Travel Vaccinations and advice

If you're planning to travel outside the UK, you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.

Our practice nurses are available by appointment to offer medical advice regarding travel and vaccinations where appropriate. 

Travel Risk Assessment

We offer a full travel and advice immunisation service. If you are travelling abroad please complete our Travel Risk Assessment Form in plenty of time (We recommend 6-8 weeks) before your journey.

Find our more about Travel Vaccinations on nhs.uk.

You can find out which vaccinations are necessary or recommended for the areas you'll be visiting on the below website:

• Travel Health Pro

Some countries require proof of vaccination (for example, for polio or yellow fever vaccination), which must be documented on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) before you enter or when you leave a country.

Find out more about the vaccines available for travellers abroad.

Travel Advice Sheet

It is important to remember that outside the UK, you are less likely to be familiar with local conditions and risks.

Useful travel links: NaTHNaC - Home

Accidents

Commonly road traffic accidents and swimming/water accidents are major leading causes of death among travellers abroad. Precautions include:

• Avoid alcohol and food before swimming.
• Never dive into water where the depth is uncertain.
• Only swimming in safe water, check currents, presence of sharks/jelly fish etc.
• Never drinking and driving.
• If hiring a vehicle chose a car rather than a motorcycle/moped
• Do your homework e.g. reliable taxi firm/emergency facilities

Insurance cover, personal safety and security

Always ensure you take out insurance adequate to cover all your needs. Tell the company if you have pre-existing medical conditions – this is vital to guarantee all your medical needs are catered for.

Food, water and personal hygiene 

Diseases like Hepatitis A can be caught from drinking or swimming in contaminated water. Unless you know the water supply is safe, only use boiled, bottled or sterilised water, even for cleaning your teeth and avoid ice in cold drinks. Washing your hands after visiting the toilet, before eating or preparing food can reduce your risk of diseases spread in this way. Contaminated food is the most common source of diseases abroad. If you suffer with diarrhoea rehydration is the first thing you should do. You can help prevent it by following these guidelines:

•        Only eat well cooked fresh food.
• Avoid leftover and reheated food.
• Ensure meat is thoroughly cooked.
• Eat vegetables, avoid salads.
• Only eat fruit you can peel.
• Never drink unpasteurised milk.
• Avoid ice cream.
• Shellfish is a high-risk food. 
• Avoid buying from street vendor stalls.

You can also get medication to stop the diarrhoea. If you have a fever or blood in your stool, please seek medical advice

Diseases spread through blood and bodily fluids.

Diseases such as hepatitis B and HIV can be very serious and can be transmitted by medical procedures, inadequately screen blood transfusions, sharing of needles and unprotected sexual contact. Protect yourself by:

•          Taking sterile medical kit if travelling to a resource poor country
• Avoiding piercings, tattooing and acupuncture.
• Avoid sharing needles.
• Avoid blood transfusions unless necessary (www.bloodcarefoundation.org.uk)
• Avoid causal sex, especially without a condom.

Animal Bites

Rabies is present in many parts of the world. If a person develops rabies, death is almost 100% certain. There are 3 rules:

1.      Do not touch any animal even dogs/cats.
2. If you are licked on broken skin, scratched or bitten by an animal in a country which has rabies, wash the wound for 5 minutes with soap and water. Then apply an antiseptic solution if possible.
3. Seek medical advice immediately, even if you have been previously vaccinated against rabies, this is essential.

Bite Prevention

Mosquitoes, certain types of flies, ticks and bugs can cause many different diseases e.g. malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever. Some bite at night and some in the daytime. Avoid being bitten by:

•        Applying DEET repellent on exposed skin. A content of up to 50% DEET is recommended for tropical destinations.
• Spray your clothes with repellent.
• Do not wear perfume or aftershave.
• Keep aircon on, keep doors/windows shut and spray the room with DEET repellent.
• If sleeping in unprotected accomodation always sleep under a mosquito net.

Malaria

This is one of the most serious diseases travellers will be exposed to when visiting a tropical country. Malaria is an infection from a parasite which occurs when an infected mosquito bite you. There are four different types and the most serious is Plasmodium Falciparum which can kill you in some circumstances within 24 hours of developing symptoms of malaria. You should receive more information about the disease when you visit your travel health clinic. You can prevent malaria by:

•     Being aware of the risk of Malaria at your destination and how sever is the risk.
• Take all bite prevention precautions.
• Take malaria tablets as a precaution (if recommended).
• Seek medical advice if you have signs of malaria – flu like illness, cough, diarrhoea.

Safe sun advice

Sunburn and heat-stroke cause serious problems in travellers.

Both are preventable by following guidelines:

• Avoid going out between 11am-3pm when the rays are the strongest
• Use an appropriate SPF suncream
• Wear protective clothing
• Drink extra fluids in a hot climate and be aware alcohol can dehydrate you

Air travel

It is sensible on a long haul flight to:

•     Be comfortable in your seat
• Exercise your legs, feet and toes while sitting every half an hour and take short walks whenever possible.
• Drink plenty of water and be sensible about alcohol intake which in excess leads to dehydration

Further information can be found at The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC)

You may be entitled to the 4 following vaccines via the NHS: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Hepatitis A, Revaxis and Typhoid. 

 Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is caused by a virus that spreads in poo. You can get hepatitis A from:

• drinking unclean water
• eating food that's been washed or grown in unclean water
• eating food that's been handled by an infected person
• close physical contact with an infected person, including having sex and sharing needles to take drugs

 Vaccines: x2 vaccines 6 months apart – 25 years protection 

Typhoid

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection that can spread throughout the body, affecting many organs. Without prompt treatment, it can cause serious complications and can be fatal.

Typhoid fever is highly contagious. An infected person can pass the bacteria out of their body in their poo or, less commonly, in their pee.

If someone else eats food or drinks water that's been contaminated with a small amount of infected poo or pee, they can become infected with the bacteria and develop typhoid fever.

Vaccines: x1 vaccine – 3 years protection

 Revaxis

This vaccine helps boost protection against diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis (polio).

Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection that affects the nose and throat, and sometimes the skin. Diphtheria can be a serious illness and sometimes fatal, especially in children, if it’s not treated quickly.

Tetanus is a serious, life-threatening condition caused by bacteria getting into a wound.

Polio is a serious infection that's now very rare because of the vaccination programme. It usually spreads through contact with the poo of an infected person. It can also spread through coughs or sneezes, but this is less common.

Vaccines: x1 – 10 years protection

 MMR

These highly infectious conditions can easily spread between unvaccinated people. Getting vaccinated is important, as these conditions can also lead to serious problems including meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy.

 

Vaccines: x2 four weeks apart during childhood (usually but can be given in adulthood to catch up as MMR on the rise again) lasts a lifetime

*check malaria / yellow fever – if needed refer to pharmacy / travel clinic*