Vaccines recommended for most Pakistan travellers

The core list applies to almost everyone — tourists, business travellers, VFRs, students:

• Hepatitis A — endemic across Pakistan. Spread via contaminated food and water. One dose gives ~1 year cover; a booster at 6–12 months gives 25+ years.
• Typhoid — widespread in Pakistan, particularly in summer monsoon months. One dose, lasts 3 years.
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio (combined) — should be up to date from routine NHS schedules. If you've had a booster in the last 10 years, you're covered.
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) — measles outbreaks have been ongoing in Pakistan since 2023. If you weren't fully MMR-vaccinated as a child, get it before you go.

Vaccines recommended for some travellers

• Hepatitis B — recommended for longer stays, anyone receiving medical or dental treatment, healthcare workers. Three-dose schedule (0, 1, 6 months) ideally, accelerated 0, 1, 2 month schedule possible for last-minute trips.
• Rabies (pre-exposure) — recommended for trips to rural areas, anyone working with animals, children (who are more likely to be bitten), and stays over 1 month.
• Japanese Encephalitis — for stays in rural agricultural areas during the May–October transmission season.
• Cholera — for stays in areas with active outbreaks, aid workers, or those staying with locals in rural areas with poor sanitation.
• Influenza — recommended for travel during local flu season (December–February).

The polio re-entry rule — important

Pakistan is one of the last countries with active wild polio transmission. The WHO and UK Department of Health require travellers returning from Pakistan to have a documented polio vaccination within 12 months of their return date if they've been in Pakistan for 4 weeks or more.

In practice: if you've had your routine UK polio vaccination as a child and a booster in adulthood, you're covered for general travel. But if you're staying 4+ weeks, you need a documented polio vaccination certificate to bring back. The UK Health Security Agency advises consulting a travel clinic well in advance.

We can provide both the vaccination and the documented certificate at Preston Clinic.

Malaria in Pakistan — what to know

Malaria is present in Pakistan but the picture is mixed:

• Risk areas: All of Pakistan below 2,000m, particularly Sindh and southern Punjab, and the FATA / KP regions in summer.
• Low risk: Urban Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi (city centres). Northern mountainous areas above 2,000m.
• Predominant species: P. vivax (mostly) and P. falciparum (the more dangerous one, ~30% of cases).

Antimalarial recommendations vary by region and trip type. The free travel consultation covers your specific itinerary — we generally recommend Malarone (atovaquone-proguanil) for short trips to risk areas, or Doxycycline for longer trips. Both are prescribed and dispensed on-site at Frenchwood Pharmacy.

Food and water safety

Travellers' diarrhoea is the most common illness affecting visitors to Pakistan. Basic prevention:

• Drink only bottled or boiled water. Avoid ice (unless from a known safe source).
• Eat hot, freshly cooked food. Avoid buffets and food that's been sitting out.
• Avoid salads and raw vegetables (washed in tap water).
• Peel fruit yourself — don't eat pre-peeled fruit from street vendors.
• Be cautious with dairy products — pasteurisation isn't always consistent.

We supply oral rehydration sachets and short-course antibiotic options (azithromycin) for traveller's diarrhoea on request — useful to have in your kit just in case.

Dengue fever

Dengue is endemic in urban Pakistan, particularly during and after monsoon (June–November). There's a vaccine (Qdenga) but it has restrictions on use in travellers — most people rely on bite prevention. DEET-based repellents, long sleeves at dusk, and air-conditioned accommodation where possible.

How early to book

Ideally 4–6 weeks before travel. Some vaccines (Rabies, Hepatitis B) need multiple doses spread over several weeks for full protection. Last-minute? We see plenty of patients in the week before departure — most core vaccines can still be given, just plan for the limitations.