Travel Vaccinations

To avoid tuberculosis (TB) from ruining your travel plans, you will want to have both medical coverage and the BCG vaccine if you are travelling to an area where the virus is active. The vaccine is usually given to babies and children, as the vaccination is not effective in adults. In the UK, the vaccination is not part of the routine childhood schedule of vaccinations, but it is provided to those with a higher risk of contracting TB.

What is the BCG vaccination?

BCG stands for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, and it is the vaccine used to prevent TB from incubating in the body. It is most effective for those who are under 16 years old but can provide some protection in those up to 35 years of age. It is a vaccination prescribed only to those who will be spending time in highly infected areas.

Do you need BCG vaccination for travel?

You won't need the BCG vaccination for travel in most areas unless you are working closely with infected individuals or are living in an area with a high population of TB infected people.

What is Tuberculosis?

TB is a highly infectious disease that can be spread from person to person through bodily fluids (most often by being too close when someone infected with TB coughs). It causes nodules (tubercles) to grow, particularly in your lungs, causing a hole to form and infection to spread. Nowadays, TB can be cured if the patient finishes the entire treatment regime to its entirety, and not just until they feel better.

What are the early signs of Tuberculosis?

TB is a very slow disease that can take a long time to show symptoms. First symptoms of this disease include:

• A persistent and wracking cough
• Increased breathlessness
• Lack of appetite or weight loss
• Fever
• Extreme tiredness or difficulty sleeping

If contracted, TB can be cured through a regimen of antibiotic medication.

What are the side effects of the BCG injection?

Outside of regular injection-site symptoms caused by the vaccination dose, symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Painful or bloody urine
• Stomach pains or vomiting
• Skin rashes
• Breathing problems

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

Cholera is an incredibly dangerous and fast-acting disease that affects the small intestine. You are most likely to contract cholera from contaminated water. Someone who ingests infected water will start to suffer from severe diarrhoea and dehydration that can be fatal within a few hours without treatment. It's really important to have the cholera vaccination when going abroad to certain countries.

What is the cholera vaccination?

The cholera vaccination prevents cholera from incubating. As cholera is not found commonly in industrialised nations, you will need to be vaccinated if travelling to hot-spot areas. It can be given alongside other vaccinations and is an oral vaccine.

How long before you travel do you need to get the cholera vaccination?

The cholera vaccination is taken in doses (two doses for those older than the age of 6, and three for children between the ages of 2-5). They are assigned at least 1 week apart from one another, so for an adult, you should get your vaccination at least 3 weeks in advance, to allow the second dose time to be absorbed.

How long does the cholera vaccination last in adults?

The cholera vaccination lasts approximately 2 years in adults and children over the age of 6. The vaccine will last 6 months in children between 2-6 years old. Children under the age of 2 should not receive the vaccination nor should they travel to at-risk areas.

What countries is cholera in?

Countries that have experienced cholera outbreaks most recently include:

• The Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Kenya
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Nigeria

How to avoid catching cholera whilst travelling

To avoid catching cholera, you will want to:

• Get vaccinated
• Drink only safe water (including ice and water used to prepare food)
• Wash your hands often with clean water and soap
• Use bathrooms
• Do not eat undercooked food

Having travel insurance can further protect you should an unlikely infection occur.

When was the last cholera outbreak?

Though cholera still exists today, the last pandemic of the virus occurred in 1961. If you require any further information please refer to the NHS website.

Hepatitis A is a form of the hepatitis virus that can be contracted through food or drink, can result in high fevers, jaundice, and eventually cause acute liver disease.

What is the Hepatitis A vaccination?

The hepatitis A vaccination is the vaccine used to prevent Hepatitis A. They are given to children in at-risk areas, but is not universally mandatory. Check with your doctor if you need the vaccination before you travel.

How long before you travel do you need a Hepatitis A vaccination?

Hepatitis A is a multi-dose vaccine given in two doses. Ideally, you should get the first dose at least two weeks before you travel and then follow up with the second dose as scheduled five and a half months later.

