Yes, most travellers to The Gambia need more than their routine jabs. The yellow fever vaccine is recommended for everyone aged 9 months and over and should be given at least 10 days before you fly. Malaria risk is high all year, including the dry winter season, so antimalarial tablets are advised. Hepatitis A, typhoid and a tetanus booster are usually recommended too.
The Gambia is one of the most popular winter sun trips from the UK this year. It’s around six hours away, with no big time difference, and temperatures sit in the low thirties while it’s grey and damp at home. For many people in Malvern and Wyre Forest it’s their first trip to West Africa, and that’s where the planning catches people out.
The Gambia is a relaxed, friendly place to visit. But from a health point of view, it’s a very different destination from the Canaries or Spain. You’ll need a yellow fever vaccine, malaria tablets and a few other vaccines, and some of these need time to work. Here’s what to sort, and when.
Why The Gambia needs more planning than most winter sun trips
Most short-haul winter sun destinations only need your routine UK jabs to be up to date. The Gambia is different for three reasons:
- Yellow fever – the vaccine is recommended for everyone aged 9 months and over, and you may need a certificate to enter.
- Malaria – the risk is high across the whole country, all year round.
- Other infections – a few food, water and animal-borne infections are more common than in Europe.
None of this should put you off. It just means booking a travel consultation well before you go, ideally four to six weeks ahead.
Yellow fever: the one you can’t leave until the last minute
Yellow fever is a risk throughout The Gambia, so the vaccine is recommended for all travellers aged 9 months and over. If you’re arriving from another country with a risk of yellow fever, such as Senegal, you’ll also need a yellow fever certificate to enter.
The key thing to know is timing. The vaccine takes around 10 days to protect you, and your certificate only becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. A jab the week before you fly may leave you unprotected for the start of your trip, and without a valid certificate if you need one.
HealthPoint Pharmacy is a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre at both our Colwall and Bewdley branches. We can give the vaccine and issue your International Certificate of Vaccination in the same appointment. Under current WHO rules, the certificate lasts for life, so if you’ve had one before, bring it along, and we’ll check it.
For more detail, read our guide: What Is a Yellow Fever Certificate and Do I Need One?
Yellow fever vaccine isn’t suitable for everyone, including some people over 60 and those with certain medical conditions or medicines. Your pharmacist will go through this with you and advise on the safest option.
Malaria: the risk doesn’t go away in the dry season
This is the most common misunderstanding we hear. The UK winter is The Gambia’s dry season, so it’s easy to assume mosquitoes aren’t a problem. In fact, malaria risk is high throughout the country all year, including in the resort areas along the coast.
Antimalarial tablets are recommended for The Gambia. The main options are atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline and mefloquine. They differ in:
- When you start them – from one or two days before travel for some, longer for others
- How long you continue after you get home – from seven days to four weeks
- Who they suit – depending on your age, other medicines and medical history
Our pharmacist will recommend the right option for you as part of your free travel consultation.
At HealthPoint, atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) costs £2.50 per tablet and doxycycline costs 50p per tablet. How many tablets you need depends on which one you take and how long you’re away.
Tablets are only part of the picture. Avoiding bites matters too:
- Use an insect repellent containing DEET, especially from dusk to dawn
- Wear long sleeves and trousers in the evenings
- Sleep under a mosquito net if your room isn’t air-conditioned or screened
If you develop a fever during your trip or in the year after you get home, get medical advice straight away and say you’ve been to a malaria area.
Our Malaria Prevention guide covers bite prevention and tablets in more detail.
Vaccines most travellers to The Gambia need
As well as yellow fever, these are usually recommended for most visitors:
| Vaccine | Why | HealthPoint price |
| Hepatitis A | Spread through contaminated food and water | £60 (1 dose) |
| Typhoid | Spread through contaminated food and water | £45 injection or £40 oral course |
| Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio | Booster needed if your last one was over 10 years ago | £45 |
| Yellow fever | Risk throughout the country; certificate needed if arriving from a risk country | £90 |
Vaccines some travellers need
Depending on your plans, the pharmacist may also talk to you about:
- Rabies – rabies is present in The Gambia. A pre-travel course is worth considering if you’ll be away from medical care, travelling with children or spending time around animals. Two doses cost £80 each.
- Meningitis ACWY – The Gambia is on the edge of Africa’s “meningitis belt”. This is more relevant for longer stays or close contact with local people. One dose costs £55.
- Hepatitis B – for longer stays, medical or volunteer work, or anyone who may need medical treatment abroad. Three doses cost £55 each.
- Cholera – mainly for aid workers or people travelling to areas with outbreaks.
You don’t need all of these. The point of the consultation is to work out which ones are relevant to you, and which you can safely skip.
A simple timeline for a winter trip
- 6 to 8 weeks before: book your free travel consultation. That leaves time for any vaccines that need more than one dose.
- At least 10 days before: have your yellow fever jab, so you’re protected (and your certificate is valid) when you land.
- 1 to 2 days before (or as advised): start your malaria tablets.
- After you get home: finish the full course of tablets, even if you feel well.
Flying sooner than that? Call us anyway. Our last-minute travel vaccines guide explains what can still be done at short notice.
Other health tips for The Gambia
- Water: drink bottled or treated water and avoid ice unless you know it’s safe.
- Swimming: stick to the sea and hotel pools. Avoid freshwater rivers and lakes, which can carry schistosomiasis (bilharzia).
- Animals: don’t stroke dogs, cats or monkeys, however friendly they seem. Any bite, scratch or lick needs cleaning and urgent medical advice.
- Sun: the sun is strong even in winter. Use high-factor sunscreen and drink plenty of water.
Our Travel Health Checklist is a handy list to run through before you pack.
Combining The Gambia with another country?
Some trips pair The Gambia with Senegal, or with a stopover elsewhere in Africa. The order of countries can change what you need, particularly for yellow fever certificates. Tell us your full route when you book. If you’re weighing up other winter sun options, our guide to Egypt vaccinations this winter shows how different the advice can be.
And because flu season in the UK overlaps with winter travel, many travellers have their flu and Covid jabs at the same visit.
Book your Gambia travel consultation
Every travel consultation at HealthPoint Pharmacy is free. You only pay for the vaccines and medicines you need.
- Colwall (Malvern Hills): Fletton House, Walwyn Road, Malvern WR13 6QG – 01684 498785 – Mon–Fri 9am–6pm, Sat 9am–1pm – branch details
- Bewdley: 66 Load Street, Bewdley DY12 2AW – 01299 518152 – Mon–Fri 9am–6pm, Sat 9am–5:30pm – branch details
Book your free travel consultation or see our full travel vaccinations price list.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a yellow fever vaccine for The Gambia?
Yes, the vaccine is recommended for all travellers aged 9 months and over. A certificate is required if you’re arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever. It becomes valid 10 days after vaccination.
Do I need malaria tablets for The Gambia in winter?
Yes. Malaria risk is high all year round, including during the dry season from November to May.
How far in advance should I book?
Ideally six to eight weeks before you travel, and no later than 10 days before for the yellow fever vaccine.
Can I get the yellow fever vaccine near Malvern or Kidderminster?
Yes. Both HealthPoint branches, in Colwall near Malvern and in Bewdley near Kidderminster, are registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres.
