Compared
NHS versus private travel vaccines: what is free and what you pay for
Four travel vaccines are free on the NHS. The rest are not, and one of them can only be given at designated centres. Knowing which is which before you book turns a single expensive private appointment into a cheaper split between your GP and a pharmacy.
In short
- Free on the NHS: hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera and the combined diphtheria/tetanus/polio booster.
- Chargeable: hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, meningitis, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis, TB and yellow fever.
- Yellow fever is only available from designated centres, whoever pays.
- Not every GP surgery provides travel vaccination services at all.
What is free on the NHS
After completing a travel risk assessment, a GP surgery that provides travel vaccination services can give you the following free of charge:
- Hepatitis A
- Typhoid
- Cholera
- Polio, given as part of the combined diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster
These are free for a specific reason: they protect against diseases judged to pose the greatest public health risk if brought back into the country. The logic is population protection rather than traveller convenience, which is why the list is short and does not track what a given destination recommends.
What you pay for
Not routinely available on the NHS for travel purposes:
| Vaccine | Typically for | Lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis B | Longer stays, healthcare or clinical work, some regions | Weeks to months depending on schedule |
| Japanese encephalitis | Rural stays in parts of Asia, seasonal risk | Two doses, 4-6 weeks |
| Rabies | Animal contact, remote areas, long stays | Multi-dose; accelerated schedules exist |
| Tick-borne encephalitis | Forested parts of central and eastern Europe | 4-12 weeks depending on schedule |
| Meningitis | Some destinations and pilgrimage requirements | About two weeks |
| Tuberculosis (BCG) | Long stays in high-incidence countries | Assessed individually |
| Yellow fever | Parts of Africa and South America, often an entry requirement | Certificate valid ten days after the dose |
Prices vary considerably between providers and by number of doses, so ask for the total cost of the full course rather than a per-dose figure, and check whether a consultation fee is charged on top.
Yellow fever is a separate case
Yellow fever vaccine can only be given at designated vaccination centres, and the international certificate it produces is a border document. Many countries require proof of vaccination for entry, particularly if you are arriving from a country with transmission risk. Find a centre through the National Travel Health Network and Centre rather than assuming your GP can do it.
How to combine the two sensibly
- Ask your GP practice whether it provides travel vaccination services. Not all do.
- Book the risk assessment there and take whatever is NHS-funded.
- Ask which of the remaining recommendations genuinely apply to your itinerary — several are activity-dependent rather than country-dependent.
- Get the chargeable vaccines at a pharmacy travel service or private clinic, ideally in one appointment.
- Book yellow fever separately at a designated centre if the itinerary requires it.
Doing everything privately in one place is simpler and usually more expensive. Splitting it costs an extra appointment and saves money on a complex itinerary.
Antimalarials are not vaccines
Malaria prevention works through tablets and bite avoidance, not vaccination. Antimalarial tablets are generally prescribed privately even by an NHS GP, so expect a private prescription charge, and the regimen usually has to begin before you travel and continue for a period after you return. Compliance after the trip is where people most often lapse.
Common questions
Will my GP charge me for the risk assessment?
Practices may charge for travel services that fall outside NHS provision. Ask what the appointment itself costs before booking.
Can a pharmacy give all travel vaccines?
Many pharmacies offer a wide range, but not yellow fever, which requires a designated centre.
Is a vaccine free if I need it for work rather than travel?
Occupational vaccination is generally the employer's responsibility, not the NHS's or yours.
What if I do not know what I have already had?
Ask your GP practice for a list of vaccinations held on your record, and check the NHS App. Records from other countries are worth bringing to the appointment.