Before you travel
- Before you book travel
- Do you need a travel health risk assessment?
- Travel Health Risk Assessment
- Record of Previous Vaccinations
- A-Z of Scottish health board contacts
Before you book travel
If you're planning to travel outside the UK, your travel health needs will depend on your individual situation, including:
- your destination
- how long you'll stay
- what you’ll be doing
- your general health
You should read the country specific advice for your planned destination(s) for information on advisable vaccinations, malaria and other health risks:
Do you need a travel health risk assessment?
If you think you need vaccines, malaria advice and/or tablets, you should have a travel health risk assessment.
A travel health risk assessment is also advisable for some people, even when vaccines or malaria tablets are not required. This includes:
- older people
- those with a weakened immune system
- those with long-term conditions that require medications
- pregnant women
- children
Travel Health Risk Assessment
This site only provides general guidance on travel health risks. For tailored advice for your individual situation, we recommend you make an appointment with a travel health professional.
To make an appointment for a travel health risk assessment:
- In Scotland, you should contact the NHS health board where you live.
- In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you should contact your NHS GP.
Ideally, you should book your appointment 6 to 8 weeks before you travel. This gives time for any vaccinations you might need to become fully effective.
- If your trip is sooner remember it is never too late to seek advice.
How to make an appointment in Scotland
You can make an appointment with a travel health professional via your local health board. Please be aware that your initial risk assessment may be over the phone or by video call.
If you need help to understand how to access a travel health risk assessment in Scotland, please call the NHS Inform helpline on 0800 22 44 88.
- The NHS Inform helpline is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday.
Not sure which is your health board?
When you get in touch with your health board or the NHS Inform helpline you should let them know your postcode. This can save you time by making sure you are contacting the right health board.
Record of Previous Vaccinations
It is helpful to keep a record of any vaccines you have received in the past, including as a child.
If available, you should bring your vaccination record with you to your travel health risk assessment appointment so that the health professional can determine if you need any boosters before travelling abroad.
- To request a report of vaccines held on your GP record, you should contact your GP practice.
- Please note GP practices cannot provide proof of COVID vaccine.
- Proof of COVID vaccination can be obtained using the COVID Status app.
A-Z of Scottish health board contacts
Ayrshire & Arran
- Website: Vaccination Hub
- Email: aa.travelhealthenquiries@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
Borders
- Website: NHS Borders Vaccination Service
- Email: vaccination.bookinghub@borders.scot.nhs.uk
- Telephone: 01896 809 250 - call between 8.30am and 5.30pm Monday-Friday
Dumfries & Galloway
Fife
- Website: Fife Fit For Travel
Forth Valley
Grampian
- Website: Travel Vaccination | Vax Grampian
Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Highland
- Website: NHS Highland Vaccination
- Contact your local GP for further information
Lanarkshire
- Website: NHS Lanarkshire Travel Vaccinations
Lothian
- Website: NHS Lothian Travel Clinics
Orkney
- Website: Sutherlands Pharmacy to book an appointment
- Telephone: 01856 873240 (Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 17:30)
Shetland
- Email: shet.vaccination-team@nhs.scot
- Telephone: 01595 743 319 (please leave a voicemail message)
Tayside
- Email: tay.travelvaccines@nhs.scot
- Telephone: 01382 423 108 - call between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday-Friday
Western Isles / Eileanan Siar
- Telephone: 0808 196 8383 - call between 8.30am and 5.00pm Monday-Friday
- Contact your local GP for further information