Travel Vaccines for Africa in Edinburgh

If you are planning a trip to Africa, the travel vaccines you need depend on which countries you are visiting, what you plan to do there, and how long you are staying. At Edinburgh Vaccination Clinic (Bruntsfield Pharmacy), we provide a full travel health consultation with one of our Independent Prescriber pharmacists, who will plan the right combination of vaccines and antimalarial advice for your itinerary in a single appointment.

This guide explains the vaccines most commonly recommended for travel to Africa, how the recommendations vary by region, and how the timing of your appointments fits with your travel date. For the detailed clinical guide to the yellow fever vaccine, including the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), see our pillar article on the yellow fever vaccine in Edinburgh.

Which travel vaccines do you need for Africa?

There is no single answer to the “what vaccines do I need for Africa?” question, because Africa is a continent of 54 countries with very different disease risk profiles. The vaccines we recommend depend on where you are going, the kind of trip you are taking, your medical history, and your previous vaccination record.

That said, there is a recognisable set of vaccines that comes up regularly for travel to Africa. We use your consultation to work through which of these apply to your trip, in what order, and how the timing fits with your departure date.

Antimalarial tablets are not vaccines, but they are usually part of the same conversation. For most sub-Saharan destinations, we will discuss antimalarials alongside your vaccine plan and explain the options, the timing, and how to take them.

Yellow fever and travel to Africa

Yellow fever is the most distinctive vaccine for travel to parts of Africa, both because it is recommended on clinical grounds in many sub-Saharan destinations and because some countries require an ICVP for entry. The ICVP is the only travel vaccine certificate that border officials may ask to see.

Yellow fever risk areas in Africa cover parts of West, Central and East Africa. The exact list of countries where vaccination is recommended, and the separate list of countries where the certificate is required for entry, can change at short notice. We review the latest guidance for your specific destinations at the consultation, so the advice you receive is current rather than based on older general assumptions.

For the full clinical detail, including how the certificate works, dose timing, and the considerations that apply to first-time recipients aged 60 and over, see our pillar guide to the yellow fever vaccine in Edinburgh and our cluster article on the yellow fever vaccine for over 60s.

Hepatitis A, typhoid and the food-and-water vaccines

Hepatitis A and typhoid are the two food-and-water vaccines we discuss most often for travel to Africa. Both are recommended for most travellers regardless of itinerary, because both can be acquired even in well-managed accommodation through contaminated food or water.

Hepatitis A is a two-dose course that gives long-term protection, with the first dose providing useful cover for the trip itself. Typhoid is a single injectable dose for most adults, with re-vaccination considered for repeat travel after a few years.

Cholera vaccination is a separate conversation. It is not recommended for most short trips to Africa, but it can be considered for longer stays, work in disaster or refugee settings, or travel where food and water hygiene cannot reliably be controlled.

Rabies and travel to Africa

Rabies is present in many African countries, transmitted through bites or scratches from infected animals (most commonly dogs, but also bats, monkeys and other mammals). The risk to a typical short-stay traveller staying in built-up tourist areas is low, but it rises with longer stays, rural travel, adventure activities, and trips where prompt post-exposure care may be hard to access.

Pre-exposure rabies vaccination simplifies what you would need to do if you were bitten. It does not remove the need for post-exposure care, but it reduces what is required and buys you more time to reach treatment. We discuss whether pre-exposure rabies vaccination makes sense for your trip at the consultation, taking into account your destination, length of stay and activities.

Meningococcal disease and the African meningitis belt

The “meningitis belt” describes a band of countries across sub-Saharan Africa, running from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, where meningococcal disease occurs at higher rates, particularly during the dry season. The meningococcal ACWY vaccine may be recommended for travellers visiting higher-risk areas of the meningitis belt, especially during dry-season months or where close-contact exposure is likely.

Meningococcal ACWY vaccination is also a separate entry requirement for pilgrimage travel to Saudi Arabia (Hajj and Umrah), which we can also support at the same clinic. Suitability and certificate documentation are confirmed at the consultation.

Antimalarial advice for Africa

Malaria is the single most important non-vaccine travel health risk for most sub-Saharan African destinations. There is no vaccine routinely available for travellers, so risk reduction depends on two things: avoiding mosquito bites, and taking antimalarial tablets where recommended.

