International Health Regulations (IHR) allow countries to require arriving travellers to provide proof of vaccination against certain diseases, including yellow fever. The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), also referred to as the “yellow card,” is the official, internationally recognized document that travellers use to document proof of vaccination for diseases included under the IHR.
Currently, vaccination against yellow fever must be documented using the ICVP. Travelers should check CDC’s webpage for their destination to learn if vaccination is required before entry. including layover requirements. Some countries require all arriving travelers to show proof of yellow fever vaccination before entering the country. Other countries require proof of vaccination from travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever virus exposure (even for a brief layover). Therefore, for people visiting multiple countries, the order of travel may be important.
When should I start thinking about the vaccines I need?
If possible, see the GP or a private travel clinic at least 6 to 8 weeks before you’re due to travel. Some vaccines need to be given well in advance to allow your body to develop immunity. And some vaccines involve a number of doses spread over several weeks or months. You may be more at risk of some diseases, for example, if you’re:
- travelling in rural areas
- backpacking
- staying in hostels or camping
- on a long trip rather than a package holiday
If you have a pre-existing health problem, this may make you more at risk of infection or complications from a travel-related illness.
Where do I get my travel vaccines?
First, phone or visit the GP practice or practice nurse to find out whether your existing UK vaccinations are up-to-date. If you have any records of your vaccinations, let the GP know what you have had previously. The GP or practice nurse can give you general advice about travel vaccinations and travel health, such as protecting yourself from malaria. They can give you any missing doses of your UK vaccines if you need them. Not all travel vaccinations are available free on the NHS, even if they’re recommended for travel to a certain area. If the GP practice can give you the travel vaccines you need but they are not available on the NHS, ask for:
- written information on what vaccines are needed
- the cost of each dose or course
- any other charges you may have to pay, such as for some certificates of vaccination
You can also get travel vaccines from:
- private travel vaccination clinics
- pharmacies offering travel healthcare services
Which travel vaccines are free?
The following travel vaccines are available free on the NHS from your GP surgery:
- polio (given as a combined diphtheria/tetanus/polio jab)
- typhoid
- hepatitis A
- cholera
These vaccines are free because they protect against diseases thought to represent the greatest risk to public health if they were brought into the country.
Which travel vaccines will I have to pay for?
You’ll have to pay for travel vaccinations against:
- hepatitis B
- Japanese encephalitis
- meningitis
- rabies
- tick-borne encephalitis
- tuberculosis (TB)
- yellow fever
Yellow fever vaccines are only available from designated centres.
Other things to consider
There are other things to consider when planning your travel vaccinations, including:
- your age and health – you may be more vulnerable to infection than others; some vaccines cannot be given to people with certain medical conditions
- working as an aid worker – you may come into contact with more diseases in a refugee camp or helping after a natural disaster
- working in a medical setting – a doctor, nurse or another healthcare worker may require additional vaccinations
- contact with animals – you may be more at risk of getting diseases spread by animals, such as rabies
If you’re only travelling to countries in northern and central Europe, North America or Australia, you’re unlikely to need any vaccinations.
But it’s important to check that you’re up-to-date with routine vaccinations available on the NHS.
Please note, this page was correct when written in December 2024.