Travel Vaccinations: A Complete Guide Before You Fly
The vaccines and medicines you need depend on where you are going, what you will be doing and your own health. Here is how to plan, which jabs are free on the NHS, and how to protect yourself against malaria.
Key takeaways
- Book a travel health appointment at least 6 to 8 weeks before you travel, as some vaccines need several doses.
- Some travel vaccines are free on the NHS in England; others, such as yellow fever and rabies, are only available privately.
- A yellow fever certificate is now valid for life and must be issued by a registered yellow fever vaccination centre.
- There is no malaria vaccine for travellers, so bite prevention and the right antimalarial tablets are essential.
Plan early
The NHS advises seeing a travel health professional at least 8 weeks before you leave. Some vaccines take time to work and some, such as rabies or hepatitis B, are given as a course over several weeks. If you are travelling sooner, it is still worth getting advice, as some protection is better than none.
At a travel consultation your pharmacist will consider your destination, length of stay, planned activities, accommodation, age, medical history, pregnancy and any medicines you take. Official country-by-country advice comes from TravelHealthPro, run by the UK's National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC).
Check your routine vaccines first
Before thinking about travel-specific jabs, make sure your UK routine vaccinations are up to date, including measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and tetanus, diphtheria and polio. Measles outbreaks are common in many parts of the world, including Europe.
Which travel vaccines are free on the NHS?
| Usually free on the NHS | Usually private (you pay) |
|---|---|
| Diphtheria, tetanus and polio (combined booster) | Yellow fever |
| Typhoid | Rabies |
| Hepatitis A | Japanese encephalitis |
| Cholera | Tick-borne encephalitis |
| Meningitis ACWY (for travel) | |
| Hepatitis B (unless you are in an eligible group) |
Free vaccines are given by your GP surgery. A private travel clinic can provide all vaccines, including those not available on the NHS, in a single appointment.
Common travel vaccines explained
- Hepatitis A: spread through contaminated food and water. One dose gives protection for about a year; a booster extends this to 25 years or more.
- Typhoid: a bacterial infection from contaminated food and water. The injectable vaccine lasts about three years. It does not give complete protection, so food and water hygiene still matter.
- Rabies: almost always fatal once symptoms start. A pre-exposure course is advised for remote travel, long stays or work with animals. Even if vaccinated, any bite or scratch from a mammal abroad needs urgent medical care.
- Yellow fever: required or recommended for parts of sub-Saharan Africa and South America. It can only be given at registered yellow fever centres. Since 2016, the certificate is valid for life.
- Japanese encephalitis: considered for longer stays in rural parts of Asia, especially during the rainy season.
Malaria: ABCD of prevention
Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal infection spread by mosquitoes. There is no vaccine suitable for UK travellers, so UK guidance uses the ABCD approach:
- Awareness of the risk at your destination
- Bite prevention: DEET-based repellent (50% is suitable for most people), long sleeves at dusk and dawn, and treated bed nets
- Chemoprophylaxis: take the right antimalarial tablets (such as atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine), exactly as directed, including after you return
- Diagnosis: get urgent medical help for any fever during or up to a year after travel, and say where you have been
Food, water and other risks
Drink bottled or treated water, avoid ice and uncooked foods that may have been washed in tap water, and wash your hands often. Pack oral rehydration salts in case of travellers' diarrhoea. Take out travel insurance that covers your medical needs, and carry enough of your regular medicines in their original packaging.
After you return
If you feel unwell after travelling, especially with a fever, diarrhoea, rash or jaundice, contact NHS 111 or your GP and tell them which countries you have visited.
Sources and further reading
- Travel vaccinations — NHS (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/travel-vaccinations/)
- Country information and travel health advice — TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) (https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/)
- Immunisation against infectious disease (the Green Book) — UK Health Security Agency (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immunisation-against-infectious-disease-the-green-book)
- Malaria — NHS (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/malaria/)
Content reviewed on 26 October 2026 against current UK guidance. Guidance and eligibility can change; always check the linked sources for the latest information.
This healthcare guide is published for health literacy and educational purposes and does not replace personalized medical advice from a doctor or pharmacist. If you experience sudden, acute symptoms (such as crushing chest pain, signs of stroke, severe breathing difficulty, or an acute allergic reaction), call 999 immediately or visit your nearest Emergency Department. For non-urgent medical advice, call NHS 111 or consult our clinical pharmacists.
