Vaccines

Cholera vaccination in the UK is given by mouth. It can reduce the chance of cholera caused by the main vaccine-covered strains, but it does not replace careful food, water, and hand hygiene. It also is not used as a general travellers’ diarrhoea vaccine in the UK. There are different oral cholera vaccines, and the schedule depends on the product and age. One commonly used schedule is two oral doses for adults and older children, taken at least one week apart and less than six weeks apart, with the course finished at least one week before possible exposure. Younger children may need a three-dose course. Another oral vaccine is a single dose taken at least 10 days before possible exposure. Children can be vaccinated when assessed individually, but cholera vaccines are not generally used for babies under two. Food and drink may need to be avoided for a period before and after the dose. Some vaccines are not suitable for people who are immunosuppressed, and recent antibiotics can matter. Side effects are usually short-lived, such as stomach upset, but we will check suitability before vaccination.

The chikungunya vaccine is intended to reduce the risk of chikungunya illness in people who are likely to be exposed. In the UK, current guidance centres on two vaccines: a live vaccine used only in selected adults, and a non-replicating virus-like particle vaccine that may be considered from age 12. The choice is not interchangeable. Age, immune status, medical history and current safety advice all matter. Both vaccines are given as a single intramuscular injection. The need for a booster has not yet been established, so this is not a vaccine with a settled long-term revaccination timetable. Because these vaccines are relatively new in UK travel medicine, suspected side effects are being closely monitored. Common short-term reactions may include a sore arm, tiredness, headache, feverishness or aches. The live vaccine is not suitable for everyone, and current UK advice is cautious in older adults and in people with certain immune or thymus-related histories. Vaccination also does not replace bite avoidance. You still need repellent, clothing cover and sensible accommodation choices, particularly because the same mosquitoes may carry other infections.

The dengue vaccine currently used in the UK is Qdenga. It is a live, weakened vaccine licensed for dengue prevention in people from 4 years of age. UK guidance says it can be considered for travellers aged 4 and over who have had dengue before and are going to an area with dengue risk or an ongoing outbreak. Exceptionally, vaccination may be considered for someone without known previous dengue, but that needs a careful risk assessment and may require specialist advice. Blood tests looking for past dengue infection can be useful, though they are not perfect, so clinical history and likely previous exposure still matter. The course is two doses, given three months apart, usually by injection into the upper arm. Start early if your dates are fixed. A rushed appointment a fortnight before departure may not leave enough time to complete the course. Qdenga is not suitable for everyone, including people who are immunosuppressed, pregnant or breastfeeding. Common side effects can include a sore arm, headache, tiredness, muscle aches or fever. Booster timing is not firmly established, so future trips should be reassessed rather than assumed covered indefinitely.

Hepatitis A vaccines used in the UK are inactivated vaccines, so they do not contain live hepatitis A virus. They are given by injection, usually into the upper arm. Children can be vaccinated from a young age when assessed individually, and UK-licensed junior products are available from 1 year of age. For most travellers, a first dose is the key pre-travel dose. A second dose is usually given months later to extend protection. UK guidance commonly refers to long-term protection of up to 25 years after the completed course, with a further booster considered for people who remain at ongoing risk. If you had a hepatitis A jab years ago and never had the second dose, you may not need to restart the course; this can be checked at the appointment. There are also combined vaccines, including hepatitis A with typhoid or hepatitis B, depending on what your itinerary calls for. Side effects are usually short-lived, such as a sore arm, redness, swelling, headache, feverishness or tiredness. Vaccination reduces risk, but food and water hygiene still matters.

The hepatitis B vaccine used in the UK is an inactivated vaccine. It does not contain live hepatitis B virus. It trains your immune system to recognise the virus so that, if you are exposed later, your body is better prepared to respond. It does not protect against hepatitis A, hepatitis C, HIV, or other infections spread through blood and body fluids, so condoms, sterile equipment, and sensible choices around medical care still matter. Several schedules exist. Many travellers have a course over 0, 1 and 6 months. If time is tighter, an accelerated course may be used, commonly at 0, 1, 2 and 12 months. Some adults may be able to use a very rapid schedule before imminent travel, with a later dose needed to complete longer-term protection. The right option is chosen after checking your age, dates, previous vaccines, medical history, and whether you also need hepatitis A cover. Babies now receive hepatitis B as part of the UK routine childhood programme, and children can be vaccinated with age-appropriate vaccines when assessed individually. If a course was started years ago and not finished, it often does not need restarting from scratch.

