Health Checklist for Study Abroad Vaccinations

Many people forget to sort out their study abroad vaccinations until the last minute. But if you’re heading abroad for a semester or a full year, certain vaccinations are necessary. Some universities won’t let you register for classes or move into student housing. Additionally, many destinations have health risks that students may have never been exposed to before. 

In this guide, we will go over the routine vaccinations worth checking and any additional vaccinations that your university may require. We will also talk about when you should start booking your vaccinations, and what else to sort before you fly.

Key Takeaways

• Studying abroad exposes you to diseases that may be rare or non-existent in the UK, so it’s worth checking your protection even for popular study destinations
• Many universities require proof of specific vaccines (often MMR, meningitis ACWY, and hepatitis B) before you can enrol or move into halls
• Start the process 4-8 weeks before you leave. Some vaccines need multiple doses spaced weeks apart
• Keep both digital and physical copies of your vaccination records and certificates
• Sort your travel insurance and any repeat prescriptions at the same time as your vaccines, not after

Why vaccinations matter for studying abroad

Travelling to a new country means entering a new disease environment as well. Even when a country looks relatively safe and familiar, there can be diseases that your body has not encountered before. It takes some time for the body to build up the right defences to fight off new diseases. This is why vaccinations abroad are recommended to be given well in advance.

Universities have a duty of care to look after the health and safety of their students. Many require evidence of vaccination as part of the enrollment process and for accommodation in student housing. Delaying your departure to get vaccinated could mean that you miss the start of your course or arrive late to check into your accommodation.

Additionally, longer stays, dorms, food from local market stalls, etc., all increase your risk of picking up something your body is not ready for. Getting a short health check from a travel nurse who knows travel vaccinations inside out can flag risks you might not think to ask about.

None of this needs to be overly complicated. Most vaccines are routine, and students typically only need a few plus any others specifically requested by their university.

Routine vaccinations to check before you go

Before thinking about specific countries for your studies, check that you have all the routine vaccines. Most people in the UK receive them as children. Still, boosters can lapse, and records can get lost. Travelling is a good opportunity to catch up. This applies to most student travel vaccines, regardless of where you’re studying.

Here’s what to check:

• MMR (measles, mumps and rubella). Two doses give long-lasting protection. If you’re not sure you had both as a child, the MMR vaccine can be given safely as an adult.
• Tetanus, diphtheria and polio. These three come as a single combined booster. A dose lasts around ten years, so check when you last had one before you assume you’re covered.
• Varicella (chickenpox). Most UK adults are already immune from having had chickenpox as a child. If you never had it, the chickenpox vaccine is a two-dose course.

Make sure to go through your childhood health records. If you have the Red Book, it’s worth a check. So is the GP’s online patient portal. If you still can’t find anything, talk to a nurse. They can take you through the necessary doses for a catch-up course rather than just guessing.

After you secure your routine vaccines, you can start worrying about the specific vaccines your university may require.

Vaccines your university may require

Routine vaccines cover the basics, but many universities have their own list on top. This is where study abroad vaccine requirements can catch students out, since the exact list depends on the institution, not just the country.

Two vaccines come up most often:

• Meningitis ACWY. This is a serious infection that can spread very easily in close quarters of student flats and higher education sites. Many universities, including some in the US, require their students to have been given the meningitis ACWY vaccine before starting their course.
• Hepatitis B: Some Universities require students to be up-to-date with the Hepatitis B vaccine, especially for longer programs such as a course, semester or academic year that includes lab or clinical placements. The vaccine is given in a series of doses over a number of weeks.

MMR also can appear in study abroad vaccine requirements for university students. This sometimes requires documented proof of two doses of this vaccine.

So what vaccines do you need for university? You should check your university’s policy on their international student’s webpage or health services as early as possible. Also, take into account how many doses a vaccine has and how long you need to have them before term starts.

When to book: your vaccination timeline

You should research your study abroad vaccine requirements about 4-8 weeks before you depart. This allows enough time for your body to get immunity and for any additional doses that are required.

A few things stretch that timeline out:

Some vaccines are given in multiple doses over several weeks. It’s not possible to complete these courses in time for departure if you only start them when you book your travel.

University deadlines. If your institution needs proof of vaccination before it’ll confirm enrollment or housing, that paperwork deadline might land earlier than your actual travel date.

Research how early you need to book your travel vaccinations as soon as you know your date of departure, even if you haven’t confirmed all the details of your trip. The nurse can begin providing the relevant vaccinations and make changes as your travel plans become more concrete.

Once you’ve started your vaccinations, there are a number of things you need to think about at the same time.

Other things to sort alongside your vaccines

Getting ready to travel involves more than just having the required vaccines for your travel. There are a few other things that you should look to organise.

• Travel insurance: Check that your policy covers your length of stay, and includes your study activities, not just your normal holiday activities. Some travel policies include very few activities in their ‘stand-alone’ policies and exclude longer stays altogether.
• Repeat prescriptions: If you are taking regular medication for a health issue, make sure you have enough for your time away. Ask your GP to fill your repeat prescription or find out how you can get further doses while you are abroad. It is also a good idea to take a copy of your original prescription with you in case you need to produce it while abroad.
• Vaccination records and certificates: You should hold a copy (paper and digital) of the vaccination records for all of your immunisations. Some countries and universities will require proof of immunisation upon entry or upon starting your studies. A photo of a scanned form on your phone is easier to produce than actually sending the file in most cases.

These items can be arranged at the same time as your vaccine appointments and take only a few minutes.

Last, but by no means least, book your appointment to get all of the above sorted out.

Booking your study abroad vaccinations

After deciding on the necessary vaccinations for your study abroad program, booking is straightforward. A typical appointment starts with a short consultation, where a nurse reviews your medical history, your university’s requirements if you have them, and your destination, before working out exactly what you need and when.

Almost all vaccinations for study abroad can be given within a single appointment. However, some require several doses given at intervals of several weeks or more. Bring along any previous vaccination records as well as the date you start your course, and the nurse can plan an appointment around this.

You can book online or by phone at one of our London clinics, with same-day appointments often available if you’re pushed for time. Whether you need a single top-up jab or a full pre-departure check, the sooner you get booked in, the more flexibility you’ll have around your dates.

Get protected before you go

Study abroad vaccinations are easy to put off, but they’re one of the simplest things to get right before you leave. A bit of planning now, like checking your routine jabs, confirming what your university needs, and booking with enough time for multi-dose courses, means one less thing to worry about once term starts.

If you’re not sure where to begin, a consultation is the quickest way to get a clear answer. A nurse can look at your specific destination, course, and medical history, and tell you exactly what you need and by when. Book your appointment today and head off knowing you’re properly covered.

If your trip is covering more than one country, you will need to check the vaccination recommendations for each one that you are visiting. Hepatitis A protection lasts up to 25 years once both doses are complete, so it’s worth confirming who in the group already has cover.. The NHS travel vaccinations page provides a good starting point for this, as well as the TravelHealthPro country-by-country information.