Having this vaccination can help protect you while abroad, and alongside travel insurance, should be considered an absolute must if you are travelling to an area where hepatitis A is common.

Are there any side effects to the Hepatitis A vaccine?

Common side effects that warrant no follow-up with your GP (unless you personally have concerns or the symptoms are persistent) include:

• A low fever
• A loss of appetite or general nausea
• A headache
• Injection site associated pain

However, more serious symptoms you need to look out for include:

Fainting spells or extreme lethargy

A high fever

To reduce risk when receiving this vaccination you should disclose all your pre-existing medical conditions and take details of all the medication you take, as well as any recent vaccinations you might have had.

How long does the Hepatitis A vaccine last?

Though there is not a strict timeline on how long the vaccine will last, the consensus is that this is a long-lasting vaccine that should last at least up to ten years.

Hepatitis B is an infection that causes severe liver damage and is is very common around the globe, particularly in Asia, Africa and India. Before travelling, ensure you get the hepatitis B travel vaccine for you and your family. Along with the right vaccinations, also get the necessary travel insurance that will cover your costs in the event of an emergency.

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a serious disease transmitted through infected blood. It causes a myriad of symptoms but ultimately infects the liver. There is no cure, but the disease is manageable. Those who have it can lead long and healthy lives, so long as they take care of their health and work to prevent it from spreading.

How long before you travel should you have the Hepatitis B vaccination?

Before travelling to an at-risk destination, you will need to receive the hepatitis B vaccination. If you have not yet had a hepatitis B vaccination, you are at risk. However, if you grew up in the UK, you will have likely have had received protection against hepatitis B in the form of the 6-in-1 vaccine. Check with your GP to see if you need the hepatitis B vaccination, along with other vaccinations. As the hepatitis B vaccine is given to infants, you should wait at least 6 months after your baby's first dose before you travel.

How long does the Hepatitis B vaccination last?

The vaccine lasts at least 20 years, after which time a test can be done to determine whether you need a booster shot.

How often do you need to be vaccinated for Hepatitis B?

This vaccine lasts for a very long time, so long as you were vaccinated before you were six months old. This protection can last decades, and in most healthy people, is enough for their entire lives.

If you're travelling to rural areas in Asia, Japanese encephalitis (JE) or tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of several mosquito-transmitted diseases you need to prepare for before taking your trip.

Is tick-borne encephalitis the same as Japanese encephalitis?

Though in the same family, tick-borne encephalitis is not the same as Japanese encephalitis. They are distributed differently and have a slightly different prognosis. They also require different vaccinations, so if you are travelling to a humid area in Europe, you will need a different vaccination than if you were travelling to rural Asian areas. Pigs and wading birds tend to be the most common carrier of the disease.

How long does the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine last?

The TBE vaccine lasts approximately three years and requires three doses over the course of a year. You can, however, travel fairly safely if you start your TBE vaccination at least six months in advance.

Two doses of the JE vaccination are given, with the second dose occurring 28 days after the first, or at an accelerated rate of seven days after the first dose. If you are in at-risk areas often or perpetually, you should get a booster shot every year to two years.

Do you need to pay for tick-borne encephalitis vaccination?

As TBE and Japanese encephalitis do not exist in the UK, you will have to pay for this vaccine privately. Each dose costs approximately £65, with the total vaccination costing £195 per person. The JE vaccination, however, costs £90 per dose, which comes to a total of £180 per person.

Do you need an encephalitis vaccine before travelling to Japan?

Despite the name, Japan has relatively few cases of JE due to mass immunisation programmes. Cases of JE have been reported in: China, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Nepal, India, Phillipines, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Due to the severity of the JE or TBE virus, if you are travelling to one of these locations, you might want to budget both the vaccination and travel insurance into your trip's cost.

For further information please check out the NHS website.

Rabies is a deadly virus usually transmitted through the saliva of infected 'rabid' animals. It is incredibly important to make sure you're properly vaccinated beforehand, or you are treated with the vaccination, before symptoms start to appear. If left untreated, the virus will cause inflammation in the brain along with a host of other health problems.

What is the rabies vaccination?

