You’ve booked the flights. You’ve sorted the hotel. Then someone asks whether you’ve had your jabs, and that mild anxiety you’ve been ignoring for three weeks suddenly becomes very loud.
Most people search for a travel clinic near me at this point, usually closer to their departure date than they’d like to admit.
The good news: if you’re in South East London, you’re in the right place. The Chislehurst Pharmacy Group runs dedicated travel health services from two pharmacies in Chislehurst, covering patients across Bromley, Orpington, Sidcup, Bexley, and the surrounding area.
Same-day appointments. No GP referral. No weeks-long wait.
This guide covers everything: which vaccines you actually need, how far in advance to book, what it costs, and how to get seen quickly if you’ve left it late.
By the end, you’ll know exactly what to do next.
As a registered pharmacy offering a full range of travel health services, Chislehurst Pharmacy Group can see you, vaccinate you, and send you away with your certificate and travel health documentation — often on the same day you call.
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That depends on where you’re going, how long for, what you’ll be doing, and your vaccination history. There’s no universal answer, which is why a travel health consultation matters. That said, here’s how to think about the main vaccines and who needs them.
Recommended for: Most destinations outside Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Protection timeline: Some protection within days of vaccination; 95% protection within two weeks.
Duration: Single dose lasts around one year. Booster at 6–12 months provides 25+ years of protection.
Hepatitis A is the most common travel-acquired vaccine-preventable infection in UK travellers. It spreads through contaminated food and water — so if you’re eating local food, street markets, or travelling to rural areas, this is non-negotiable.
Recommended for: South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Central and South America, parts of Eastern Europe.
Protection timeline: Injectable vaccine: protection from approximately 14 days after vaccination. Oral course: 7–10 days after completing the three-dose course.
Duration: Three years (injectable).
Typhoid is often underestimated. Street food in India, Bangladesh or Pakistan carries genuine risk. The injectable vaccine is quick, one dose, and one of the most cost-effective things you can do before travelling to high-risk destinations.
Recommended/required for: Sub-Saharan Africa, tropical South America. Some countries require proof of vaccination for entry — no certificate, no entry.
Protection timeline: Certificate valid from 10 days after vaccination.
Duration: Lifelong — one dose, no booster required.
Yellow Fever is the one vaccine that can physically prevent you from boarding your flight. Countries including Ghana, Uganda, Kenya (if arriving from a yellow fever country), and Brazil have mandatory entry requirements. Chislehurst Pharmacy Group is an authorised Yellow Fever vaccination centre.
Recommended for: Long-stay travellers, healthcare workers, those who may require medical treatment abroad, backpackers.
Protection timeline: Requires a full three-dose course. Accelerated schedules can be completed in three weeks, with a booster dose at 12 months.
Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and bodily fluids, including medical procedures abroad. If you’re travelling to Africa, Asia or Eastern Europe for an extended stay, this vaccine is strongly recommended.
Recommended for: Travellers to rural areas of Asia, Africa, and Latin America — particularly those doing outdoor activities, cycling, or trekking.
Protection timeline: Two-dose pre-exposure course over seven days provides partial protection. Still requires post-exposure treatment if bitten — but buys critical extra time to access medical care.
The rabies vaccine isn’t about preventing the need for post-exposure treatment. It’s about not having to find immunoglobulin in a rural Thai hospital at midnight. In many remote destinations, rabies immunoglobulin simply isn’t available.
Recommended for: Rural areas of Southeast and South Asia, particularly for stays over a month or involving significant outdoor exposure.
Protection timeline: Full protection seven days after the second dose. Two-dose course given 28 days apart (accelerated schedule available).
Most UK travellers to Thailand, Bali, Vietnam or India won’t need this vaccine for short city-based trips. But if you’re spending time in rural areas during the monsoon season — when transmission risk peaks — it’s worth discussing with a travel health pharmacist.
Recommended for: Saudi Arabia (Hajj/Umrah mandatory), Sub-Saharan Africa (the meningitis belt), university-age travellers.
Protection timeline: Protection within 10–14 days.
Recommended for: Aid workers, those in disaster zones, travellers to areas with active outbreaks or very poor sanitation.
Protection timeline: Around 10 days after the second oral dose.
Most UK adults had childhood vaccinations for these, but boosters are needed every 10 years for travel to higher-risk destinations. If you had a booster within the last 10 years, you’re covered immediately. If not, a single booster restores protection within days.
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The standard advice is six to eight weeks before travel. That’s genuinely ideal — it means every vaccine can be given on the best possible schedule, multi-dose courses have time to complete, and you’re not paying extra for express anything.
But most people reading this aren’t eight weeks out. Here’s the realistic breakdown.
Six to Eight Weeks Before Travel — Ideal
All vaccines can be started. Multi-dose courses (Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies pre-exposure) can be completed at the recommended intervals. Yellow Fever has time to become valid before you fly. No rush, no stress.
Two to Four Weeks Before Travel — Still Good
Single-dose vaccines like Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Yellow Fever all provide good protection in this window. Multi-dose courses can be started on an accelerated schedule. You’ll leave with solid cover for the main risks.
