GPhC-registered pharmacy offering hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccinations for travel, work, and lifelong health protection.
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are viral infections that attack the liver, causing inflammation and potentially serious disease. While both affect the liver, they spread differently and require different protection strategies.
Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated food and water — the faecal-oral route. It's highly contagious in regions with poor sanitation. The virus causes acute liver inflammation lasting 2–6 months. Most people recover completely, but the illness can be severe enough to hospitalise and ruin travel plans.
Hepatitis B transmits through blood and bodily fluids — sexual contact, contaminated needles, medical procedures with unsterile equipment, and mother-to-baby during birth. Unlike hepatitis A, hepatitis B can become a lifelong chronic infection, leading to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
Both are preventable through vaccination — offering protection whether you're travelling abroad, working in healthcare, or simply protecting your long-term health.
| Hepatitis A | Hepatitis B | |
|---|---|---|
| How It Spreads | Contaminated food/water, poor hygiene, faecal-oral route | Blood, bodily fluids, sexual contact, needles, childbirth |
| Risk Regions | Asia, Africa, South/Central America, Middle East | Same regions + Eastern Europe, Pacific Islands |
| Becomes Chronic? | No — always acute infection only | Yes — can become lifelong infection |
| Serious Complications | Rare fulminant liver failure — risk increases with age | Cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure |
| Typical Recovery | 2–6 months complete recovery | Can persist for life if chronic |
| Vaccine Schedule | 2 doses (0, 6–12 months) | 3 doses (0, 1, 6 months) |
| Protection Duration | 25+ years after course | 20–30+ years, often lifelong |
| NHS Availability | Yes (travel to endemic areas) | Limited (occupational/high-risk only) |
Three key groups who benefit most from hepatitis vaccination. Our pharmacist will assess your individual needs during consultation.
Single vaccines or combined protection. Standard or accelerated schedules available.
Hepatitis A: Book first dose at least 2 weeks before travel. Hepatitis B standard course takes 6 months — start early. Accelerated available for urgent travel with 12-month booster.
A streamlined, professional vaccination experience from consultation to protection.
Our GPhC-registered pharmacist reviews your travel destinations, departure dates, previous vaccinations, medical history, and occupational risks. We determine which hepatitis vaccine(s) you need and recommend the best schedule — standard or accelerated.
Single injection administered into your upper arm (deltoid muscle). Hepatitis A and B vaccines are inactivated — they cannot cause the disease. If receiving both separate vaccines on the same day, they're given in different arms.
You receive a vaccination record card documenting vaccine brand, batch number, and dates. We book all follow-up appointments and send automated reminders. Bring your record card to each subsequent dose.
Understanding global risk helps you choose the right protection for your travels.
Mild effects typically appear within 24–48 hours and resolve within 2–3 days without treatment. Manage with over-the-counter paracetamol if needed.
Both vaccines have outstanding safety profiles with hundreds of millions of doses administered worldwide over 30+ years. Serious reactions are extremely rare with both hepatitis vaccines.
Chislehurst Pharmacy Group provides professional, accessible hepatitis vaccination with expert guidance and flexible scheduling.
All vaccinations administered by General Pharmaceutical Council registered pharmacists with specialist travel health training.
Havrix, Vaqta, Engerix-B, HBvaxPRO, and Twinrix. All vaccines stored at 2–8°C with full cold chain documentation.
Standard or accelerated courses. We schedule all follow-up appointments during your first visit and send automated reminders.
Serving Chislehurst, Bromley, Orpington, Sidcup, Bexley, and South East London. Extended hours, free parking, walk-ins welcome.
Last-minute travel? Same-day appointments subject to vaccine availability. Walk-ins welcome for first doses. Perfect for late planners.
Hepatitis often needed with yellow fever, typhoid, rabies, meningitis. One comprehensive pre-travel consultation covers all needs.
Visit us in person for expert advice and immediate service