The rabies vaccination is the best way to prevent, and in certain cases, treat the virus. If you plan on travelling to an area where rabies is common, or where there has been an outbreak, it is best to get this vaccination beforehand.

How long before travel should you have a rabies vaccination?

You should get your first rabies vaccination no later than one month before you travel, though you should plan ahead so that you have at least five weeks between your first vaccination dose and your flight. It is also wise to get travel insurance that will cover your trip to areas where rabies is common. There are three doses of this vaccination, given over a period of 28 days. You should ideally wait a week before your last dose before you travel to be fully covered.

What side effects can you expect after your vaccination?

It is not uncommon to experience temporary swelling on the injection site for about 24-48 hours. The area may also seem slightly sore after your vaccination which is nothing to worry about.

However, in a few rare cases, some may also experience the following side effects:

• a mild high temperature (fever)
• a rash
• muscle pain
• vomiting

How much does a rabies vaccination cost?

The rabies vaccination is given in three doses, each dose costing between £40 to £60 per dose.

What to do if you think you've been exposed to rabies

If you think you have been exposed to rabies, you need to wash the wound immediately and seek emergency medical help. You will be treated with the vaccination, with your treatment involving several doses of the vaccine over several days or weeks.

There are many countries that require a typhoid travel vaccine before you jet off. These areas are located around the world and the typhoid virus can be found even in Europe.

Though typhoid can be treated, it will leave you with a terrible fever. It can also cause infection, pneumonia, intestinal bleeding or perforation. Without treatment, it could be fatal, which it is in around 20% of all untreated cases.

When should you have a typhoid vaccination?

If you need a typhoid vaccination for your trip, you will need to get it at least two weeks before you travel. Along with getting travel insurance with the right medical coverage for you and your trip, this is an important part in safeguarding your health during your travels.

What countries require a typhoid vaccination?

Typhoid is common in most non-industrialised countries, with the highest risk of typhoid fever occurring in southern Asia. To protect yourself even further, you will want to avoid undercooked foods and drink only bottled drinks or disinfected water.

How long is a typhoid vaccination valid for?

The typhoid vaccination is a very fast-acting vaccine. It allows travellers to visit high-risk areas in as little as two weeks, but it is not as long-lasting as some of the other vaccinations. You will need a booster dose of the vaccination every two years if you travel to typhoid-risk areas regularly.

Are there any side effects to having the typhoid vaccination?

Normal side effects are centralised around the injection site (like a sore arm) and are completely normal. Side effects you will want to consult your doctor about, however, include:

• Fever
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Stomach issues including pain or even diarrhoea
• Swollen glands

A good way to avoid these side effects is to disclose to your vaccinating GP all the medications you are using, and if you have had another vaccination recently.

Yellow fever is a disease that is transmitted most commonly through mosquitoes. It can cause fever, and jaundice, and affect the liver and kidneys. Though mild symptoms can cause flu-like symptoms, more serious cases can result in cardiovascular complications as well as liver failure, kidney failure, and even haemorrhaging.

As it is an incredibly serious virus you will want to be covered both by vaccination and by travel insurance if you are travelling to an area that is afflicted with this disease.

What countries require a yellow fever vaccine?

Due to the seriousness of yellow fever, you cannot travel to certain locations without a yellow fever vaccination certificate. The most at-risk countries where you can contract yellow fever are:

• Guyana
• Suriname
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Somalia

It is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas like Africa or South America because yellow fever is spread through mosquitoes.

How far in advance of travel do you need the yellow fever vaccine?

The yellow fever vaccine lasts for approximately 10 years, but you need to acquire this vaccine at least 10 days before you travel. As many countries will require you to have a certificate of this vaccination, you will need to get it done before your flight, or else risk being turned away at the border.

What are the side effects of the yellow fever vaccine?

Side effects include:

• Headaches
• Muscle pain or soreness (from the injection site)
• Fever

How much does it cost to get a yellow fever vaccine?

As yellow fever isn't common in the UK, the vaccine will have to be acquired privately. It usually costs between £60-£80 and is done in one dose. Booster shots are only given when necessary after 10 years.