As the summer travel season approaches, community pharmacies across England are preparing for the annual surge in travel health consultations. For travellers planning trips abroad, the local pharmacy is increasingly the first — and sometimes only — stop for vaccinations, antimalarial medications, and travel health advice.
What travel health services pharmacies offer
Community pharmacy travel health services have expanded significantly in recent years. Many pharmacies now offer a comprehensive travel health consultation that can include:
Vaccinations available at pharmacies:
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
- Cholera (oral vaccine)
- Meningitis ACWY
- Flu (for travellers to southern hemisphere during their winter)
- COVID boosters
Some pharmacies with additional training and patient group directions (PGDs) also offer:
- Japanese encephalitis
- Rabies (pre-exposure)
- Tick-borne encephalitis
- Yellow fever (only available at designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres)
Antimalarial prescriptions:
Pharmacists can provide antimalarial medication through private prescription services. Common antimalarials available include atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone), doxycycline, and mefloquine. The pharmacist will assess the traveller's destination, itinerary, medical history, and any contraindications before recommending an appropriate regimen.
Travel health advice:
Beyond vaccinations and medications, pharmacy travel consultations typically cover:
- Destination-specific health risks
- Food and water safety
- Sun protection and heat illness prevention
- Insect bite prevention (including supply of DEET-based repellents)
- Altitude sickness advice for high-altitude destinations
- First aid kit recommendations
NHS vs private travel health services
An important distinction for travellers: most travel vaccinations are not available on the NHS. The exceptions are:
| Vaccine | NHS (free) | Private (pharmacy) |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis A | Yes | Also available |
| Typhoid | Yes | Also available |
| Cholera | Yes | Also available |
| Hepatitis B | Sometimes | Yes |
| Meningitis ACWY | Sometimes | Yes |
| Yellow fever | No | Yes (designated centres) |
| Rabies | No | Yes |
| Japanese encephalitis | No | Yes |
For NHS-eligible vaccinations, patients can obtain them from their GP surgery or from pharmacies participating in NHS travel vaccination services. For private vaccinations, pharmacy travel clinics typically charge £30–£80 per vaccination depending on the vaccine type.
Why pharmacies are well-placed for travel health
Several factors make community pharmacies an increasingly important part of the travel health landscape:
Accessibility. England's 13,147 registered community pharmacies are distributed across virtually every town and neighbourhood. Most are open six days a week, many have extended evening hours, and walk-in consultations are usually available without appointment — in contrast to GP travel clinics, which often have waiting times of several weeks during peak booking season.
Speed. Some travel vaccinations require courses of two or three doses given over several weeks. Starting the process at a pharmacy — which can often see patients within days — provides more flexibility than waiting for a GP appointment that may be weeks away.
Pharmacist expertise. Community pharmacists receive training in travel health as part of their ongoing professional development. Many pharmacies invest in specialist travel health training for their pharmacists, enabling them to provide destination-specific advice comparable to dedicated travel clinics.
Planning ahead
Travel health consultations should ideally take place at least six to eight weeks before departure, allowing time for vaccine courses and for immunity to develop. However, pharmacists can still help last-minute travellers with single-dose vaccines and antimalarial prescriptions.
Key steps before travelling:
- Check destination requirements — some countries require proof of specific vaccinations (e.g., yellow fever) for entry
- Review your vaccination history — bring any records of previous travel vaccinations
- Visit a pharmacy — for a travel health assessment, vaccinations, and antimalarial prescriptions
- Stock up on travel health essentials — sun cream, insect repellent, rehydration sachets, and basic first aid supplies are all available over the counter
To find a pharmacy near you offering travel health services, visit PharmSee's pharmacy search.
The workforce angle
Travel health consultations represent an important revenue stream for community pharmacies, particularly during the April-to-August booking season. Private vaccination fees and antimalarial prescriptions supplement NHS contract income, and the consultations help build patient relationships that drive broader pharmacy engagement.
For pharmacists, travel health is one of the most clinically varied aspects of community pharmacy practice. For current pharmacy job listings and salary data, visit PharmSee's job search and salary guides.