Travel · 2 min read
Travel vaccines and yellow fever: when to book
How far ahead to book your travel jabs, which vaccines take longest, and what to know about yellow fever certificates before you go.
Updated October 2026 by the pharmacists at Brighton Hill Pharmacy.
The NHS advises booking travel vaccines 4 to 6 weeks before you travel. Some vaccines need more than one dose, and most take a week or two after the last dose to protect you fully, so the earlier you start, the more options you have. If you're older or have a long-term health condition, allow a little longer.
The vaccines that take longest
Some travel vaccines, such as hepatitis B, rabies and Japanese encephalitis, are given as a course of doses over several weeks. Shorter schedules exist for some travellers. These are the ones to plan around, and at your consultation we'll work out which schedule fits your travel dates.
Leaving soon?
Don't put off an appointment because time is short. Several travel vaccines are single doses, some courses can be given on a faster schedule, and we can still advise you on food and water safety, insect bites and malaria prevention for where you're going. Call us on 01256 322973 and we'll see what we can do before you fly.
Yellow fever certificates
Some countries ask for proof of yellow fever vaccination at the border. If you're going to one of them:
- Only registered yellow fever centres can give the vaccine and issue the certificate (the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis). Brighton Hill Pharmacy is a registered centre.
- The certificate becomes valid 10 days after your vaccination, so book at least that far ahead, and earlier if you need other jabs too.
- Since July 2016 a yellow fever certificate has been valid for life. Older certificates that show a 10-year expiry are still accepted, so you don't need a new one for that reason.
- Keep the certificate with your passport. If you lose it, contact the centre that vaccinated you, because there's no central record.
- The vaccine isn't suitable for everyone, including babies under 6 months and people with a weakened immune system, and it needs extra care for people aged 60 or over and during pregnancy. We'll go through this with you at your appointment.
To book, see our yellow fever vaccine page.
Planning tip
Book your travel consultation when you book your flights, and bring your itinerary and any vaccination records you have. Our travel appointments run Monday to Friday.
For destination-by-destination advice, plan your trip with Basingstoke Travel Clinic, then book your travel consultation with us.