Winter travel vaccinations every traveller should consider this year
Are you planning on spending Christmas in a warmer climate this year? Just as those who are elderly or living with long-term health conditions are advised to have their flu jab at this time of year, those who are travelling abroad should also have their winter travel vaccinations done in time for the holidays.
It always pays to be prepared and appointments are available at our holiday vaccination clinic all year-round to help you get ready for your international adventures. Whether you and your family need travel vaccines for winter holidays or winter travel health advice from a specialist team, Heathrow Medical is your one-stop visit for a safe and enjoyable trip, so read on for our vaccination advice for winter 2025.
The importance of winter travel vaccinations
Taking good care of your health whilst travelling is essential, particularly during the colder winter months when our immune systems all take a hit and global respiratory infection rates spike. Countries all over the world have their own unique health risks and it is your responsibility to be aware of them and to take steps to avoid them, no matter what time of year it is. Some countries actually require all international visitors to be vaccinated against local diseases and viruses before entering, so if you think that this is the case for the country that you are travelling to, or if you’re not sure but would like to check, then it’s time to get in touch with us.
We will be able to tell you which vaccinations you need and administer them at our specialist travel clinic, along with any boosters or repeat doses that are required. Even if your destination does not have any vaccination mandates in place, our team will be happy to advise you of any threats to health that you may face and to recommend any additional vaccinations that it would be beneficial to have before flying out for the holidays.
The recommended travel vaccines for winter holidays
The right vaccinations for your travel plans will depend upon the location that you are travelling to, the activities that you have planned, and the health risks you may come into contact with during your time there. As we have already stated, the best way to protect yourself is to contact our clinic for a personalised vaccination plan that takes all of these factors into consideration, and some of the winter travel vaccinations that we most recommend are:
- Yellow fever: A single dose of a yellow fever vaccine is all that is needed to provide lifelong protection against this viral disease, and as an Approved Yellow Fever Centre, there is nowhere better to source this vaccination than here at Heathrow Medical.
- Meningitis: These vaccinations will be recommended before travel to areas that will put you at risk of exposure, particularly if you are planning to stay for an extended period of time or if your planned activities further increase this risk.
- Hepatitis A and B: Hepatitis is a worldwide condition that you will need to be vaccinated against if you are travelling to rural areas in Asia, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. Like the tetanus and diphtheria vaccination, a hepatitis jab is usually available as a combined travel vaccination to protect you from a range of common infections.
- Encephalitis: You can come into contact with carriers of encephalitis and rabies at any time of the year when travelling abroad, so make sure you complete this course of injections before you set off to any of the areas that put you at increased risk of exposure.
- Polio: Polio remains an active threat to health in many areas of the world, and you should have your polio booster before travelling to any of these regions, especially if your last booster dose was over 10 years ago.
- Vaccinations for children: Children in the UK receive a combined vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and polio, along with regular boosters, as part of the NHS vaccination schedule. If you are travelling as a family then you must check your children are up-to-date with these vaccinations, as this will give them the protection they need, so you can all enjoy your holiday without worry.
Please remember that if you, or a member of your group, has been offered a free flu or COVID winter booster on the NHS, then it is important to have this done to protect yourselves and other vulnerable travellers. We also offer influenza vaccinations at our clinic if this is something that anyone in your party requires.
Winter travel health advice from Heathrow Medical
There are a few more important considerations to bear in mind when planning your trip this winter:
1. Receive all doses ahead of time
Having the recommended vaccinations is the most effective way to protect yourself when travelling internationally, but only if this is done well in advance of your departure date.
Many of the vaccines that we offer must be done several weeks before you travel to give your body the time it needs to develop immunity. The yellow fever vaccine, for example, must be given at least 10 days prior to travel, and if you require the typhoid vaccine then you will need to have it done up to a month before you travel.
Others require a number of doses that must be spread out across a few weeks, and we highly recommend making an appointment with us at least two months before you are due to travel. So, as soon as you know where you are travelling to this winter, make sure to book your vaccinations right away.
2. Keep your vaccination certificate safe
When travelling to a region that requires, rather than recommends its visitors to be vaccinated, you will likely be asked to provide proof of vaccination before entering the country.
Vaccination certificates are internationally recognised documents that show you have received all doses of the relevant travel vaccines from an approved vaccination clinic. You will be asked to produce these certificates by border control as a public health measure, and if this is the case for you, then our team will provide you with a full certificate at the end of your final vaccination appointment.
Once you have your validated certificate it is now your responsibility to take it with you on your travels, so keep it safe with your passport and other documents and remember that you may also be asked to show it again when exiting the country.
3. Visit Heathrow Medical for pre-travel advice
Vaccines are not the only form of protection that you will need when travelling abroad. In addition to providing travel vaccines for winter holidays, we also provide antimalarial medication to all those travelling to high-risk countries, and our pre-travel advice plans include information on:
- How to avoid infections, including using insect repellent, sleeping under a mosquito net, and avoiding domesticated and wild animals.
- How to maintain safe and sanitary conditions when travelling, such as packing water purification tablets for areas with cases of dysentery and cholera.
- Which medications to travel with, including making sure that you have a supply of all your prescription medicines and emergency medication to use in the event of an infection.
This also presents a great opportunity to check that all your non-travel vaccinations are up-to-date and that you have received all your booster vaccines before travelling.
Our travel health clinic
Don’t let health concerns get in the way of some much-needed sun this winter!
Remember – many winter travel vaccinations must be administered 6 to 8 weeks before you set off, so get ready to travel safely this winter by booking your appointment at our holiday vaccination clinic today.