A travel consultation with our pharmacist, with vaccinations and antimalarials for wherever you are going.
Whether you are off on holiday, travelling for work, backpacking, or visiting family abroad, a little preparation keeps you healthy while you are away. Benson Pharmacy offers a private travel consultation with a trained pharmacist, with the vaccinations and antimalarial tablets you need for your trip, without a GP appointment.
Before you book
- Everyone travelling needs a consultation first. Advice is specific to your destination, your plans and your health, even if you have been to the same country before
- Book early, ideally six to eight weeks before you go. Some vaccines are a course given over several weeks, and some need time to take effect. If you are leaving sooner, come anyway: there is nearly always something useful we can do
- Bring your vaccination record if you have one, so we can see what you already have and what is still in date
What happens at your consultation
We go through where you are going and when, how long for, what you will be doing, where you will be staying, which vaccinations you have had, and any medical conditions or medicines. Your pharmacist then recommends what you need, explains the cost, and tells you how long each course takes. If we have the vaccine in stock, you can usually have it in the same appointment.
Vaccines and antimalarials
The vaccines we offer are listed below, each with its own page explaining what it protects against, how many doses you need and when to have them. You only pay for what the pharmacist recommends for your trip. We also supply antimalarial tablets, prescribed by the pharmacist and priced by the length of your trip.
Staying well while you are away
- Insect bites spread malaria, dengue and more. Use a repellent with 50% DEET, cover up at dusk, and sleep under a net where malaria is a risk
- Choose freshly cooked food, bottled or treated water, and skip ice and salads where hygiene is uncertain
- Take a basic kit: painkillers, rehydration sachets, antihistamines, plasters and any regular medicines in their original packaging, with a copy of your prescription
- Check your travel insurance covers your activities and any existing conditions
Telling your GP
This is a private service and we do not routinely notify your GP. After each vaccination we give you a written record of the vaccine, batch number and date. Keep it safe and pass a copy to your GP so your medical record stays complete.
How to book
Book online at a time that suits you, call us on 01491 838686, or pop in and we will find a time with you. Appointments are in our private consultation room.
What we offer and what it costs
- Hepatitis A vaccine Protection against hepatitis A, a liver infection spread through contaminated food and water in many parts of the world. 1 dose, with a booster 6–12 months later for long-term protection Ask us
- Hepatitis B vaccine Protection against hepatitis B, a liver infection spread through blood and body fluids. Usually 3 doses over 6 months; an accelerated course over 3 weeks is possible Ask us
- Hepatitis A and B combined vaccine One course that protects against both hepatitis A and hepatitis B. 3 doses over 6 months; an accelerated course over 3 weeks is possible Ask us
- Typhoid vaccine Protection against typhoid fever, a serious infection spread through contaminated food and water. 1 injection; a booster every 3 years if you keep travelling Ask us
- Rabies vaccine Pre-travel protection against rabies, carried by dogs, bats and other animals in many countries. 3 doses over 3–4 weeks (a 7-day course may be possible) Ask us
- Cholera vaccine An oral vaccine against cholera for travel to areas with outbreaks or poor access to clean water. 2 oral doses, 1–6 weeks apart Ask us
- Japanese encephalitis vaccine Protection against Japanese encephalitis, a mosquito-borne infection in rural parts of Asia. 2 doses, 28 days apart (7 days apart on a rapid schedule) Ask us
- Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine Protection against a viral infection carried by ticks in forested parts of Europe and Asia. 3 doses over 5–12 months (a rapid schedule gives 2 doses in 2 weeks) Ask us
- Meningitis ACWY vaccine Protection against four strains of meningococcal meningitis, and the certificate required for Hajj and Umrah. 1 dose; a booster every 5 years if you keep travelling Ask us
- Diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster A combined booster for three infections that remain a risk in many parts of the world. 1 dose, every 10 years for travel Ask us
- Malaria tablets Prescription-only tablets to prevent malaria, chosen for your destination and your health. Taken daily or weekly, starting before travel and continuing after you return Ask us
Prices are per person. Your pharmacist confirms what you need at your consultation, so you only pay for what is recommended for your trip.