Travel service
Find out what immunisations for travel you can get for free with the NHS, which you have to pay for privately and read advice on fear of flying
- Some immunisations for travel are free of of charge on the NHS, please see the table below.
- A NHS appointment is not a full travel consultation, it is to see if you need the immunisations that you are eligible for on the NHS.
- If you need other immunisations, you will need to use a private service of which there are several in Bristol.
- To book a NHS immunisation appointment contact reception by phone.
Before you come for your immunisation appointment
- Bring details of any previous immunisations you have received.
- Check the Fit For Travel website for your destination.
Immunisation charges for travel
Some immunisations are free of charge on the NHS, others have a fee.
| Disease | Cost |
|---|---|
|
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Polio, Typhoid, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) |
Free |
|
Cholera |
Available on NHS prescription for certain types of travellers as per recommendations on the Fit for Travel website. |
|
GP signature for medicals |
From £18 depending on the type of report needed |
|
Malaria |
Check the Fit For Travel website for information on risk of malaria at your destination (malaria maps) and whether antimalarials are recommended. Chloroquine and Proguanil do not require a prescription and can be bought directly from a pharmacy. Malarone, Doxycyline and Mefloquine are also cheaper to buy from a pharmacy- ony certain 'precribing' pharmacists can do this such as Boots Clifton Down Shopping Centre. |
|
Travellers’ diarrhoea - antibiotics |
It is cheaper to buy these from a private travel clinic than to obtain them from SHS as they need to be issued on a private prescription> This means you have to pay a £15 prescription charge plus the price of the tablets from the pharmacy. |
|
Altitude sickness - acetazolamide (diamox) |
This is an unlicensed medication in England, so not prescribed at SHS, however private travel clinics sell it within their clinic. |
Further information on travel and immunisation
Advice for medical students going on elective
Please check that you are up to date with your occupational health vaccines which includes hepatitis B with Occupational Health prior to leaving for your elective (0117 3317655).
Fear of Flying
The University of Bristol Student Health Service does not prescribe sedatives for fear of flying. This policy decision has been made by the GP Partners and is adhered to by all prescribers working in the practice. The reasons we do not prescribe sedatives such as diazepam for fear of flying are:
- Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you sleepy and more relaxed. If there is an emergency during the flight it may impair your ability to concentrate, follow instructions and react to the situation. This could have serious safety consequences for you and those around you.
- Sedative drugs can make you fall asleep, however when you do sleep it is an unnatural non-REM sleep. This means you won’t move around as much as during natural sleep. This puts you at increased risk of developing a blood clot (DVT) in the leg or even the lung. Blood clots are very dangerous and can even prove fatal. This risk is greater if your flight is longer than four hours.
- Whilst most people find benzodiazepines like diazepam sedating, a small number have paradoxical agitation and in aggression. They can also cause disinhibition and lead you to behave in a way that you would not normally. This could impact on your safety as well as that of other passengers and could also get you into trouble with the law.
- According to the prescribing guidelines doctors follow (BNF) Benzodiazepines are contraindicated (not allowed) in phobia. Your doctor is taking a significant legal risk by prescribing against these guidelines. They are only licensed short term for a crisis in generalised anxiety. If this is the case, you should be getting proper care and support for your mental health and not going on a flight.
- Diazepam and similar drugs are illegal in a number of countries. They may be confiscated or you may find yourself in trouble with the police.
- Diazepam stays in your system for quite a while. If your job requires you to submit to random drug testing you may fail this having taken diazepam.
We appreciate that fear of flying is very real and very frightening. A much better approach is to tackle this properly with a Fear of Flying course organised and run by airlines. Some of these courses can be completed online.
- EasyJet's fear of flying course
- British Airways' flying with confidence course
- Virgin Atlantic's flying without fear course
In certain circumstances we may be able to prescribe a B Blocker called propranolol. This may help to reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety. However its use will depend on your medical history and we do not prescribe in those who have Asthma