Travel immunisations that can be given as part of NHS provision include:

• Cholera
• Hepatitis A
• Poliomyelitis (given as a 3-in-1 tetanus/diphtheria/polio injection)
• Typhoid

Combined Hepatitis A / Hepatitis B

Combined hepatitis A and B should not be routinely used for travel vaccinations.

Patients, who require the hepatitis B vaccine due to travel purposes e.g. adventure holiday, long stay in a high-risk area, etc., should not receive hepatitis B vaccination on the NHS.

• If hepatitis B is required for purposes linked with travel, then hepatitis B should be given as a single vaccination on a private prescription.

Travel immunisations that cannot be given as an NHS service:

For other indications outlined in Immunisation Against Infectious Disease – The Green Book, the vaccine remains free on the NHS.

If the immunisation is requested for travel the contractor may charge a patient for:

• Private prescription (an NHS prescription must not be used to provide these vaccines)
• Cost of vaccine
• Administration
• Serology testing (where required)
• Certification of vaccination (if required)

No charge should be made to any NHS patient of the practice for providing advice.

For more information please see:

• 14.1 Vaccines and antisera
• Travel Vaccinations (NHS website)
• PrescQIPP Bulletin 316: Travel vaccines
• Country-specific vaccine recommendations (Travel Health Pro)

Under NHS legislation, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for people when they leave the UK. However, to ensure good patient care the following guidance is offered:

• Currently people travelling within Europe should always be advised to carry a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaces the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC); giving entitlement to local health care arrangements in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes free.
  • European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) will remain valid until the expiry date on the card.
• Medication required for a pre-existing condition should be provided in sufficient quantity to cover the journey and to allow the patient to obtain medical attention abroad. If the patient is returning within the timescale of a normal prescription (usually one and no more than three months) then this should be issued, providing it is clinically appropriate.
• Check with the relevant embassy or high commission of the country being visited for local rules and regulations on importing or transporting medicines, including documentation required.
  • Refer to Travelling with medicine containing controlled drugs (GOV.uk) for information on carrying medicines containing controlled drugs for individual travellers entering or leaving the UK.
  • See also Foreign travel advice (GOV.uk)
  • Refer to Travel medication and vaccinations (BMA)
  • Refer to Medicines and travel (Travel Health Pro)
• GPs should not routinely provide prescriptions for medication which is requested solely in anticipation of the onset of an ailment whilst outside the UK, but for which treatment is not required at the time of prescribing (e.g. travel sickness, diarrhoea). A private prescription may be provided for any prescription-only medicines, e.g. for traveller's diarrhoea or malaria prophylaxis:
  • Refer to Traveller's diarrhoea for further information
  • Refer to Malaria prophylaxis for prescribing information

The NHS accepts responsibility for supplying ongoing medication required for pre-existing conditions for temporary periods abroad of up to 3 months. If a person is going to be abroad for more than three months, then all that the patient is entitled to at NHS expense is a sufficient supply of his/her regular medication to get to the destination and find an alternative supply of that medication. 

• For more information see Prescribing in general practice (BMA)

Check with the relevant embassy or high commission of the country being visited for local rules and regulations on importing or transporting medicines, including documentation required.

• Refer to Travelling with medicine containing controlled drugs (GOV.uk) for information on carrying medicines containing controlled drugs for individual travellers entering or leaving the UK.
• See also Foreign travel advice (GOV.uk)
• Refer to Travel medication and vaccinations (BMA)
• Refer to Medicines and travel (Travel Health Pro)