You confirmed the flights for Delhi in July. You booked a travel health consultation, worked through the recommended vaccines, and left the clinic protected.

Vietnam has cemented itself as one of the most compelling backpacking destinations on the planet. The Ha Giang Loop winds through limestone karst mountains in the far north, Mekong Delta homestays put you inside rural Vietnamese life in a way that no hotel ever could, and a rented motorbike from Hoi An opens up coastal roads that feel genuinely off the beaten track.

You found a brilliant last-minute deal to Kenya or Thailand, booked it on impulse, and now you are staring at a government travel advice page that mentions yellow fever certificates, typhoid, hepatitis A, and rabies.

For many students, summer is filled with excitement as they prepare to start university. Whether you’re moving into halls, meeting new friends, or beginning a new chapter away from home, there is plenty to think about before term starts.

You’ve spent weeks comparing family resorts, reading reviews of elephant sanctuaries, and perfecting your Thailand itinerary for 2026.

You have been booking flights for years. Three months in Bali, then a work contract in Mexico City, followed by a project in Vietnam. Each time, the same pattern repeats: you finalise the accommodation, sort the visa, book the flights, and then, two weeks before departure, you remember vaccinations.

You have 48 hours before flying to Bangkok, and a panicked Google search says you need six different vaccines. Here is the truth: two of them will actually protect you by departure, three are useless at this stage, and one might still be worth having despite the short window.

You’re leaving in a week and you’ve just realised you haven’t sorted your travel jabs. Don’t panic. It’s not ideal, but it’s not too late for most vaccines. 

Packing is the easy bit. Here’s the health stuff you should sort before you leave.

Thailand tops the list of long-haul destinations for UK travellers. Here’s your vaccine checklist.