In 2023 UK travellers made an estimated 86.2 million visits abroad. This is an increase from 2022 and part of a post-pandemic upward trend (Office for National Statistics).

This increase in overseas travel is driving an increase in requirement for Travel Haelth services.

There are some very serious diseases found in other parts of the world that people in the UK won’t be protected against. Public Health England (PHE) has published details of malaria cases imported into the United Kingdom (UK) in 2023. In 2023, a total of 2,004 cases of imported malaria were reported. Therefore, it’s important that customers do their research. 

Travellers should seek advice from a pharmacist or their GP at least 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 require proof of vaccination (for example, for polio or yellow fever vaccination), which must be documented on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) before entry or when you leave a country.

Saudi Arabia requires proof of vaccination against certain types of meningitis for visitors arriving for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.

Being the most accessible healthcare professional within the community, pharmacy is ideally positioned to help their customers stay healthy when they travel.