Which travel vaccinations are free on the NHS—and which are private?
For anyone comparing travel vaccinations, NHS guidance currently lists cholera, hepatitis A, typhoid and the polio-containing combined tetanus, diphtheria and polio vaccine as options that may be provided free through an NHS GP service after a risk assessment.
Vaccines such as hepatitis B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis and yellow fever are not routinely funded by the NHS for travel and usually need to be obtained privately.
Book a free private travel consultation
Bute Clinic provides a private service above Treherbert Pharmacy. We explain which vaccines may be available through an NHS route and which would need to be supplied privately.
Travel vaccinations: NHS-funded and private options at a glance
- Potentially free through the NHS: cholera, hepatitis A, typhoid and a polio-containing combined tetanus, diphtheria and polio vaccine, following an eligible risk assessment.
- Usually private: hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis and yellow fever.
- Not every traveller qualifies: an NHS-listed vaccine is only provided when indicated for your destination and itinerary.
- Availability varies: local GP practices may have different appointment processes and service capacity.
- Private clinics can provide both groups: vaccines that may be NHS-funded can also be purchased privately when clinically appropriate.
- Book early: aim to obtain advice at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure.
Which travel vaccinations may be free on the NHS?
The current NHS travel-vaccination guidance lists four types of protection that can be provided free at a GP surgery after completion of a travel risk-assessment form.
| Vaccine | NHS position | Important point |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis A | May be available free after an NHS travel risk assessment. | It is not automatically needed for every country. Recommendation depends on destination and exposure. |
| Typhoid | May be available free after assessment. | More commonly recommended where food and water hygiene may be poor or for longer and higher-exposure trips. |
| Cholera | May be available free when specifically indicated. | It is not routinely recommended for an ordinary tourist holiday and is usually reserved for particular risks. |
| Polio-containing vaccine | May be available free as part of the combined tetanus, diphtheria and polio vaccination. | A booster is not required for every traveller. Previous UK vaccination and destination guidance must be checked. |
Being listed as an NHS travel vaccine does not mean you can request it for any trip. The vaccine must be clinically indicated after assessment.
Can you get free NHS travel vaccinations near Treherbert?
Contact your own GP practice to ask whether it currently provides NHS travel assessments and how far ahead you need to submit your itinerary. Local arrangements and appointment availability can vary.
Treherbert Pharmacy does not provide the Travel Clinic as an NHS-funded service. Bute Clinic’s travel-health service is private, although the initial consultation itself is free.
You can use the private consultation to understand your likely requirements, but NHS vaccination must be arranged separately through an NHS provider where available.
Which travel vaccinations do you usually need to pay for?
The NHS does not routinely fund the following vaccines for travel. They are generally obtained from a private travel clinic, a pharmacy with a travel-health service or a GP practice offering private vaccination.
- Hepatitis BOften considered for long stays, healthcare work, visiting friends and relatives, possible medical treatment or blood and sexual exposure.
- RabiesMay be recommended for animal exposure, children, long stays, remote travel and destinations where urgent treatment may be difficult to access.
- Japanese encephalitisUsually considered for longer, frequent or higher-exposure travel in affected parts of Asia and the western Pacific.
- Tick-borne encephalitisMay be considered for outdoor exposure in affected forested regions of Europe and Asia.
- Yellow feverOnly designated centres can provide this vaccine and its international certificate. Treherbert Pharmacy is an official Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre.
- Other private optionsSome trips may involve private MMR, meningitis ACWY, chikungunya or other vaccines depending on destination, entry rules and individual risk.
Why are some travel vaccines NHS-funded and others private?
NHS funding policy is not simply a measure of how serious a disease is. It reflects national commissioning decisions about which travel vaccines should be provided through general medical services.
A privately funded vaccine may still be strongly recommended for a particular trip. Rabies and Japanese encephalitis, for example, can be clinically important even though they are not routinely funded for travel.
The correct question is therefore not only “Is it free?” but also “Is it recommended for my itinerary and personal risk?”
Can you pay privately for a vaccine that may be available on the NHS?
Yes. Hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera and combined tetanus, diphtheria and polio vaccines can also be provided privately where clinically appropriate.
A traveller may choose the private route because:
- Their GP practice does not currently provide the required travel service.
- There is insufficient time before departure to use the local NHS process.
- They need NHS and non-NHS vaccines coordinated into one course.
- They prefer one assessment covering vaccination, malaria prevention and other travel risks.
It remains reasonable to check NHS availability first when time permits. Bute Clinic will not imply that a traveller must pay privately when an NHS route may be available.
How much do private travel vaccines cost at Bute Clinic?
The initial consultation is free. The following are current clinic charges. Most vaccine prices are per dose; yellow fever is priced as a complete service. Some vaccines require a course, so total cost depends on the recommended schedule and your previous vaccination history.
| Vaccine | Private price | Could an NHS route exist? |
|---|---|---|
| Cholera oral vaccine | £34 | Yes, when indicated and locally available. |
| Hepatitis A | £50 | Yes, when indicated and locally available. |
| Typhoid | £35 | Yes, when indicated and locally available. |
| Polio, diphtheria and tetanus | £35 | Yes, when indicated and locally available. |
| Hepatitis B | £45 | Not routinely NHS-funded for travel. |
| Hepatitis A and B combined | £80 | Funding depends on the components and indication; confirm locally. |
| Japanese encephalitis | £115 | Not routinely NHS-funded for travel. |
| Rabies | £95 | Not routinely NHS-funded for travel. |
| Yellow fever vaccination, consultation and certificate | £80 total | Not routinely NHS-funded; available only through designated centres. |
| Tick-borne encephalitis | £65 | Not routinely NHS-funded for travel. |
Other private vaccines and travel medicines may also be available after assessment. Prices and stock should be reconfirmed when booking.
