Hepatitis A Vaccination
Do I need the hepatitis A vaccine?
Probably yes — hepatitis A is the vaccine recommended for more destinations than any other. It spreads through contaminated food and water, and careful eating in a good hotel doesn’t reliably protect you. Your pharmacist will confirm what your trip needs:
| Traveller | Who should consider it | Doses & schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Advised Most travellers outside Western Europe | Trips to Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and much of Eastern Europe — including resort and city-break holidays. | 1 injection, ideally 2 weeks before travel. Booster at 6–12 months gives ~25 years’ protection. |
| Advised Visiting friends & family abroad | Staying in family homes and eating home-cooked food carries some of the highest risk — and children pick the infection up easily. | Same schedule — children can be vaccinated from 12 months; the whole family can be seen together. |
| Consider Food adventurers & long stays | Street food, seafood, rural travel and longer stays raise the exposure everywhere it occurs. | Same schedule — combine with typhoid cover where food and water risks overlap. |
| Not usually needed Western Europe, North America, Australia & NZ | Sanitation standards make routine vaccination unnecessary for these destinations. | No vaccine needed — we’ll confirm at your consultation. |
Vaccine prices are kept up to date on our travel clinic price list — you only pay for what you actually need.
What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver caught from food or water contaminated with sewage — shellfish, salads, ice and food handled by an infected person are classic routes. It’s one of the most common vaccine-preventable infections in travellers.
It won’t usually kill you, but it can wreck months of your life: fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain and jaundice that typically last weeks and sometimes relapse over several months. Adults tend to get it harder than children — and there’s no specific treatment, just rest while the liver recovers.
Protection is easy: one injection covers the trip, and a booster 6–12 months later gives around 25 years of cover — which is why we call it the best-value travel vaccine there is.
How the hepatitis A vaccine works
An inactivated (non-live) injection given in the upper arm — quick, well tolerated and suitable for almost everyone.
| Traveller | Who should consider it | Doses & schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | Standard travel protection. | 1 dose ≈ 1 year’s cover; booster at 6–12 months → ~25 years. |
| Children from 12 months | Family trips, especially visiting relatives abroad. | Same 2-dose schedule, child formulation. |
| Combined courses | Where typhoid or hepatitis B cover is needed too, combined vaccines can reduce the number of injections. | We’ll recommend the most efficient combination at your consultation. |
Missed the booster window? Protection can usually be completed without restarting the course — bring your vaccination history and we’ll pick up where you left off.
How our travel clinic works
Book online in 2 minutes
Choose a time that suits you — same-week appointments are usually available, and families can be seen together in one visit.
Personalised risk assessment
Your pharmacist reviews your itinerary, health history and previous vaccinations against current UK travel health guidance, and agrees a plan with you.
Vaccinated the same visit
Your first dose is given there and then — and we’ll book your 6–12 month booster so the long-term protection actually happens. You only pay for what you actually need.
Where does hepatitis A matter?
Almost everywhere UK travellers go outside Western Europe — see what your destination calls for:
Frequently asked questions
How long before travel should I have the hepatitis A vaccine?
Ideally 2 weeks before you fly, which gives immunity time to build. Booked a last-minute trip? A dose even a few days before departure still gives worthwhile protection — book the earliest slot you can.
How long does the hepatitis A vaccine last?
The first dose protects for about a year. A booster 6–12 months later extends protection to around 25 years — no further doses needed for most travellers.
Can children have the hepatitis A vaccine?
Yes, from 12 months of age, and it’s strongly advised for family trips to visit relatives — children often catch hepatitis A abroad and pass it on after returning. We vaccinate the whole family in one appointment.
Do I need it for an all-inclusive resort?
Yes, it’s still advised for resort holidays in risk countries — outbreaks have been traced to hotel food and pool areas. Careful eating helps but doesn’t reliably prevent infection.
Is hepatitis A treatable?
There’s no specific cure — treatment is rest and time while the liver recovers, which typically means weeks off work and no alcohol for months. Prevention is far easier than the illness.
Rated by 1,200+ patients of our Camberley pharmacy and clinics.
GPhC registered pharmacy 1105418 · Superintendent pharmacist Jirina Thielens (GPhC 2069634).
This guide follows UK national travel health guidance (TravelHealthPro / NHS) and was last reviewed in August 2026. Recommendations can change — your consultation always reflects the latest advice.
One jab now, decades of protection.
Book your travel consultation at our Camberley clinic — hepatitis A and the rest of your trip’s protection sorted in a single visit.
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