One to Two Weeks Before — Don’t Panic
Hepatitis A gives 95% protection within two weeks. Yellow Fever is valid from day ten. Typhoid injectable kicks in at approximately 14 days. A pharmacist will prioritise the vaccines that give you the most protection in the time available.
Less Than a Week — Call Today
Some protection beats none. Even a single Hepatitis A dose provides meaningful protection. Anti-malarial tablets can be started on short notice. We’ll assess what’s achievable and make sure you leave with the best possible protection given your timeline.
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[INSERT IMAGE 6 HERE — Clear water beach, Southeast Asian or Caribbean feel]
Children’s vaccine schedules differ from adults — some travel vaccines have minimum age requirements, and doses may differ. Hepatitis A can be given from one year old. Yellow Fever from nine months. Japanese Encephalitis from two months.
Booking a family travel consultation means the pharmacist can assess every family member in one appointment, account for any vaccines already received through the childhood schedule, and tell you exactly what each child needs.
Short-notice travel is an occupational reality. A Thursday email saying you’re flying to Lagos on Monday is not uncommon. Same-day appointment availability and a well-stocked pharmacy mean Chislehurst Pharmacy Group can turn around travel vaccination for business travellers quickly.
Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A and Typhoid can all be administered in a single appointment. If you have vaccination records from previous travel, bring them — it speeds up the consultation significantly.
Long stays, multiple countries, rural areas and adventure activities change the risk profile significantly. Rabies pre-exposure becomes much more relevant if you’re cycling through rural Vietnam. Hepatitis B matters more if you’re considering any medical treatment abroad. Japanese Encephalitis is worth discussing if you’re staying in rural areas of Asia for weeks rather than days.
A 45-minute consultation for a backpacking trip is time well spent. The pharmacist will work through your full itinerary and give you honest, specific recommendations — not a generic list for every country on your route.
Immune responses can be lower in older adults, which affects both vaccine efficacy and recovery from travel-acquired illness. It’s worth discussing your full medical history, current medications, and any conditions that might affect vaccine choice during your consultation. Some live vaccines have contraindications for people on immunosuppressant medication.
Pregnancy affects which vaccines can be safely administered. Live vaccines — including Yellow Fever and oral Typhoid — are generally not recommended during pregnancy. Inactivated vaccines are considered safe and may be strongly advisable depending on destination. Malaria in pregnancy carries serious risks; anti-malarial medication choices also differ for pregnant travellers. Discuss your travel plans with both your midwife/GP and a travel health pharmacist before booking any trip.
Vaccine side effects are common, usually mild, and short-lived. The most frequent reactions are arm soreness at the injection site, mild fatigue, and occasionally a low-grade temperature in the 24–48 hours following vaccination.
Paracetamol or ibuprofen manages most post-vaccination symptoms well. Keep the injection arm mobile. Stay hydrated. Most people have no symptoms beyond mild soreness.
Serious allergic reactions to travel vaccines are very rare — occurring in approximately 1 in every million doses. For this reason, you’ll be asked to wait 15 minutes after vaccination before leaving. Both pharmacies are equipped to manage allergic reactions.
Seek urgent medical attention if you develop difficulty breathing, significant swelling of the face or throat, or feel faint after leaving the pharmacy. Call 999.
Malaria isn’t prevented by vaccine for most travellers — it’s prevented by a combination of anti-malarial medication, insect repellent (DEET-based, 50%+ concentration), appropriate clothing, and mosquito nets.
Anti-malarial tablets are prescribed based on your destination, the specific malaria strains prevalent there, your medical history, and the length of your trip. The three main options are:
Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil): Start one to two days before travel, take daily throughout, continue for seven days after returning. Generally well tolerated, low side effect profile.
Doxycycline: Start two days before travel, take daily, continue for four weeks after returning. Good alternative where Malarone resistance is reported. Can cause photosensitivity — use sun protection.
Mefloquine (Lariam): Weekly dosing — start three weeks before travel to check for neuropsychiatric side effects. Recommended only in specific circumstances; not first-line for most travellers.
Resistance patterns vary by country and region. Your pharmacist will recommend the right option for your specific destination during the consultation.
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Booking is straightforward. Call either pharmacy during opening hours, or check the website for online appointment availability.
The consultation itself takes around 30 minutes. Vaccinations are administered at the same appointment where vaccines are in stock. Yellow Fever certificates are issued on the day. You’ll leave with written documentation of everything you’ve received.
Without exception, the travellers who come in the week before their flight say the same thing on the way out: they wish they’d come in sooner. Not because it’s difficult — it isn’t. Because the anxiety of not knowing whether they’re protected follows them around until they do.
A travel health consultation takes 30 minutes. Most vaccinations provide meaningful protection within one to two weeks. The cost is a fraction of what an unplanned hospital visit abroad will set you back — financially and in terms of the trip itself.
You’ve sorted the flights, the hotel, and the airport transfers. The vaccines are the part that actually keeps you well enough to enjoy all of it.
Chislehurst Pharmacy Group has been looking after South East London travellers for over 15 years. Two locations, Saturday opening, same-day appointments where possible, and a clinical team that gives you straight answers rather than a generic list of vaccine names.
Ready to take the next step?
Book your consultation at either Chislehurst Pharmacy Group location. Same-day and next-day appointments usually available.
