Travel Immunisation

Do children need additional immunisations if they are travelling abroad?

Children may need extra immunisations depending on their age, which country you are visiting and how long you plan to stay. You should contact your doctor or a travel clinic for up-to-date information on the immunisations your child may need. If you are travelling to an area where there is malaria, your child will need protection. This is one of the most serious health problems in tropical countries.

There isn't an immunisation against malaria, but some anti-malarial drugs can be given to children. It is essential to do all you can to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes. Insect repellent, mosquito nets soaked in repellent and making sure arms and legs are covered between dusk and dawn will all help. Be careful not to use too much repellent on your child's skin.

Need more information?

You can get Health advice for travellers (T5), an information leaflet produced by the Department of Health, from the post office. Or call the freephone number for the Health Literature Line on 0800 555 777 at any time.

Stay Healthy Abroad, a Health Promotion England publication, gives advice and information for each country. You can get this from bookshops and Health Promotion England by phoning 0171 413 1995.

Health Information for Overseas Travel, produced by the Department of Health and published by HMSO, contains advice and information for each country. Your doctor's practice should have a copy from which they can give you advice.

You can also visit some of the travel immunisation sites by clicking here

This information has been sourced from Health Promotion England.