Medication and vaccinations

In most cases, taking medication should not stop you from going on holiday. There are however, a number of precautions you should take before you set off on your travels.

Vaccinations

You will need to have some vaccinations before travelling to certain countries, check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice for more information or the NHS’s Fit For Travel Map.

For more information on recommended vaccinations, ask your GP, practice nurse, pharmacist or travel clinic – remember to leave enough time for vaccinations before you travel.

Further travel health advice can be found on the TravelHealthPro website.

Advice for those travellers that will need to pack medication/s for their trip

If you take medication, take enough with you to see you through the holiday and allow for possible delays. Always keep clearly-labelled medication and any medical documents in your hand luggage or in a place you can easily reach.

It may be essential to have a letter from your doctor stating your need for the medication – in case you lose your medicine and need more, and particularly if you're visiting a country with strict drug controls. You should always be ready to show this letter to customs officers.

The medication you take may contain ingredients that are illegal in some countries. Check with the nearest Embassy or High Commission of the country you're visiting, to find out about restrictions.

If you've got diabetes and are on medication or have a dietary restriction, you and your doctor should work out an individual schedule for meal times, taking into account the length of your journey and change in time zones.

If flying, ask your doctor if your impairment makes you vulnerable to circulation problems.

It's a good idea to carry a travelling letter – this gives a brief description of your impairment and, if appropriate, details of any difficulties that could occur and what assistance you might need.