The Japanese encephalitis vaccine used in the UK protects against Japanese encephalitis virus. It does not protect against malaria, dengue, chikungunya or other mosquito-borne infections, so bite avoidance still matters, especially at night. The usual primary course is two injections, commonly given on day 0 and day 28. For adults, an accelerated schedule may be possible when travel is close, with the second dose given 7 days after the first. The course should be completed at least one week before possible exposure. That means it is better to book while your itinerary is still being finalised, not the Friday before a long-haul flight. The vaccine is licensed in the UK for adults and children from 2 months of age, although suitability still needs an individual assessment. A booster may be advised if you have had the course before and are travelling again to a risk area, particularly if exposure is ongoing or repeated.

The travel vaccine usually discussed for meningococcal risk is the conjugate MenACWY vaccine. It protects against four important meningococcal groups: A, C, W and Y. These are not the only meningococcal types, but they include the groups most relevant to Hajj, Umrah and travel to the African meningitis belt. Most adults and older children need a single dose for travel. Younger children may need a different schedule, so they should be assessed individually rather than squeezed into an adult rule. The vaccine is given as an injection, usually into the upper arm. For Saudi Arabia, the ACWY vaccine must be given at least 10 days before arrival for Hajj or Umrah visa purposes, and the certificate is generally treated as valid for five years when a conjugate vaccine has been used. If you remain at risk through repeated travel or work, a booster may be advised later. Common side effects include a sore arm, headache, tiredness, muscle aches or feeling mildly unwell for a short time. Vaccination may need to wait if you have a feverish illness on the day.

For UK travellers, malaria prevention is usually built around antimalarial tablets rather than a jab. TravelHealthPro states that there is currently no commercially available malaria vaccine for travellers. So the discussion is practical: do you need tablets, which option fits you, and how will you take them correctly? Commonly used antimalarials include atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline and mefloquine. The right choice depends on where you are going, local resistance patterns, your age, pregnancy status, medical history, regular medicines and previous side effects. Some tablets start shortly before travel; others need starting earlier. Most continue for a period after leaving the malaria area, so do not judge the course only by your flight dates. No tablet regimen gives complete protection. Bite prevention still matters: 50% DEET or a suitable alternative, long loose clothing, screened or air-conditioned rooms, and mosquito nets where needed. Side effects are possible, commonly stomach upset or headache, with some medicines carrying more specific cautions. Children can be assessed individually rather than guessed from an adult dose.

Pertussis vaccine is usually given as part of a combination vaccine rather than as a single “whooping cough only” injection. In the UK routine schedule, babies receive pertussis-containing vaccines at 8, 12 and 16 weeks, with a pre-school booster at around 3 years and 4 months. The travel consultation is a useful moment to check whether children are up to date, especially if records are missing or the family has moved between countries. For adults and children aged 10 years and over, pertussis vaccination is not normally recommended purely for overseas travel. The main UK exceptions are pregnant women, certain healthcare workers, and outbreak control situations. In pregnancy, the vaccine is usually offered from 16 weeks and ideally by 32 weeks, so antibodies have time to pass to the baby before birth. The vaccine is given by injection. A sore arm, redness, mild fever or aches can happen afterwards. Protection is useful but not perfect or lifelong; previous infection or vaccination does not guarantee future immunity, and blood tests are not used to prove protection.

Typhoid vaccination trains your immune system to recognise Salmonella Typhi and can lower your risk of typhoid fever while travelling. It does not cover paratyphoid, and it does not make unsafe food or water safe. You still need the boring but useful habits: bottled or treated water, food cooked thoroughly and served hot, and caution with ice, salads and unpeeled fruit. In the UK, typhoid vaccination is commonly given either as a single injection or, for some people, as an oral capsule course. The injectable vaccine is generally used for adults and children from 2 years of age. The oral option is generally used from 5 years of age and involves several capsules taken on separate days. Suitability is checked at the appointment, particularly for children, pregnancy, immune system problems, allergies, or medicines that may affect vaccine choice. Try to book at least two weeks before travel where possible. If you remain at risk on future trips, revaccination is usually considered after around 3 years, depending on the vaccine used and your travel plans.

The yellow fever vaccine used in the UK is a live, weakened vaccine. It trains the immune system to recognise the yellow fever virus and can protect against all strains of the disease. For most travellers who can receive it, the schedule is one dose. The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, often called the yellow fever certificate, becomes valid 10 days after vaccination and is recognised for life under international rules. In practice, book earlier than that if you can. It gives time to check your itinerary, discuss medical cautions and plan around other vaccines. Yellow fever vaccine is generally considered from 9 months of age, while younger babies, pregnant travellers, breastfeeding women, people with immune suppression, previous thymus problems, significant egg allergy, and adults aged 60 or over need more careful assessment. Some people should not receive it. Most side effects are mild, such as headache, muscle aches or a low fever in the first few days after vaccination. Serious reactions are rare, but they matter, especially in first-time recipients with certain risk factors. The jab also does not replace mosquito bite avoidance. Repellent, covered skin and sensible accommodation still count.