Costs & Charges
How much are travel vaccinations in the UK?
By Pick My Pharmacy Editorial · Updated 9 July 2026
Which travel vaccines are free on the NHS
The NHS covers travel vaccines that also protect public health at home: hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera, the combined hepatitis A and typhoid vaccine, and polio given as the tetanus/diphtheria/polio (Td/IPV) booster. These are free from your GP practice — though not every practice offers travel vaccination appointments, and you usually need to complete a travel risk assessment form first. Everything else is private: yellow fever, rabies, hepatitis B (for travel purposes), Japanese encephalitis, meningitis ACWY (except for the free NHS teenage dose), and tick-borne encephalitis. If your GP practice does not offer travel services, a pharmacy travel clinic can provide both the NHS-free and private vaccines, but check whether they charge for vaccines the NHS would give free — the same jab may cost £30+ privately.
Typical private prices per vaccine
Private travel vaccine prices vary by pharmacy and clinic, but typical UK ranges are: meningitis ACWY £50–£75; hepatitis B £45–£60 per dose (three doses for a full course); rabies £55–£85 per dose (three doses pre-exposure); yellow fever £68–£95 (single dose, plus certificate); Japanese encephalitis £95–£110 per dose (two doses); tick-borne encephalitis £65–£75 per dose; typhoid around £30–£45; and hepatitis A £55–£75 if bought privately. Always budget per course, not per dose — rabies pre-exposure at £75 per dose is £225 for the full course. Consultation or appointment fees range from free to about £25 and are sometimes waived or offset when you go ahead with vaccination. Our travel vaccination cost calculator adds up typical costs for your destination's recommended vaccines and travelling party.
Yellow fever, certificates, and designated centres
Yellow fever vaccination is different from other travel jabs: it can only be given at designated yellow fever vaccination centres, which include many pharmacy travel clinics. Some countries require an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) as an entry condition, issued when you are vaccinated — a single dose now provides lifelong validity for most travellers. Expect £68–£95 including the certificate. Because centres must meet registration standards, availability is patchier than for other vaccines, so book ahead — especially in summer. If a pharmacy in our directory is a designated yellow fever centre, it appears in their credentials. Malaria prevention is handled differently again: antimalarial tablets are medicines, not vaccines, and most require a prescription or a pharmacist consultation — a travel clinic can advise on the right option for your itinerary.
Budgeting and booking sensibly
Start planning 6–8 weeks before departure. Multi-dose courses like hepatitis B and rabies need weeks to complete, and immunity takes time to develop after the final dose. A realistic budget for a backpacking trip through parts of Asia, Africa, or South America is £150–£400 per person once courses are totted up — significant, but small against the cost of the diseases involved. To keep costs down: get the NHS-free vaccines from your GP where offered; compare travel clinic prices, since per-dose differences of £10–£20 multiply across courses and travellers; check your vaccination history so you don't pay to repeat something still valid; and ask about combined vaccines. Speak to a pharmacist, travel clinic, or GP about your specific itinerary — vaccine recommendations depend on the regions you visit, activities, and your health, not just the country name.
People Also Ask
Why does my GP charge for some travel vaccines?
GP practices can only provide hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera, and the Td/IPV polio booster free on the NHS for travel. Vaccines outside that list — yellow fever, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, and others — are private wherever you get them, including at your GP if the practice offers them.
Are pharmacy travel clinics as good as specialist clinics?
Pharmacy travel clinics use trained vaccinators, follow the same national travel health guidance, and stock the same vaccines. For complex itineraries or medical conditions, a specialist travel medicine clinic or your GP may be more appropriate — the pharmacist will tell you if your trip needs specialist input.
Do travel clinics charge a consultation fee?
Some do — typically up to £25, often deducted from the cost of vaccines you go ahead with; many pharmacy clinics offer the risk assessment free. Always ask what the appointment itself costs when comparing prices.
What if I've left it too late for a full course?
Speak to a travel clinic pharmacist as soon as possible. Accelerated schedules exist for some vaccines, partial protection may still be worthwhile, and the clinician can prioritise what matters most for your destination. Some protection is almost always better than none.
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This article is general information for UK patients, not medical advice, and NHS rules and charges change — confirm current rules on nhs.uk or speak to a pharmacist or GP before acting. For urgent medical help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency. Price figures are indicative benchmarks from ourmethodology.