In brief
The short answer
It depends on the vaccine. Hepatitis A protects for around 25 years once you have had the booster, hepatitis B for 20 to 30 years after a full course, and the diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster for about 10 years. Typhoid lasts around 3 years, and the Meningitis ACWY certificate for Hajj and Umrah is valid for at least 3 years. If you are not sure what you have had, bring whatever records you can find and the pharmacist will work out what still counts.
- Hepatitis A: around 25 years after the booster dose
- Hepatitis B: 20 to 30 years after a completed course
- Typhoid: around 3 years
- Diphtheria, tetanus and polio: around 10 years
- Previous jabs usually still count, even from years ago
Validity by vaccine
The figures below are the typical protection periods for a healthy adult who completed the course. Your own situation can differ, so treat them as a guide for planning rather than a promise.
| Vaccine | How long protection typically lasts | What that means for your next trip |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis A | First dose protects within about 2 weeks, booster at 6 to 12 months extends protection to around 25 years | If you had the booster, you are very likely still covered |
| Hepatitis B | 20 to 30 years after a completed 3-dose course | Boosters are rarely needed for travellers |
| Hepatitis A and B combined | As above for each component once the 3-dose course is complete | Check whether you finished all 3 doses |
| Typhoid | Around 3 years | Most repeat travellers need this topped up |
| Diphtheria, tetanus and polio | Around 10 years | Many adults are overdue without realising |
| Meningitis ACWY | Certificate valid from 10 days after the jab for at least 3 years | Needed for every Hajj or Umrah trip within the validity window |
| Rabies | A completed pre-exposure course primes your immune system long term | Boosters depend on ongoing risk, ask at your consultation |
| Japanese encephalitis | 2-dose course, booster considered for continued travel to risk areas | Tell us if you had the course before |
| Tick-borne encephalitis | Full course protects for several years, with periodic boosters if risk continues | Relevant for repeat trips to forested parts of Europe |
| Cholera | Protection reduces after a couple of years | Usually repeated for a new trip to a risk area |
Why some last decades and others a few years
Vaccines that use an inactivated or engineered version of a virus, such as hepatitis A and B, tend to produce long-lasting immune memory once the course is complete. Vaccines against bacteria that rely on a sugar coating for protection, such as the injectable typhoid vaccine, produce a shorter response and need repeating.
Tetanus is a special case. The vaccine works well but protection slowly fades, which is why a 10-year booster is standard and why it is bundled with diphtheria and polio for travellers.
How to check what you have had
Start with the NHS App or your GP's online records, which list vaccines given by the surgery. Older travel vaccines from a private clinic or a previous pharmacy will not be there, so look for the card or booklet you were given at the time. A dated list on your phone is fine.
If you have no record at all, do not worry. The pharmacist will ask about your travel history and previous jabs, and where there is doubt it is usually safer to give a dose than to assume you are covered. Extra doses of most travel vaccines are not harmful.
Do I need to restart a course I never finished?
Usually not. For most travel vaccine courses, missed doses can be given late without starting again. The pharmacist will check the gap since your last dose and confirm what is needed. Bring the date of any earlier doses if you can.
Booking a top-up
Top-ups are quick. Typhoid and the diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster are single injections and can be given in one visit. If you know your last doses were more than 3 years ago and you are heading somewhere typhoid is a risk, book a free consultation and we will confirm what to repeat.
We are open 7 days a week in Cramlington with free parking, so a quick top-up appointment fits around work.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Around 3 years for the injection. If your last dose was longer ago than that and you are travelling to a risk area, it is worth repeating.
The first dose gives protection within about 2 weeks. A booster 6 to 12 months later extends protection to around 25 years.
After a completed 3-dose course, protection against long-term infection is thought to last 20 to 30 years. Travellers rarely need a booster.
Around 10 years. Adults who have not had a booster since school are usually due one, and it is given combined with diphtheria and polio.
The certificate is valid from 10 days after vaccination for at least 3 years. Check the current Saudi entry requirements before each trip.
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.