Before you fly, sort five things: check the government travel advice for your destination, see a travel health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks ahead, buy travel insurance that covers your health conditions, pack your medicines properly, and plan how you will handle food, water and insect bites. The consultation is the part to book early, because some vaccines need more than one dose and protection takes time to build.
Looking to book? See our travel clinic in Denton, where a pharmacist goes through your itinerary and health history with you.
Two months before: check the advice for where you are going
Start with the GOV.UK foreign travel advice page for your country. It covers entry rules, security, local healthcare and whether a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is accepted there. The Cape Verde page, for example, says to check vaccine recommendations at least 8 weeks before your trip, that healthcare on the islands is basic and limited, and that the GHIC is not accepted.
Then look up the country on TravelHealthPro, the UK’s national travel health service. It lists which vaccines are advised for most travellers and which only for some, plus malaria and other risks. Treat it as research for your appointment, not a shopping list.
Four to six weeks before: get a travel health check
The NHS advises getting advice from a travel health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks before you travel. Some vaccines are a course of doses, and others take time to work. If you are leaving sooner, TravelHealthPro says an appointment is still worthwhile.
The appointment is a risk assessment. TravelHealthPro calls it the cornerstone of the consultation: the advice is fitted to you, not to the country alone. Two people going to the same place can leave with different advice. Bring:
- every country and region on your trip, including stopovers, with dates
- where you will stay and what you plan to do
- any record of past vaccinations (the NHS App or your GP can help)
- a list of the medicines you take, including ones you buy
- any allergies, past vaccine reactions, pregnancy or a weakened immune system
The NHS says all travellers should be up to date with routine UK vaccinations, such as measles, and that you should not have a travel vaccination while unwell with a high temperature.
As soon as you book: buy travel insurance
GOV.UK advises buying travel insurance as soon as possible after booking. It should cover existing physical and mental health conditions, including anything still being investigated, and every activity you plan. Failing to declare a condition may invalidate the policy.
A GHIC is free from the NHS website and lasts up to 5 years. It gives you state healthcare in the European Economic Area and some other countries on the same terms as residents. It is not a replacement for insurance: it does not cover private treatment or getting you home. Avoid unofficial sites that charge a fee to apply.
The week before: pack your medicines properly
TravelHealthPro advises keeping medicines in their original pharmacy packaging, in your hand luggage, with a copy of your prescription and a letter from your prescriber. Pack a little extra in the hold in case a bag goes missing. A medicine that is legal in the UK can be restricted elsewhere, so check with the embassy or high commission if you are unsure. Some controlled medicines need a Home Office licence, usually for three months’ supply or more, applied for at least 10 days before travel.
While you are away: food, water and bites
Contaminated food and water spread travellers’ diarrhoea, hepatitis A and typhoid. TravelHealthPro advises washing your hands with soap before eating, choosing food that is freshly cooked and served piping hot, and fruit you peel yourself. Where sanitation is poor, avoid tap water and ice unless the water has been treated or boiled. Sealed bottled and canned drinks are a better choice.
For insects, pack repellent in your hand luggage so you can use it from the moment you land. TravelHealthPro recommends 50% DEET repellent for travellers over two months old if tolerated, with long sleeves and a treated net where malaria or other insect-borne diseases occur. Put sunscreen on first and repellent on top.
When you get home: know when to get help
Get medical advice quickly for a fever of 38°C or more after travel. Malaria symptoms can appear up to a year after a trip, so tell the doctor where you have been. For diarrhoea, TravelHealthPro advises seeking care if it does not improve within three days, or straight away with blood in your poo or a high fever.
Getting your travel health check in Denton
You can get it at a GP surgery, a travel clinic or a pharmacy with a travel health service. Some travel vaccines are free on the NHS at your GP surgery (see below), so it is worth asking your practice too.
At Denton Pharmacy, 14-16 Ashton Road, the travel health consultation is listed as free on our price list. You can book an appointment online or call 0161 336 2548, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm. Travelling to Cape Verde? Our Cape Verde travel health page covers that trip.
Common questions
What vaccinations do I need for Cape Verde?
TravelHealthPro advises hepatitis A, typhoid and an up-to-date tetanus course for most travellers, and dengue, hepatitis B, rabies (from bats) and tuberculosis for some. There is no yellow fever risk, but a certificate is required from travellers aged 1 or over arriving from a country with yellow fever risk. What you need depends on your assessment.
Do you need malaria tablets for Cape Verde?
TravelHealthPro says there is no risk of malaria in Cape Verde, which the WHO declared malaria-free in 2024. Bite avoidance is still advised because dengue is a risk.
Are travel vaccinations free on the NHS?
Some are, wherever you are going. The NHS lists cholera, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio (as the combined diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccine) as free at a GP surgery after a risk assessment. Hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis and yellow fever are usually paid for.
Can I take my medication to Cape Verde?
GOV.UK advises bringing enough for your whole stay, with a few days’ supply in your hand luggage. Some medicines are in short supply there, and the same strength may not be available.
Important health information
This article is general information only. It does not diagnose a condition, recommend a vaccine or medicine, or replace an individual travel health assessment. Advice depends on your itinerary and personal circumstances, and destination advice can change, so check it again close to departure. For a life-threatening emergency, call 999. For urgent medical help that is not life-threatening, use NHS 111.
Sources
Official guidance checked 23 September 2026:
- NHS: Travel vaccinations
- NHS: Malaria
- NHS: Apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card
- TravelHealthPro: Risk assessment and risk management checklist
- TravelHealthPro: Insect and tick bite avoidance
- TravelHealthPro: Food and water hygiene
- TravelHealthPro: Medicines and travel
- TravelHealthPro: Cape Verde
- GOV.UK: Foreign travel advice
- GOV.UK: Cape Verde travel advice, health
- GOV.UK: Foreign travel insurance
Written to NHS, UKHSA TravelHealthPro and FCDO guidance. Published by Denton Pharmacy. Superintendent Pharmacist: Ahmed Al-Liabi (GPhC 2208502).
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