Yellow fever vaccination at Treherbert Pharmacy
Yellow fever vaccination is not routinely funded by the NHS for travel and can only be administered by a designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre.
Treherbert Pharmacy is now an official UK Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, providing yellow fever risk assessment, vaccination where clinically suitable and the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis from Bute Clinic.
The complete service costs £80, including the standard travel consultation, yellow fever assessment, vaccine administration where appropriate and the international certificate. Booking does not guarantee vaccination because your itinerary and medical suitability must first be assessed.
Some countries require a valid certificate because of where you have travelled or transited, even when vaccination is not recommended solely for personal protection. Requirements can change, so your full itinerary must be reviewed.
How to arrange your travel vaccinations
-
Check destination guidance
Use the TravelHealthPro country guide to identify likely risks. Do not rely solely on social media or an old vaccine list.
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Ask your GP about NHS availability
Contact the practice early and follow its travel-assessment process. Ask specifically about clinically indicated hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera and polio-containing vaccination.
-
Arrange private vaccines where needed
Book a private clinic for non-NHS vaccines, malaria prevention or where you choose not to use the NHS route.
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Keep an accurate record
Retain vaccine dates, product details and certificates. This can prevent unnecessary repeat doses on future trips.
What happens at a Bute Clinic travel consultation?
- Itinerary review: countries, regions, stopovers, dates, activities and accommodation.
- Health assessment: medical conditions, medicines, pregnancy, immune status, allergies and previous reactions.
- Vaccination history: routine UK vaccines, previous travel vaccines and certificates.
- Funding explanation: which vaccines might be available through an NHS route and which are normally private.
- Private plan: recommended vaccines, malaria precautions, course timing and expected cost.
- Treatment where suitable: eligible vaccines can often be given during the appointment when stock is available.
Frequently asked questions
Which travel vaccinations are free on the NHS?
Current NHS guidance lists cholera, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio-containing combined tetanus, diphtheria and polio vaccination as potentially available free after a travel risk assessment.
Can I get all my travel vaccinations from my GP?
Not necessarily. Your practice may provide clinically indicated NHS-funded vaccines but may not offer every private travel vaccine. Ask about its current arrangements.
Do you have to pay for rabies vaccination?
Pre-travel rabies vaccination is not routinely available on the NHS and is usually paid for privately. This differs from NHS treatment following a possible rabies exposure.
Is hepatitis B free for travel?
Hepatitis B vaccination is not routinely NHS-funded solely for travel. Separate NHS eligibility may apply for some occupational, medical or public-health indications.
Is the tetanus travel booster free?
When a combined tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster is clinically indicated for travel, it may be available through an NHS service. A booster is not automatically needed for every trip.
Can I pay for hepatitis A or typhoid privately?
Yes. Both can be supplied privately where indicated, even though an NHS route may also be available locally.
Are malaria tablets free on the NHS?
Malaria-prevention medicines are generally purchased privately for travel. The most appropriate option depends on the exact destination, medical history, medicines, age and pregnancy status.
Can I get yellow fever vaccination at Treherbert Pharmacy?
Yes. Treherbert Pharmacy is an official UK Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre. The £80 service includes the consultation, specialist assessment, vaccination where clinically suitable and the international certificate. View the Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre service.
How far in advance should I arrange travel vaccinations?
The NHS recommends obtaining travel-health advice at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Some courses require multiple doses or time for protection to develop.
Where can I get private travel vaccinations near Treorchy?
Bute Clinic above Treherbert Pharmacy provides free private consultations, travel vaccinations and malaria advice for patients from Treherbert, Treorchy, Rhondda and surrounding areas.
Need private travel vaccines or malaria advice?
Book a free travel consultation at Bute Clinic. We will review your full itinerary, explain which vaccines may have an NHS route and confirm private costs before treatment.
Book a free private consultation
You can also call 01443 776133. Vaccination and medicine supply remain subject to assessment and availability.
Local travel clinic appointments
Bute Clinic welcomes private travel-health patients from Treherbert, Treorchy and surrounding South Wales communities.
- Treherbert
- Treorchy
- Rhondda
- Tonypandy
- Porth
- Aberdare
- Mountain Ash
- Merthyr Tydfil
Related services and official guidance
- Travel ClinicView the full private service, current vaccine prices, malaria advice and booking information.
- Yellow Fever Vaccination CentreView the official Treherbert service, £80 package, certificate information and suitability guidance.
- NHS travel vaccination guidanceCheck the current national explanation of NHS-funded and private travel vaccines.
- TravelHealthPro countriesFind official destination-specific vaccine, malaria and health-risk information.
- Bute ClinicExplore other private clinical services available above Treherbert Pharmacy.
Treherbert Pharmacy and Bute Clinic
167 Bute Street, Treherbert, Treorchy, CF42 5PE
Telephone: 01443 776133
Article information
Written by: Jonathan James, Independent Prescribing Pharmacist, GPhC number 2066318
Clinically reviewed by: Thomas Harries, Superintendent Pharmacist, GPhC number 2210031
Published: 06/08/2026
Last clinically reviewed: 06/08/2026