Antimalarial choice is not a one-size decision. It depends on your destination, your itinerary, your medical history and any medications you are already taking. Our Independent Prescriber pharmacists will explain the options that are suitable for you, how to take them, when to start and stop, and what to watch for. Antimalarials can be reviewed and prescribed during the same appointment as your travel vaccines.

Vaccines by region in Africa

Different parts of Africa carry different vaccine priorities. The combinations below are typical starting points, refined at consultation for your specific itinerary.

Entry requirements (particularly for yellow fever) can change at short notice, including based on the countries you have recently visited or transited through. The exact list for your trip is reviewed at the consultation.

How much do travel vaccines for Africa cost in Edinburgh?

Each vaccine is priced individually, and your final cost depends on which vaccines you need for your destination. Current pricing for every vaccine we offer, including yellow fever, hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies, meningococcal ACWY, hepatitis B and cholera, is published on our vaccine prices page.

Each appointment price includes the consultation with one of our Independent Prescriber pharmacists, the suitability check, vaccine administration, aftercare advice and your vaccination record. There are no separate consultation fees added on top.

When should I book my Africa travel vaccines?

Where possible, book your first travel appointment four to six weeks before departure. This window allows:

• Time for the yellow fever ICVP to become valid (10 days after vaccination)
• Time to complete multi-dose courses such as hepatitis B or pre-exposure rabies where these are recommended
• Time to start antimalarials at the correct point before travel, if recommended
• Flexibility if any follow-up clinical questions arise from the consultation

If your trip is sooner than that, book online and our Independent Prescriber pharmacists will work through what is achievable in your remaining timeline. Many single-dose vaccines can still be useful even at shorter notice.

Why choose Edinburgh Vaccination Clinic for your Africa travel vaccines?

Travel to Africa often involves more than one vaccine, more than one decision, and more than one timing constraint. The clinical advantage of doing it in one consultation is that the whole trip is planned together.

Book your travel vaccine appointment online

Use the secure booking widget below to choose an appointment time that suits you. Your appointment includes a full travel health consultation with one of our Independent Prescriber pharmacists, who will confirm the right vaccines and antimalarial advice for your trip.

Travel vaccines for Africa Edinburgh — your questions answered

Which vaccines do I need for travel to Africa?

It depends on which countries you are visiting and what you plan to do there. Vaccines commonly considered for travel to Africa include yellow fever, hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus/diphtheria/polio (routine boosters), rabies, meningococcal ACWY, hepatitis B and cholera. The combination for your specific trip is confirmed at consultation.

Do I need the yellow fever vaccine for Africa?

For many sub-Saharan African destinations, yellow fever vaccination is recommended on clinical grounds, and for some it is required for entry. We review the specific recommendations and entry requirements for your destinations at the consultation. For more on the vaccine and the certificate, see our yellow fever vaccine in Edinburgh pillar guide.

How much do travel vaccines for Africa cost?

Each vaccine is priced individually and your final cost depends on which vaccines you need. Current pricing is published on our vaccine prices page. Each appointment price includes the consultation, suitability check, vaccine administration, aftercare advice and a vaccination record.

When should I book before travel?

Where possible, book four to six weeks before departure. This allows time for the yellow fever ICVP to become valid, for multi-dose courses to be completed where recommended, and for antimalarials to be started at the right point before travel. If your trip is sooner, book online and we will work through what is achievable in your remaining timeline.

Can you prescribe antimalarials at the same appointment?

Yes. Antimalarial advice and prescribing are part of the travel consultation. Our Independent Prescriber pharmacists will explain the options that are suitable for you, how to take them, and when to start and stop, alongside your vaccines.

Do I need rabies vaccination for Africa?

Rabies vaccination is not routine for every traveller, but it is recommended for longer stays, rural travel, adventure activities, and trips where prompt post-exposure care may be hard to access. Suitability is confirmed at consultation, taking into account your destination, length of stay and planned activities.

Do I need the meningitis vaccine for Africa?

Meningococcal ACWY vaccination is recommended for travel to the African meningitis belt, particularly during dry-season months, and for some pilgrimage travel. Suitability and timing are confirmed at the consultation.

How do I book?

All appointments are booked online — use the secure booking widget above, or visit our booking page. Choose a time that suits you, complete your pre-appointment questionnaire, and come to 129 Bruntsfield Place for your consultation.

Last reviewed: 15 May 2026