Travel Vaccinations

We have noticed that some patients have recently been approaching our practice after being referred by travel clinics for certain vaccinations that are advertised as “free on the NHS.” Our practice does NOT conduct travel health risk assessments or provide travel vaccination services, as these are not part of our core NHS contract or routine general medical services.

Please note that St. Martins Medical Centre does NOT provide travel vaccinations, including those that may be listed as free under the NHS, such as:

Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP)
Cholera

Although some of these vaccines can be provided free of charge within the NHS framework, their administration requires a specialist travel health assessment to ensure they are appropriate for your destination and personal circumstances. If you have had a travel vaccine assessment completed at a pharmacy or travel clinic, please note that they are responsible for providing the full course of recommended immunisations, as they have carried out a detailed assessment of your travel plans and medical history.

In exceptional circumstances, your request may be considered on a case-by-case basis. The practice nurse will review the appropriateness of vaccine administration, provided we receive a full copy of the consultation report from the travel clinic, including specific vaccination instructions and confirmation of whether the vaccine falls under NHS vaccination guidelines.

Please note that this is a lengthier process, as sufficient notice must be given from the travel clinic to allow the practice to source the required vaccines. Additionally, charges may apply if the vaccines requested are not covered under NHS vaccination guidelines or are deemed non-NHS travel vaccines.

Where to Obtain Travel Vaccinations

For advice and vaccinations related to travel, we recommend attending a pharmacy or specialist travel clinic.
These services are specifically trained and equipped to:

Assess your travel itinerary and health needs
Recommend the correct vaccines or medications
Provide comprehensive travel health advice (e.g. malaria prevention, insect bite avoidance, food and water safety, etc.)

Please be aware that while some vaccines may be free under the NHS, others may incur a private fee, depending on your destination and health requirements.

Further Information

For reliable and up-to-date travel health information, you can visit the official UK National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website:
🔗 www.travelhealthpro.org.uk

This site provides details about vaccination requirements, disease outbreaks, and general health advice for travelers.