TRAVEL. COVID-19. FLU.
Let’s get vaccinated
Find out what the correct vaccines are required for foreign travel.
Travelling Overseas?
There has been a significant increase in the number of citizens travelling abroad over the last decade, particularly now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, with many of us travelling to further afield destinations.
As a result, there has also been an increase in preventable travel related illness and death.
If you are planning to travel outside the UK, your travel health needs will depend on your individual situation and the following considerations:
- Your general health.
- Where you are travelling to.
- Where you will be staying.
- How long you will be staying.
- What you will be doing throughout your trip.
There is lots of useful travel health information available on the Fit for Travel website www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk. This site has a wealth of information to make your plans easier and prepare for safe travel.
We encourage you to visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk first before contacting NHS Grampian’s Travel Health Service.
NHS Grampian’s Travel Health Service
In Grampian, our travel service is delivered by 35 community pharmacies who will provide you with a full travel risk assessment, general travel health advice and then, if required, vaccination and malaria prophylaxis.
It is important that you seek travel advice in adequate time before you travel. Some vaccines take time to work, so we advise you to contact your chosen pharmacy a minimum of 6 – 8 weeks in advance of your departure, to allow us to accommodate your needs and ensure you are fully protected before you travel.
The list of pharmacies who provide this service, their contact details and opening times is available HERE.
For departures dates less than 6 weeks away, we would encourage you to still contact your community pharmacy provider, where you will be able to access their private travel service only. NHS vaccinations will only be provided to patients who attend clinics a minimum of 6 weeks prior to travel.
Do I have to pay for travel vaccines?
There are 4 vaccines available on the NHS for which there is no charge:
- Cholera
- Hepatitis A
- Diptheria, Tetanus, Polio (DPT),
- Typhoid,
Please note that additionally required vaccines for malaria prophylaxis are chargeable.
You will be offered these vaccines based on the recommendations and your individual risk assessment for the country you are travelling to and the type of travel you are undertaking.
Other travel vaccinations are provided at a cost to the traveller. Our community pharmacies will discuss these costs fully with you and you can decide to have these vaccines from the pharmacy or a private provider of your choice.
What should I do now?
- Visit the Fit for Travel website fitfortravel.nhs.uk and review advice about the country/countries you are visiting
- If you require a full travel risk assessment, please visit the list of our participating community pharmacies. Please make contact directly and make an appointment
- Please bring with you to your appointment a note of your previous vaccination history. This can be obtained from your General Practice if you do not have it already.
- If you have children attending with you, please bring the child’s red book with you or details of any vaccinations your child has received in school. Please discuss with the community pharmacist if you do not have this information.
- If you have an appointment to receive your travel vaccinations and are no longer able to attend it is important that you give adequate notice to our community pharmacies. You must give a minimum of 48 hours’ notice of cancellation. Late cancellation or appointments not attended result in a cost to our community pharmacy teams.
Useful links
NHS Scotland’s fit for travel website Home – Fit for Travel
NHS Inform travel and vaccination guide Travel health and vaccinations | NHS inform
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Foreign travel advice – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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