Quick summary: what most UK travellers need

For a typical 2-4 week trip to Pakistan (urban areas, family visits, weddings):

• Hepatitis A — strongly recommended for everyone
• Typhoid — strongly recommended for everyone
• Polio booster — mandatory for entry from some countries and on exit; recommended for all UK travellers
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (TDaP) — check you're up to date
• Hepatitis B — recommended for longer stays or if you might need medical/dental care
• Rabies pre-exposure — consider if travelling rurally or for longer than 4 weeks
• Malaria tablets — depends on region and season (see below)

The polio booster question

This catches the most UK travellers out. Pakistan is one of the few countries still listed by WHO as having endemic wild poliovirus. As a result:

• Pakistan requires you to have had a polio vaccine within the last 12 months to leave the country (Saudi Arabia, in particular, requires this stamp)
• Your routine UK childhood polio vaccinations don't count for travel — you need a recent booster
• We provide the booster and the stamped certificate at the same visit

Hepatitis A and Typhoid

Both are food and waterborne diseases that are realistic risks even for visitors staying with family in clean homes. Cross-contamination at restaurants, ice in drinks, and unwashed salads are the usual culprits.

• Hepatitis A — single dose protects for around 12 months; a booster at 6-12 months extends protection to 20+ years
• Typhoid — single dose, protection for around 3 years
• Both vaccines can be given the same visit

Malaria — region and season specific

Malaria risk in Pakistan varies enormously by region:

• Low/no risk — Islamabad, urban Lahore, urban Karachi during dry season. No tablets usually needed
• Moderate risk — rural Punjab, Sindh, and the southern coast. Antimalarial tablets recommended
• Higher risk — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, monsoon season (June-September) anywhere. Tablets strongly recommended

The right antimalarial depends on the region. We discuss specifics at your appointment based on your exact itinerary.

Rabies — don't skip the conversation

Pakistan has one of the higher rates of rabies in dogs and stray animals in the region. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination doesn't eliminate the need for post-exposure treatment if bitten, but it dramatically simplifies the response (and makes post-exposure injections easier to access). For travellers planning rural visits, longer stays, or family trips with children (who are more likely to interact with stray animals), pre-exposure rabies is strongly worth considering.

Food and water safety

Beyond vaccines, the most common health issue UK travellers report from Pakistan is travellers' diarrhoea — usually mild but occasionally severe. The basics:

• Bottled water only; check seals
• Ice in drinks is risky outside trusted hotels
• Cooked-hot food beats salads and raw veg
• Wash hands often — carry alcohol gel
• Carry a basic kit: paracetamol, anti-diarrhoeal (loperamide), oral rehydration sachets

Last-minute travel: what's possible if you leave in 1-2 weeks

Don't write off vaccination just because you're leaving soon. Hep A, Typhoid, and Polio boosters all give meaningful protection within days. Rabies pre-exposure is harder to fit in last-minute (multiple doses needed). We see plenty of patients with departures in 2-7 days — same-day appointments are usually available at Preston Clinic.

What to bring to your appointment

• Your full UK vaccination record if you have it (red book or GP printout)
• Travel dates and itinerary (cities/regions, dates, accommodation type)
• Any chronic medical conditions or current medications
• If you're attending Hajj/Umrah within 12 months of returning, mention this too