Wherever you are travelling, there are plenty of ways to get free advice on which jabs and inoculations you’ll need. An NHS website, fitfortravel.nhs.uk, for example, gives general travel health advice plus the latest on specific destinations and infection outbreaks around the world. Your GP will also have information on travel to many destinations. When it comes to organising your vaccinations, you have a choice. If you are concerned about cost, it will be cheaper to organise your jabs through your GP rather than visiting a private clinic, but prices vary from practice to practice, so it is worth checking both options. Timing and convenience are also factors. There are jabs that need to be done at least six weeks before you travel (something to bear in mind when considering a last-minute long-haul holiday). Also, some vaccines (such as rabies) can need up to three separate visits. In Britain, the NHS provides the hepatitis A vaccine, typhoid vaccine and combined diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccine free of charge from GP surgeries. Polio and meningitis immunisation is sometimes offered free or for the cost of a prescription and, depending on the surgery, there may be a smaller charge for rabies and yellow fever jabs than at a private clinic. If you are concerned about cost, it will be cheaper to organise your jabs through your GP rather than visiting a private clinic For travel to some long-haul destinations, your bill could easily reach around £250-£300 at a private clinic. In addition, a course of malaria tablets can set you back £30-£45, which may be nearly twice as much as buying tablets from a GP or from a high-street chemist. Another clear advantage of going to your GP is that they will have your health records and will be able to give you personal advice based on your medical history. However, where speed is important and where you’re looking for immediate provision of the most up-to-date information and vaccines, private clinics can be the best option as GPs may need to order in stock of vaccines that aren’t routinely supplied. In Britain, the NHS provides the hepatitis A vaccine, typhoid vaccine and combined diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccine free of charge If you live in or close to a city, the clinics are usually centrally and conveniently located, appointments aren’t required and an on-the-spot service is available. Some of the bigger travel agencies also offer health services. STA Travel (0333 321 0099; statravel.co.uk) has six clinics around the country and Trailfinders Travel Clinic (020 7938 3999; trailfinders.com/travel-clinic) has a drop-in centre in London (it gives a 20 per cent discount if your jabs are for a trip that you’ve booked through the company). Other clinics include those run by the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (thehtd.org), the London Travel Clinic (020 3733 0525; londontravelclinic.co.uk) and Masta (masta-travel-health.com). Or see listings on the Travel Doctor website (traveldoctor.co.uk). Although some clinics charge an initial consultation fee (usually around £15-£20), this cost is usually refunded if you go ahead with the immunisations on the same day. Here is my six-point plan for getting the right jabs, at the right time and the right price. 1. Plan well ahead See your doctor or inquire at a clinic at least two months before your holiday. Some jabs need to be done a minimum of six weeks before you travel, and some vaccines (such as rabies) need up to three visits. If your vaccinations aren’t up to date, don’t be tempted by a last-minute long-haul holiday for which immunisation is recommended – you may not have enough time to allow the vaccines to work effectively. 2. Get the right advice The Scottish NHS travel information site (fitfortravel.nhs.uk) is particularly useful. It gives information on recommended vaccinations for specific countries (click on the map to reach those included in your travel plans). It also has up-to-date links to malaria maps and news about current or recent outbreaks of malaria, dengue fever and other dangerous diseases. The website run by the National Travel Health Network and Centre (nathnac.org), funded by the Health Protection Agency, also gives detailed destination-based advice and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (thehtd.org) website links to this. For an individual assessment, Masta (masta-travel-health.com) offers a free travel health brief specific to a destination. Some GPs run formal travel clinics or employ travel nurses responsible for keeping up to date with the latest advice. For advice on vaccinations (and travel generally) for those with diabetes, see diabetestravel.org 3. Give all the details When seeking advice, specify the type of trip you are doing and give the itinerary in full. If you are visiting a city for a few days, you are likely to be at far less risk than someone travelling to more remote, rural areas where medical facilities are scarce and health hazards greater. In Thailand, for example, the risk of contracting malaria in Bangkok will be much lower than in the rural, forested borders with Cambodia, Laos and Burma. 4. Shop around When you know what vaccinations you require, compare prices charged by your GP and private clinics such as the Trailfinders Travel Clinic (see above), the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (see above) and Masta (see above). Note that the vaccination against yellow fever is only given at authorised clinics; see nathnac.org to find your nearest. 5. Remain cautious Don’t assume you are immune from contracting a disease even if you have been vaccinated. You still need to be careful and take precautions to prevent illness from food, water, insects and animals. This is particularly true for malaria, where the only sure protection is to avoid being bitten by mosquitos – insect repellent and mosquito nets are crucial ways of reducing risk. 6. Travel with a medical kit Lots of medical kits are available at chemists, or you could put one together yourself. Sterile needles and dressings are particularly important. For a detailed list of key components, and a full compendium of medical advice, see Travellers’ Health: How to Stay Healthy Abroad, by our regular contributor, Dr Richard Dawood (OUP, £16.99). Source
