• The decision to vaccinate someone one who is travelling at short notice will depend upon an individual risk assessment:
• The risk of contracting a vaccine-preventable disease.
• The length of time before departure.
• Type of vaccine and schedules available.
• The length of the stay abroad.
• Full immunity may take up to 21 days to develop in some people. Travellers should be advised that if they do not leave enough time for travel vaccines to be given there may be an initial period for which they are not fully immunized. The decision to travel should be carefully considered after a risk assessment.
• If there is insufficient time to complete all the required vaccinations prior to departure seek specialist advise from the NaTHNaC advice line for health professionals:
• Telephone: 0845 602 6712
• Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon; 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.

• Hepatitis A, diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis boosters may be given up to the day of departure.
• Hepatitis A primary doses may also be given up to the day of departure.
• Typhoid vaccine — full immunity can take up to 10 days to develop. If the person's trip is for an extended period, typhoid vaccine should be considered up to the day of departure. If the person's trip is to be short (e.g. 5 days) then it may not be worth vaccinating.
• Meningococcal vaccine — may be beneficial for some people given up to the day of departure depending on the area being visited (high-risk) and the length of stay planned:
• Full immunity can take 14–21 days to develop.
• Yellow fever vaccine
• If there is a risk of contracting yellow fever the vaccine may be given up to the day of departure. Full immunity develops 10 days after vaccine administration.
• For anyone who requires a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate at their destination, yellow fever vaccine should be given 10 days prior to travel. Travellers who will arrive in less than 10 days in a country for which yellow fever vaccine is mandatory should have the vaccine. However they should be advised that there is a possibility that they will be refused entry at their destination.

In depth

• Hepatitis B may be given as an accelerated course over 3 months or 3 weeks.
• Tick-borne encephalitis may be given as two doses 2 weeks apart.
• Ninety percent of those who receive this schedule achieve immunity 2 weeks after the second dose.
• The third dose should be given 5 to 12 months after the second dose, either on return or during travel if still overseas.
• Tetanus and poliomyelitis vaccines in previously unimmunized people:
• For people travelling at short notice it is usually worth giving the maximum number of doses of vaccines that the travel departure date allows and completing the course upon return.
• Japanese encephalitis may be given as two doses 1 week apart: this will induce antibodies in approximately 80% of recipients.
• The vaccine course should be completed 10 days prior to departure to allow for delayed allergic reactions.
• Seek specialist advise if someone requires a Japanese encephalitis vaccine and there is insufficient time to complete the course (< 10 days prior to departure).
• Rabies vaccine can be given as a course over 3 weeks. If vaccination is required at short notice seek specialist advice.

In depth