Inoculations

Most common inoculations

Below you will find listed most of the inoculations you will possibly need to travel internationally (followed by their usual duration of effectiveness). This does not include those usually taken for life in the UK. Further advice on these, including what to have for which countries and where to get them, can be found through the links on other pages in this health section (particularly advice & information).

  • Polio (duration 10 years) - if course not given as a child, patient should have 3 Revaxis injections, each a month apart - available on the NHS.
  • Diphtheria/Tetanus booster (dur. 10 years)
  • Typhoid (vaccine Typhim, dur. 3 years) - options of non-live injection or oral vaccine - oral vaccine gives 1 yr cover if intermittently travelling or 3 yrs if remaining in a country of risk.
  • Hepatitis A (dur. 1 to 20+ years) - one dose of monovalent vaccine gives 12 months cover, 2nd dose after 6-36 months provides cover for 20+ years
  • Hepatitis B (normally 5 years, test after 3 years) - Takes 6 months to complete a 3 dose course.
  • Yellow Fever (compulsory in some countries, dur. 10 years)
  • Meningitis A + C (dur. 3 years)
  • Rabies (dur. 2-3 years)
  • Japanese B Encephalitis (dur. 2 years)
  • Tickborne Encephalitis - TBE (dur. 3 years)
  • Malaria - Chloroquine, Proguanil or Mefloquine tablets are usually recommended.

You might also consider taking a few sterile hypodermic needles with you in case they insist you need an injection for something when you arrive.

Make a table/list of your immunisations and dates given, then make two copies of it, leave one at home and take one with you.

You can obtain your vaccinations in the following way:

More detailed advice on the inoculations needed for specific countries or regions can be found through the other pages of this health section.