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Frequently Asked Questions


What vaccines or medicines should I get before traveling to my destination?

It depends on where you are going and what you will be doing. Visit NaTHNaC – Country List to find the vaccines you may need for your next trip, and then book an appointment in the travel clinic. Ideally book at least a month before traveling to get the recommended or required vaccines and medicines.

What is the difference between routine, recommended, and required vaccines?

Routine vaccines are those that are recommended for everyone in England based on their age, health condition, or other risk factors. You may think of these as the childhood vaccines you got before starting school, but some are routinely recommended for adults, like the flu vaccine.

A required vaccine is one that travellers must have in order to enter a country, based on that country’s regulations. Yellow fever, meningococcal, and polio vaccines may be required by certain countries.

Recommended vaccines are those that the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) recommends travellers get to protect their health, even if they aren’t required for entry by the government of the country you are visiting. They protect travellers from illnesses that are usually travel-related. For example, a typhoid vaccine can prevent typhoid, a serious disease spread by contaminated food and water, which is not usually found in the UK. The vaccines recommended for a traveller depend on several things, including age, health, and itinerary.

How do I book an appointment for a travel consultation?

How do I change or cancel my appointment?

To change or cancel an appointment please click on the ‘Contact’ tab on the home page.  You can then either send an email (enquiries@medwyntravel.co.uk) requesting the change or cancellation. During working hours (8.30am to 4.30pm) you can also call us on 01306 873942.

What does a travel consultation involve?

A travel consultation is a risk assessment completed face to face with a specialist travel nurse. The nurse will assess your individual travel plans and health background before making recommendations. The nurse will be able to administer any vaccinations that are required and provide a wealth of travel health advice across all areas of travel medicine.

Who will I see at my consultation?

You will see a specialist nurse who is qualified and experienced in travel medicine. They have up to date knowledge of all vaccines, disease processes and malaria prevention.

Do I need to bring anything with me to my travel consultation?

It is always helpful if you can bring any documentation you have of previous vaccinations.   If you have any chronic health issues then it is helpful to bring details of this and any medications you take.

How much is a consultation?

A consultation costs £10 per person.  This covers the cost of the nurses time and their expert advice.  If you require a vaccine (not malaria tablets) then this is deducted from the cost of the vaccine.

How long is a consultation?

For one or two people the consultation lasts about 30 minutes. If more than two people are attending then the consultation will be longer to allow time to administer and document the vaccines given.

If you have a complicated itinerary or any complex health needs then you may need to book an additional appointment to have time to discuss all elements of your travel plans.

If I’ve had some of my travel vaccines elsewhere can I come to you for the rest?

Absolutely. That’s not a problem to have vaccines administered in different clinics. However, our travel nurses will need to complete their own risk assessment and it will also give you the opportunity to ask any questions you have about the recommendations that have been given.

Can you see what travel vaccines I’ve had in the past?

We can only see the vaccinations you’ve received previously in our clinic.

What vaccinations do you offer?

We can provide:

Which travel vaccinations need boosters?

As of December 2023 the list of vaccines that will require a booster are:

Do you offer vaccinations on the NHS?

We are a private travel service so we can not provide vaccinations on the NHS.  That means that all vaccinations and anti-malarials incur a fee.

Are travel vaccines really necessary?

Travel vaccinations are a necessary precaution to immunise you against infectious and potentially incurable diseases found overseas. In some situations, proof of vaccination must be provided before entry is permitted and failure to do so can result in quarantine, immunisation or entry being denied. What’s more, depending on your travel insurance, by not receiving your vaccinations for travel, you may be at risk of your policy not paying out should you fall ill.

Are vaccinations covered by insurance?

Most travel insurance policies do not include travel vaccines and medicines, and only very occasionally will policies offer any form of reimbursement. However, it is prudent to check with your insurance company to determine what is covered by your policy as, by not receiving your vaccinations for travel, you may be at risk of your policy not paying out should you fall ill.

Do babies need travel vaccinations?

Babies can and should be vaccinated before travelling overseas. The NHS childhood vaccination programme offers protection against various diseases but doesn’t cover many of the infectious diseases found in some tropical countries. Paediatric vaccinations are available for babies and children, and immunisations are frequently cheaper than those required for adults.

How far in advance do you need to get a travel vaccination?

Best practice dictates that vaccinations should be sourced a minimum of 4 weeks before travel. This not only grants your body enough time to build up enough tolerance to the disease but also allows for those vaccinations which require multiple doses spread over several weeks. However, vaccines which do not consist of a course such as Diphtheria Tetanus and Polio, and Yellow fever can be given from 7-10 days before travel. What’s more, in situations where an International Certificate of Vaccination is required before entry is permitted, admittance may be denied until a specific time-frame has elapsed.

What if I’m travelling last minute, can you still help me?

Yes, it’s still worth receiving your travel vaccinations, even if it’s on the day of travel as you will receive some partial protection.

What is your refund policy?

If you cancel your appointment with at least 24 hours’ notice then your booking fee will be refunded. If you do not come to your appointment and you do not cancel beforehand then the booking/consultation fee is non-refundable.

Do you provide Yellow fever and Meningitis vaccination certificates?

Yes. We are a registered Yellow Fever Centre and will provide all the correct certificates.

What if I have a reaction to the vaccine?

The nurses are trained to deal with any immediate reaction to a vaccine such as fainting or anaphylaxis.  If you experience any other symptoms following vaccination then you should call 111 or speak to your GP.

Can I pay in instalments?

The vaccines need to be paid for on the day you receive them. We do not take payment up front for a course of vaccines. 

Do travel vaccinations have any side effects?

Vaccines are both effective and safe, however side effects sometimes occur. These are usually mild reactions and are part of the normal immune response to vaccination. Serious reactions to vaccination such as anaphylaxis are extremely rare.

Mild reactions can affect up to 15% of people following vaccination. These reactions generally occur within a day or two of immunisation and are transient. Live viral vaccines (MMR, Yellow Fever, Varicella) can occasionally cause symptoms such as fever, headache, tiredness and/or rash. These may be delayed until several days after vaccination.

Although they can be severe, most rare vaccine reactions occur soon after immunisation, are self-limiting and do not lead to long-term problems. Anaphylaxis, for example, although potentially life-threatening, is quickly and very effectively treated and has no long-term effects

If you have any concerns about the safety or effectiveness of vaccines, please feel free to discuss this with one of our nurses.

Modern vaccines are less likely to cause side effects, and there are no restrictions on normal activities – most people can work, drive a car, play sport or go to the gym. Still, it is better to take it easy if you are experiencing any side effects. Modern vaccines do not leave a scar.

Do I have to pay for travel vaccinations?

Yes, all the vaccines provided through Medwyn Travel Clinic incur a fee. Please see the prices tab on the Home page for a list of the prices.

Do you supply Malaria prophylaxis?

Yes, we are able to provide advice and information regarding malaria prophylaxis. We can also supply Atorvoquone and Proguanil anti-malarial tablets.

Can I obtain Altitude sickness medication from the clinic?

The drug taken to help prevent altitude sickness is Acetazolamide. We can discuss the pros and cons of taking this medication and prescribe it for you if suitable.