When planning a trip abroad, your need for vaccinations and other travel health advice can vary considerably. This depends on factors such as your destination, the length of your trip, where you will be staying and how you will be travelling, your previous vaccinations, age, pregnancy, medical conditions and any medication you are taking.

You should therefore contact a vaccination clinic well in advance of your departure. They can help assess which vaccinations may be recommended, whether you need protection against malaria and which health precautions are particularly important for your trip. You can also get advice on what to include in a travel health kit.

Some vaccinations require several doses, and not all vaccines can always be given at the same time. Try to arrange your first appointment at least 6–8 weeks before departure, particularly if you are travelling to a distant destination, will be away for an extended period or are visiting areas with an increased risk of infectious diseases.

Remember to bring any previous vaccination records you may have, such as the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (the Yellow Book) or another vaccination record. You should also mention any previous reactions to vaccines, allergies, chronic medical conditions, a weakened immune system, pregnancy or plans to become pregnant, and any medicines you take regularly.