Frequently Asked Questions.

Yes and no. Certain vaccines are funded by the NHS to reduce the burden of ill health in return travellers. This largely includes vaccinations against diseases that are of public health concern, i.e. could easily be spread to others on the return to the UK.

We can currently provide vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A, typhoid and cholera without charge, if you are registered with a GP in Scotland. These vaccines will be offered where appropriate (subject to risk assessment of your destination, itinerary and medical history) in line with current Public Health Scotland advice on travel medicine. Importantly, they may not be offered free of charge if not indicated by risk.

There are several vaccines or medications for travel that may be mandated or recommended which hold a charge and full details can be seen on our price list.

Please see this Vaccine Duration / Booster Table document

We would recommend attending for a travel consultation – most vaccines can be repeated safely without ill effect. If a vaccine record or card is not available to inform your health professional it is standard practice to consider the person unvaccinated and to offer (where appropriate to travel destination, itinerary and medical history) a course of vaccinations to ensure protection.

If you have a previous vaccine record card you can bring, or can get a note of vaccines from your GP or previous provider that is very helpful for our team.

If you think your vaccines for life in the UK are incomplete, you should ask your GP to refer you to have these completed within local arrangements. In Lothian this consists of a referral form called the “new unscheduled vaccine referral form” being submitted to the community vaccination team, who will then book you in to complete vaccines. Vaccination of individuals with uncertain or incomplete immunisation – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

If vaccines for life in the UK are identified as incomplete at your travel appointment, your health professional will alert you and encourage you to check your previous records with the GP or refer you directly to the community vaccination team if appropriate.

Please note the travel team do not always have access to your full vaccine history thus investigation via the GP may be more appropriate.