Travel vaccines: what you need before your trip

Why travel vaccines matter

Every year, thousands of UK travellers return home with preventable illnesses — typhoid, hepatitis A, rabies bites that were not properly managed, or mosquito-borne infections that could have been significantly reduced with appropriate prophylaxis. Some of these illnesses are self-limiting and unpleasant; others can be severe or fatal.

The risk varies enormously depending on where you are going, what you will be doing, and how long you will be there. A two-week holiday in a luxury resort in Mexico carries a very different risk profile from a three-month backpacking trip through rural Southeast Asia. A business traveller making repeated short trips to urban centres needs a different strategy from a family visiting relatives in rural sub-Saharan Africa.

This is why travel health advice is not a tick-box exercise. A proper travel health consultation reviews your destination, itinerary, activities, health history, and individual risk factors — and produces a personalised plan, not a generic leaflet.

How far in advance should I book a travel health appointment?

The most common mistake travellers make is leaving travel health too late. Some vaccines require multiple doses over several weeks. Some vaccines (particularly yellow fever) can only be administered at designated centres. Malaria prophylaxis needs to be started before you arrive in a malaria-endemic area — in some cases, up to three weeks before.

As a general guide:

• Six to eight weeks before departure — ideal. Gives time for all vaccine courses and allows any reactions to be assessed before travel.
• Four weeks before — still plenty of time for most vaccines. Some courses may need to be accelerated.
• Two to three weeks before — possible for many vaccines. Some multi-dose courses will not be complete in time, but single-dose vaccines and malaria prophylaxis can still be arranged.
• Less than two weeks before — urgent appointments are available at AtWell. Some protection is always better than none.

What travel vaccines are free on the NHS?

The NHS provides a limited range of travel vaccines free of charge, where they are considered necessary to protect public health. These include:

• Polio (as part of the combined tetanus, diphtheria, and polio vaccine)
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A
• Cholera

However, availability through NHS GP practices is increasingly variable. Not all GP practices offer travel health services, and those that do may have long waiting times for appointments. If your departure is imminent or you need vaccines not covered by the NHS, a private travel health clinic is almost always the faster and more comprehensive option.

Vaccines that are typically private-only in the UK include: yellow fever, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis, meningococcal ACWY (for travel), hepatitis B, and combination travel vaccines.

Common destinations and what you might need

Every destination has its own risk profile. Here is a broad overview — but this is no substitute for personalised advice.

Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia)

Hepatitis A and typhoid are recommended for most travellers. Japanese encephalitis is relevant for longer stays or rural travel, particularly in rice-growing areas. Rabies vaccination should be considered for backpackers, adventure travellers, or anyone spending extended time in rural areas. Malaria risk varies significantly by region and season — some areas require prophylaxis, others do not.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into many African countries and is strongly recommended for most of the continent. Malaria prophylaxis is essential for most sub-Saharan destinations. Typhoid, hepatitis A, and meningococcal meningitis vaccines are recommended. Rabies is a consideration for longer stays. Travellers to certain areas may be advised to carry emergency standby treatment for malaria.

South Asia (India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan)

Typhoid and hepatitis A are standard recommendations. Rabies should be considered for extended travel or those working with animals. Japanese encephalitis is relevant for rural and farming areas. Malaria prophylaxis is needed for many regions of India and Nepal. Altitude sickness medication should be considered for trekkers in Nepal.

Latin America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador)

Yellow fever is required or recommended for many South and Central American destinations. Typhoid, hepatitis A, and malaria prophylaxis for relevant areas. Rabies for adventure travellers or those spending time in rural areas.

Middle East and North Africa

Hepatitis A and typhoid are recommended for most destinations outside major tourist resorts. Travellers to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah require meningococcal ACWY vaccination as a condition of entry. Malaria exists in some areas of the region.

Yellow fever: what you need to know

Yellow fever is a serious viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes in parts of Africa and South America. The vaccine provides protection for life (a single dose is considered lifelong under current WHO guidance). Crucially, yellow fever vaccination can only be administered at officially designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres — AtWell is an approved centre. You will receive an International Certificate of Vaccination (the "yellow card") which may be required for entry to certain countries. Without it, you may be refused entry or required to be vaccinated at the border.

Malaria prophylaxis

Malaria cannot be prevented by vaccination — but the risk can be substantially reduced through a combination of insect bite prevention and chemoprophylaxis (preventive medication). The choice of medication depends on your destination, the type of malaria prevalent there, your health history, and the duration of your trip. The main options are:

• Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) — well tolerated, can be started just one to two days before travel, and stopped seven days after return. The standard choice for most short trips.
• Doxycycline — an antibiotic that also provides broad antimicrobial benefit. Started two days before travel, taken daily, and continued for four weeks after return. Not suitable during pregnancy or for children under 12.
• Mefloquine (Lariam) — started three weeks before travel, allowing any neuropsychiatric side effects to be identified before departure. Now less commonly used due to side effects but still appropriate for some destinations and individuals.

Medication alone is not sufficient — bite avoidance (DEET-containing repellents, appropriate clothing, insecticide-treated bed nets) remains essential. Your AtWell travel health clinician will advise on the full package of precautions for your specific trip.

What to expect from a travel health consultation at AtWell

AtWell's travel health clinic offers comprehensive pre-travel consultations with clinicians who are trained in travel medicine. At your appointment, we will:

• Review your itinerary, planned activities, and duration of stay
• Assess your vaccination history and identify any gaps or boosters required
• Administer vaccines at the same appointment, including yellow fever where required
• Prescribe malaria prophylaxis if needed, with clear instructions on how to take it
• Provide advice on food and water safety, insect bite prevention, and what to do if you become unwell abroad
• Supply emergency medications (such as standby malaria treatment or travellers' diarrhoea antibiotics) for relevant itineraries
• Provide your yellow card (International Certificate of Vaccination) if yellow fever is given

We see patients from across Balsall Common, Solihull, Knowle, Dorridge, and the wider West Midlands. Appointments are available within days — but please do not leave it too late.

"We booked a last-minute trip to Kenya and were seen at AtWell within 48 hours. The clinician was incredibly thorough — we left with everything we needed and the peace of mind that we were properly protected."

Related reading

• Health Screening: Which Tests Do I Need? — a guide to preventive health checks and key blood tests to consider before and after travel.
• When Should You See a Private GP? — understanding when private healthcare makes sense for you and your family.