Flying soon? It is rarely too late. How quickly each travel vaccine starts working, which have accelerated schedules, and what we can do same-day in Chislehurst.
You have booked the trip, and then realised the jabs are not sorted. It happens constantly, and the panic is usually worse than the problem. The honest answer is that it is rarely too late to do something useful, because several travel vaccines work faster than people assume and a few have officially shortened schedules designed for exactly this situation.
This is the question that actually matters when you are short on time. The table below shows how soon protection begins for the vaccines we give most often.
| Vaccine | How soon it works | Short-notice option? |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis A | Around 95% protected within 2 weeks of the first dose | No formal accelerated schedule, but one dose works quickly |
| Typhoid | Antibody rise detectable within about 7 days | Single dose, so no course to complete |
| Japanese encephalitis | Protection begins 7 days after the second dose | Yes — accelerated schedule, adults 18 to 65 only |
| Hepatitis B | After the accelerated course | Yes — days 0, 7 and 21, plus a booster at 12 months |
| Diphtheria, tetanus, polio | Within about 2 weeks for a booster | Single booster dose |
| Rabies | Once the course is complete | Shorter schedules may be possible; prescriber-led |
Two vaccines have officially shortened courses for short-notice travel, and both come with conditions worth knowing before you book your appointment.
Japanese encephalitis. The accelerated schedule gives both doses a week apart rather than a month, and reaches 99% seroconversion seven days after the second dose. The catch is that it is licensed for adults aged 18 to 65 only. Children and over-65s must use the standard schedule spread over about a month, which matters a great deal if you are booking a family trip to Asia. There is more in our Japanese encephalitis guide.
Hepatitis B. An accelerated course can be given on days 0, 7 and 21. The important detail is that this gives rapid short-term protection but needs a booster at 12 months to confirm lasting immunity, so it is not a shortcut you can forget about afterwards. We will note the date for you.
If your departure is days away rather than weeks, the appointment changes shape. Instead of working through everything your destination might warrant, your pharmacist prioritises by what is both achievable and most protective for your specific trip. In practice that usually means the fast-acting vaccines first, malaria tablets where needed since those start working on a defined schedule rather than needing weeks of lead-in, and clear advice on the risks you cannot vaccinate against. You will also leave knowing which doses to complete after you return, if a course was started.
Not sure what your destination needs? Our checker gives you a starting point in under a minute.
Answer four quick questions and we will show the vaccines we would usually discuss for your trip. It is guidance only; your pharmacist confirms everything at your appointment. Nothing is stored.
Being straight with you matters more than selling an appointment. Multi-dose courses such as rabies take time to complete, and while starting is usually still worthwhile, you should not travel assuming you are fully covered. Children cannot use the accelerated Japanese encephalitis schedule. And some protection simply is not a vaccine: malaria prevention depends on tablets taken correctly and on bite avoidance, and no travel vaccine replaces sensible food, water and animal precautions. We will tell you plainly where the gaps are.
Usually yes. Typhoid produces an antibody response within about a week, and a first dose of hepatitis A begins working quickly. You may not be fully covered by departure, but partial protection is worth having, and we can also sort malaria tablets and give destination-specific advice.
Often, yes. Where the vaccine is clinically appropriate and in stock, we can give it at the same appointment. Call ahead and tell us your destination so we can check stock before you travel across.
No. This is a private, pharmacist-led service, so you can book directly with us. There is no waiting list and nothing to arrange through your surgery first.
Not for Japanese encephalitis, which is licensed for accelerated use in adults aged 18 to 65 only. This is the main reason families should book earlier than adults travelling alone. See our guide to children’s travel vaccinations.
You can usually complete the remaining doses when you return, and that protection still counts for future trips. We will give you the dates and a record of what you have had.
Four to six weeks is comfortable for most destinations, and longer if rabies is involved or you are travelling as a family. But do not let a short lead time stop you booking.
Sources: NaTHNaC TravelHealthPro · UKHSA Immunisation Against Infectious Disease (the Green Book) · NHS vaccinations. Timings describe how quickly protection typically develops and can vary between individuals and products. This page is general information, not medical advice. Travel vaccines are prescription-only and given following a consultation where clinically appropriate.
Ready to take the next step?
Book your consultation at either Chislehurst Pharmacy Group location. Same-day and next-day appointments usually available.
