There are some very serious diseases found in other parts of the world that people in the UK won’t be protected against; therefore it’s important that patients do their research.

Travellers should seek advice from a pharmacist or GP 8 weeks before they are due to travel, as some vaccines may need to be administered in advance, so that the body can develop immunity. Other vaccines may need to be given in scheduled doses over a given length of time.

Some countries may require that people are covered by certain diseases and prove this (with a certificate) before they are allowed to enter.

Some of the most common travel vaccinations are:

The traveller should find out from the GP whether their UK vaccinations are up to date. Not all travel vaccinations are available free on the NHS from a GP, even if they are recommended for a certain country.

If your pharmacy provides a travel vaccination service, ensure your customers are aware – use this opportunity to engage your customers with the service.

To read more on travel vaccinations, click here.