
• Always make sure you invest in quality travel insurance before you travel. Travel Insurance will prove invaluable if you do face a holiday nightmare; it could potentially get you home and save you thousands of pounds.

Make sure you inform your GP if any of the following are applicable to your plans;

• Will you be spending a lot of time outdoors, trekking or visiting rural areas? You are more at risk of contracting something in rural rather than urban areas.
• Will you be doing charity work? You are far more likely to come into contact with disease if you are working in poorer communities, simply because they have very little medical care.
• Are you planning to work in a hospital or clinic? People working in a medical setting will need to take additional precautionary measures.
• Will you be in contact with animals? Diseases such as rabies can be spread by wild animals, so you may need additional injections.
• Are you a backpacker who will be staying in hostels or camp sites rather than hotels? If so you are more at risk.
• Are you planning an extended visit? The longer your stay, the greater your risk of being exposed to medical issues.
• Also remember that your age and health can make you more vulnerable to infection. Also inform your GP if you have any pre-existing medical conditions, as this could affect the treatment you can have.

If you would like more information on travelling and vaccinations visit https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations.aspx.