Meningococcal disease is rare, but when it strikes it can move frighteningly fast. It is caused by bacteria that can lead to meningitis and blood poisoning (septicaemia), and teenagers, young adults, babies and some travellers are among those at higher risk. The ACWY vaccine protects against four of the main types of meningococcal bacteria, and …
Typhoid fever is one of those illnesses that most UK travellers have heard of but few know much about. It is spread through contaminated food and water, it can make you seriously unwell, and it is far more common in some parts of the world than others. A typhoid fever shot is one of the …
Quick Answer Not every tick bite makes you ill, but some can, depending on where you are in the world. A vaccine is available for tick-borne encephalitis, which is found across parts of central, eastern and northern Europe and parts of Asia, and it is usually recommended for travellers who will spend time outdoors in …
Quick Answer Shots for hepatitis B protect against a virus that attacks the liver and spreads through blood and body fluids, not through everyday contact. In the UK the vaccine is part of the routine childhood schedule for children born from August 2017, while adults are usually offered it if they are at higher risk, …
Landing feeling wide awake at 3am, or unable to keep your eyes open during a mid-afternoon meeting, is one of the most common complaints after a long-haul flight. Jet lag is not just tiredness, it is a genuine, temporary disruption to your body’s internal clock, and how long it lasts depends on more than just …
Pneumonia is one of those illnesses that raises an immediate question for most people: can I catch this from someone else? The honest answer is that it depends entirely on what caused it. Some cases of pneumonia spread easily between people, while others cannot be passed on at all. Understanding whether is pneumonia contagious applies …
Packing the wrong repellent, or skipping a destination-specific vaccine you did not realise you needed, can turn a dream holiday into a genuinely dangerous situation. Insect-borne diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and dengue are not evenly spread around the world, and neither is the protection you need against them. Choosing the right …
If you are over 65, or you are researching vaccinations on behalf of a parent or older relative, the number of different winter jabs on offer can feel confusing. Flu, COVID-19, pneumococcal disease, and shingles all have their own eligibility rules, timing and frequency, and it is easy to lose track of who needs what …
Malaria remains one of the most serious health risks facing UK travellers heading to parts of Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and the Middle East. Choosing the right malaria tablets UK travel clinics recommend for your specific itinerary is not a decision to make from an internet forum or a pharmacy shelf alone. Resistance …
Booking a trip at short notice, or realising travel health preparation slipped down the to-do list, is more common than most travellers admit. The good news is that many last minute travel vaccinations are still possible in the days before you fly, though a few genuinely need longer lead times to offer full protection. Contact …
