Travel health requirements for visitors to the UK are not extensive, compared with other destinations in the world. When visiting the UK you do need to make sure you are in good overall health in order to make the trip and enjoy your time in the country, but the list of specific vaccinations needed to travel is not long.
However, there are still things you need to do before travelling to the United Kingdom. Take a look at the health steps you need to take when visiting this popular country as a tourist or business traveler.
Vaccinations for Visiting the UK
It is best to check with your doctor four to six weeks before you travel in order to plan what vaccines or medications you need for your travel plans and to create your own healthy packing list including your own medications and other essentials you need to take.
In the case of vaccine requirements for visiting the UK, you should be up to date on your routine vaccinations. Routine vaccinations include the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella), the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, the vaccine for varicella (chickenpox), the polio vaccine, and the yearly flu shot. These vaccinations should be administered regardless of whether you are going to travel to the UK or elsewhere.
In the case of some travellers, other vaccines are needed. You may need a hepatitis A vaccine. There are occasional hepatitis A outbreaks in developed countries like the UK and the US, and it can be caught through contaminated water in the UK although this is rare. Ask your doctor if the vaccine is needed.
Hepatitis B is transmitted through sexual contact and contaminated blood products. If you are at high risk of this transmission you may need a vaccination against hepatitis B – check with your physician. It is most often necessary when you are having medical procedures in countries with low medical hygiene standards – the UK is not classed in this category.
Rabies is present in bats in the UK but not elsewhere. It is not a major risk and travellers are only advised to have the rabies vaccine if they are going to be working as a wildlife professional with bats, or taking part in caving or adventure travel in remote locations. Even then, the vaccine is not often recommended.
Medical Care in the UK
Access to medical care in the UK is not free if you are not a UK or European citizen. Access to immediate first aid or emergency treatment is free but it begins to be charged after the emergency period is over. Most non-European visitors to the UK need travel medical insurance, which will cover the cost of emergency treatment as well as visits to the doctor’s office, prescription medication, and hospital stays.
Many travel health insurance policies also include repatriation cover and the medical insurance can be linked with baggage insurance and other travel essentials.
Health Concerns in the UK
Mostly, there are few health concerns which apply to overseas visitors to the UK. The food is safe to eat and is monitored by different government agencies. You can drink the tap water but depending on the area you visit you may find it tastes of chlorine or other chemicals. Bottled water is widely available and you can boil or filter water from streams when you are walking or camping.
In terms of temperature, the UK does not see major extremes of temperature and summer is not particularly hot. However, you do still need to use sunscreen in the summer, and days can reach above 30 degrees C sometimes. In the winter the temperature will drop so it is advisable to bring warm layered clothing, good shoes, a hat and a scarf.
If you are hiking or taking part in other outdoor sport you will need to consider abrupt changes in the weather and carry the appropriate gear to be protected come rain or shine. You may need to consider protection against tick bites if you are walking in the Scottish Highlands – ticks are rare in the UK but they are known to spread Lyme disease. Wear insect repellent and tuck your trousers into your socks.