TRAVEL ADVICE

ADVICE FOR TRAVELLERS NEW VERSION May 2023

The NHS has a very comprehensive website, giving the information you need to stay healthy during your trip abroad.

This can be found at 

Please follow these simple steps:https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/

 1.        Select the country information tab and click on the country you are visiting.

2.         Read all the advice thoroughly. This will give you detailed information about health risks abroad such as insect bites, sun-exposure, contaminated food and drink. Also advice is given about visas and health insurance and covid vaccination requirements.

3.         Note the ‘Courses or boosters usually advised’.

 

It is your responsibility to find out any vaccines you have had in the past. We can give you a copy of the vaccination we have on our record for you but this probably will not include any vaccinations given elsewhere.

The following vaccinations are commonly required for many holiday destinations, and are free of charge on the NHS:

  • Diphtheria, tetanus & polio (combined)
  • Hepatitis A
  • Typhoid

•          Diphtheria, tetanus & polio – If you have had 5 vaccinations in your life you may be covered. Boosters required every 10 years for some destinations only.

•          Hepatitis A – if you have had two vaccinations, you are covered for 25 years (from the 2nd dose)

•          Typhoid – booster required every 3 years (for travel purposes only)

These can be administered by a nurse at this surgery, if needed. Please book a 10 minute telephone appointment with a nurse a minimum of 4 weeks before travel to inform them of your vaccination history and to be advised on vaccination need and stock levels.

 The nurse will then book you in with themselves to administer the vaccines required.

During your telephone consult, if you are going to more exotic locations that require non-NHS vaccines the nurse will guide you about these and direct you to a high street travel clinic to obtain them (see the list at the bottom of the page). There will be a charge for these. We strongly advise you to check your requirements for exotic locations at least three months before travel, as sometimes a course of up to three vaccinations needs to be given over the course of several weeks. This advice also applies to back-packers, people travelling for more than 4 weeks, or special situations, e.g. working in health care projects, or with animals.

 

Please take special note of any Malaria risk and advice including the ABCD advice and the Malaria map. Medication needs to be started before entering a Malaria area, continued during the trip, and for a period of time after leaving, so you need plan ahead. Children especially need to be protected. Bite avoidance is key and will also help protect against other risks that might be in area like Dengue fever

 

 

TRAVEL SAFELY AND ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY!

Useful contacts:

Cotham Pharmacy Travel Clinic:  https://cothampharmacy.co.uk/travel-clinic