Travel service

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No special immunisation is required for travellers to the United States, Western Europe, Australia or New Zealand although all travellers should have immunity to tetanus and polio (and childhood immunisations should be up to date).

For general advice see Department of Health leaflet Health advice for travellers (also available from Post Offices)

NHS service for travel to other parts of the world

We offer a full range of immunisations to our registered patients.
Please do not delay before contacting us -- for some diseases a course of injections we will needed so it may take nearly 2 months to complete your immunisations.
There is no charge except for malaria tablets, cholera vaccine, Japanese encephalitis and rabies. For these we will supply a private prescription ( for which the practice charges £14.50 - the pharmacist will also charge for the cost of the items). See also yellow fever below.

Yellow fever (You need not be registered with Westbourne Medical Centre)

We are a recognised Yellow Fever Centre for those visiting risk areas, whether registered with this surgery or elsewhere. This is not an NHS service so there is a charge of £50 for a certificate and administration of licensed vaccine. We do stock this vaccine.

To access our NHS service (You must be registered at Westbourne medical Centre)

Please check current travel advice for the area you are to visit by going to the Fit for travel website. It may be that you need no further immunisations -- see How Long do Immunisations Last below
If you think you might need immunisations, complete our questionnaire and make an appointment with one of our travel nurses (Adrienne or Diana).
Bring the form with any documents you may have about previous immunisations when you come to see the nurse.

Click on blue button to open questionnaire as a "Word" document, answer the questions then print off
If you do not have "Word", click on yellow button to open as a web page then print and complete by hand

How long do immunisations last?

Poliomyelitis, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, Haemophilus influenza B, MMR, Meningitis C	Full course given in childhood will generally give lifelong protection to normal risk. May, however, need booster if travelling to certain high risk areas particularly if staying for long periods outside the normal tourist areas.
Typhoid	3 years
Hepatitis A - single-dose	1year
Hepatitis A -single dose with booster after 6-36 months	20 years
Hepatitis B - three doses	Those at risk will need blood test after three years
Cholera oral vaccine	5 years
Meningitis A, C, W135 and Y	5 years
Yellow fever	10 years
Rabies - 3 doses	2-3 years
Tick-borne encephalitis - 3 doses	3 years
Japanese encephalitis - 3 doses	2 years

Malaria

Go to The Health Protection Agency website for up to date advice

NHS prescriptions

By law, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for the medical care of patients when they leave the UK. See Prescriptions for Patients Travelling Abroad - Appropriate Duration of Treatment