Reviewed by a GPhC-registered Pharmacist at Newdays Pharmacy | Published: 2026 | Book an appointment
| Quick Answer: Children may need travel vaccinations that differ from adult recommendations in terms of timing, doses, and age restrictions. Some vaccines cannot be given before a certain age. Rabies vaccination is especially important for children travelling to endemic countries as they are more likely to approach animals and less likely to report bites. Book a family travel health consultation at Newdays Pharmacy at least six to eight weeks before departure. |
Travelling with children adds additional layers to travel health planning that parents at Newdays Pharmacy regularly ask about. Children may be at higher risk of certain travel illnesses, are less reliable at maintaining food and water hygiene, are more likely to approach and be bitten by animals, and may not communicate symptoms accurately. Getting travel health advice for your children before any international trip is as important as getting it for yourself.
Travel Vaccinations For Children: Is It Different From Adults?
Children require the same core travel vaccines as adults for most destinations, but there are important age restrictions and considerations:
- Yellow fever vaccine: cannot be given to children under nine months of age. Use in infants aged nine to twenty three months requires careful individual risk assessment as the risk of vaccine associated adverse events is higher in this age group
- Hepatitis A: the two dose schedule is available from twelve months of age (junior Havrix)
- Typhoid: the injectable vaccine can be given from two years of age; the oral Vivotif capsule course requires the child to be able to swallow capsules whole
- Japanese encephalitis (Ixiaro): licensed from two months of age
- Rabies: can be given from any age; particularly important in children given their higher risk of animal contact and bites
Why Rabies Is Especially Important for Children
Children are statistically more likely than adults to approach, feed, or play with dogs, monkeys, and other animals in countries where rabies is endemic. They are also less likely to report a bite or scratch, particularly if they are worried about getting in trouble. A bite or scratch that goes unreported and untreated in a rabies endemic country can be fatal.
Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is strongly recommended by NaTHNaC for children travelling to rabies endemic countries. It simplifies the post exposure protocol, removes the need for rabies immunoglobulin (which may be unavailable in many countries), and provides a safety margin if a bite or scratch goes unreported for a few days.
Routine Vaccinations: Make Sure They Are Up to Date
Before any international trip, confirm that your child’s routine NHS vaccination schedule is complete for their age. The UK schedule provides protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, pneumococcal, meningococcal, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), and HPV. Measles is a particular concern for international travel as it remains endemic in many countries and is highly transmissible in unvaccinated populations.
Food and Water Safety for Children
Children are at higher risk than adults of severe dehydration from traveller’s diarrhoea. Carrying pre packed oral rehydration sachets is essential. Strict food and water safety practices, boiled or bottled water for drinking and teeth cleaning, avoiding ice, peeling all fruit, and ensuring all food is freshly cooked and hot, are especially important for children.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Junior Havrix (paediatric hepatitis A vaccine) can be given from 12 months of age. Infants under 12 months cannot be vaccinated against hepatitis A, so careful food and water hygiene is especially important. For children aged 12 months and older, the two-dose course provides long-term protection.
Most antimalarial medicines are available in paediatric doses based on a child’s body weight. Doxycycline is not suitable for children under 12 years of age. Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) is available in a paediatric formulation for children weighing 11kg or more. Your pharmacist will calculate the correct dose during your travel health consultation.
Newdays Pharmacy can provide most travel vaccinations for children, including hepatitis A, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and combination vaccines. Yellow fever vaccination is available for children aged nine months and over at our registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre. A family travel health consultation can help ensure your child receives the appropriate protection for their destination.