In brief
The short answer
Hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera and the combined diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster are free on the NHS through GP surgeries that provide travel vaccinations. Hepatitis B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis and yellow fever are not funded for travel and are paid for privately. Not every GP offers travel jabs, and appointments can take weeks, which is why many people use a pharmacy clinic for some or all of them.
- Free at participating GPs: hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera, DTP booster
- Always private: hepatitis B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, TBE, yellow fever
- Your GP is not obliged to offer travel vaccinations, so ask early
- Mixing free GP jabs with private ones is normal, bring your record
The free list
The NHS funds these travel vaccines because the diseases they cover could spread in the UK if a traveller brought them home. If your GP surgery provides travel vaccinations, you should be able to get them without charge.
| Vaccine | NHS status | If you pay privately with us |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis A | Free at participating GPs | Given as combined hepatitis A and B, £85 per dose |
| Typhoid | Free at participating GPs | £38 per dose |
| Cholera | Free at participating GPs | £32 per dose |
| Diphtheria, tetanus and polio | Free at participating GPs | £38 per dose |
The vaccines you pay for everywhere
These are not funded by the NHS for travel. Whether you go to a GP that offers them, a high-street chain or a pharmacy clinic like ours, you will pay for them.
| Vaccine | Our price |
|---|---|
| Hepatitis B (as combined hepatitis A and B) | £85 per dose |
| Rabies | £74 / £222 course |
| Japanese encephalitis | £109 per dose |
| Tick-borne encephalitis | £65 per dose |
| Meningitis ACWY | £57 per dose |
Why your GP might not be the quickest route
GP surgeries are not required to provide travel vaccinations, and many in the North East have stopped or scaled back the service. Those that do often have limited nurse appointments, so you can wait weeks for a slot. If you are travelling within a month or two, that wait can eat into the time some vaccines need to work.
If your surgery does offer the service, call them first and ask two questions: do they provide travel vaccinations, and how soon can they see you. If the answer is no or not for several weeks, a pharmacy clinic can usually see you within days.
Mixing NHS and private vaccines
This is completely normal and often the cheapest approach. Get the free vaccines from your GP if they can see you in time, then book with us for the private ones. Bring a note of what you had and when, and the pharmacist will build the rest of your plan around it.
If you would rather have everything done in one visit, we can give the whole list. You pay our per-dose prices for the vaccines your GP would have given free, but you save the second appointment and any waiting time.
What about yellow fever?
Yellow fever is a private vaccine and can only be given at an authorised Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre. We do not currently administer it. If your itinerary includes a country with a yellow fever requirement, the pharmacist will explain what you need and where to get it, and can still cover everything else on your list.
Malaria tablets
Antimalarial tablets are not free on the NHS, even from a GP. They are available on private prescription. We stock them and can supply them at your consultation once the pharmacist has confirmed which option suits your route and medical history.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Advice from your GP is free, though many surgeries no longer offer dedicated travel appointments. Our pharmacist consultation is also free, you only pay for vaccines you go ahead with.
The same four vaccines are free for children at participating GPs, and children may also be due routine NHS jabs that count for travel. We can check both at a free consultation.
Not for travel. It is part of the routine childhood schedule for babies born since 2017 and is funded for some occupational and medical groups, but adults travelling abroad pay for it privately.
No. NHS-funded travel vaccines are only available through GP surgeries. Pharmacies provide them privately, which is why the prices are published per dose.
Final vaccine and medicine recommendations always depend on your medical history, previous vaccinations, current travel health guidance, trip duration and planned activities. This page is general information, not a personal clinical recommendation — book a consultation so our pharmacist can assess your individual trip.