Travel Vaccinations
Travelling means different things to different people; backpacking around the world, visiting relatives, trekking the jungle, lounging by the Pool. However, many popular destinations require vaccines or medication to keep you safe.
To check if you need any additional immunisation or medications please review your destination on NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel Website.
NHS Forth Valley operates a Travel Health service based within Falkirk Community Hospital, Vaccination Centre, Unit 1. We operate Monday – Friday between 8am and 8pm.
Some Travel Vaccinations are provided for free by the NHS
The following travel vaccines are available free on the NHS to patients living in Scotland for the purpose of travel because they protect against disease being brought into the country.
- Revaxis (Diphtheria, tetanus and polio)
- Typhoid
- Hepatitis A
- Cholera
Some Travel Vaccinations are private and therefore incur a charge
From 1st April 2023, NHS Forth Valley will be providing private travel vaccines alongside NHS vaccines.
The following travel vaccinations are ones that will incur a charge
- Hepatitis B
- Rabies
- Japanese Encephalitis
- Tick borne encephalitis
- Meningococcal ACWY
If Yellow Fever vaccination is required, you will be directed to a Yellow Fever centre to access this vaccination.
If Malaria chemoprophylaxis is required, you will be advised and directed to a community pharmacy to purchase this.
How to access this service
NHS Forth Valley offers travel assessment and vaccination for travellers planning to visit areas of medium or high risk of disease. We ask travellers to contact us at least 6-8 weeks before departure.
If you are leaving sooner than 6 weeks, we cannot guarantee you will receive the immunisations or medication you require so you may be advised to seek advice from a private travel health company.
We ask travellers to contact us via the Travel Health Patient Questionnaire below.
Travel Health Assessment
Use this form at least 6-8 weeks before departure.
The information included in the form is completely confidential and your information will not be shared out with the Travel Health clinic.
We are able to assess several members of the same family during the same consultation, please ensure that every member to be discussed has completed their own questionnaire.
We do not have access to GP records therefore it is important that you complete the form as accurately as you can. You may need to contact your GP practice for further information to assist with this.
Not all travel requires vaccinations or medication. It is important to include the type of activities and accommodation planned for travel. This helps our specialist travel health nurses decide what the best treatment for you is.
You will be contacted within 5 working days to be offered an initial travel risk assessment telephone consultation appointment.
During this appointment the nurse will review your questionnaire and discuss your travel plans and make recommendations of any vaccinations/medications required for your travel and discuss how to book a vaccination appointment if required.
If you are unable to access the travel health assessment above please contact NHS Forth Valley’s Immunisation Team on 0800 130 3120.
Vaccination appointments
If you require vaccinations, our admin team will be in contact to book this appointment for you.
The consultation and any NHS vaccinations are provided free of charge.
If you require non-NHS vaccines, payment will require to be paid in full prior to appointment being made for these vaccinations. We are unable to accept payment on the day.
We are able to accept credit/debit cards. We are unable to accept American Express.
Refund Policy
In the event of a change in circumstances and where vaccination is no longer required after payment has been received, NHS Forth Valley will issue a refund for vaccinations not administered.
To apply for a refund please contact the Immunisation Service Admin Hub on 0800 130 3120. Refunds are typically issued within 7-14 business days.
For further travel advice please see the following websites