Holiday Health Checklist: What to Get from Your Pharmacy Before You Travel
Quick answer
Your pharmacist can provide many travel vaccinations, malaria prevention tablets, and essential holiday medicines without a GP referral, but you need to book at least 6 to 8 weeks before travel, as some vaccines require multiple doses. Bring a list of your current medicines, your destination, and your planned activities when you come in.
Why You Should Visit a Pharmacist Before You Travel
A pre-travel pharmacy consultation is one of the most cost-effective steps you can take before a holiday. Your pharmacist can assess your destination-specific risks, recommend or administer vaccinations, provide malaria prevention tablets, and review your existing medicines for travel suitability, all without needing a GP appointment in most cases.
Don't leave it too late. Some vaccines require two or three doses spaced weeks apart to be fully effective. The NHS recommends visiting a travel health clinic or pharmacy at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure.
Travel Vaccinations Available at Your Pharmacy
Many travel vaccines are available at pharmacies. Common ones include:
- Hepatitis A
- Typhoid
- Meningitis ACWY
- Yellow fever (at designated yellow fever centres)
- Japanese encephalitis
- Rabies
Some NHS vaccinations for travel (such as hepatitis A or tetanus boosters for certain destinations) may be free. Private vaccines are charged at a fixed fee. Ask your pharmacist what's covered and what isn't for your destination.
Malaria Prevention: Do You Need Tablets?
Malaria risk varies significantly by destination and even by region within a country. Your pharmacist will use NaTHNaC (the National Travel Health Network and Centre) guidelines to assess your risk and recommend the most appropriate antimalarial tablets for your trip.
Common options include atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone), doxycycline, and mefloquine. Each has different side effect profiles and dosing schedules. Your pharmacist will help you choose the one that suits your health and itinerary.
Your Holiday Medicine Bag Essentials
Beyond vaccinations, your pharmacy can stock your travel medicine kit:
- Oral rehydration sachets for diarrhoea or dehydration
- Insect repellent (DEET-based for high-risk destinations)
- Sunscreen SPF 30 or higher
- Antihistamines for insect bites or allergic reactions
- Pain relief (paracetamol, ibuprofen)
- Motion sickness tablets (if needed)
- First aid basics: plasters, antiseptic wipes, blister treatment
Tips for Travelling with Prescription Medicines
If you take regular prescription medicines, plan ahead:
- Ensure you have enough supply for the full trip, plus a few days' extra in case of delays
- Carry medicines in their original labelled packaging with a copy of your prescription
- Ask your pharmacist about storage at higher temperatures, as some medicines degrade in hot climates
- Check if your destination country has any restrictions on bringing in certain medicines (narcotics, controlled drugs)
How Far in Advance Should You Book a Travel Health Appointment?
The NHS recommends booking at least 6 to 8 weeks before travel. Some vaccines (such as rabies or Japanese encephalitis) require a course of 2 to 3 injections spread over several weeks. If you're travelling sooner, don't wait. Your pharmacist can still provide whatever protection is possible in the time available, and advise on additional precautions.
Yes. Many pharmacies in the UK are able to provide a range of travel vaccinations, including hepatitis A, typhoid, meningitis ACWY, and more. You don't need a GP referral in most cases. Book in advance, especially for vaccines that require multiple doses.
Private travel vaccines cost between £25 and £90 per dose depending on the vaccine. Some NHS-recommended vaccines for travel, such as hepatitis A or tetanus boosters for certain destinations, may be provided free on the NHS. Ask your pharmacist what's included for your destination.
No. Pharmacists can assess your malaria risk and supply antimalarial tablets directly. They use the same NaTHNaC guidelines as GPs. Bring details of your destination, planned activities, and current medicines when you visit.
Your pharmacist can put a travel medicines kit together in one visit. The essentials are oral rehydration sachets for diarrhoea or dehydration, antihistamines for insect bites and allergic reactions, pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, motion sickness tablets if you need them, sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, insect repellent (DEET based for high risk destinations), and first aid basics like plasters, antiseptic wipes and blister treatment. Bring your destination and any regular prescriptions with you, so we can check for interactions and advise on storing medicines in hot climates.
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