Travel vaccinations

Travel Advice, Holiday Vaccinations and Anti-Malarial Medication

Unfortunately, due to increasing NHS service demands on our nurses, we are no longer able to provide a comprehensive travel service. This is a non-NHS service and we are unable to continue to provide this. We will provide the following NHS travel vaccinations where there are available appointments. Please plan your appointment in advance:

  • Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio booster – protects patients for 10 years
  • Hepatitis A – protects patients for 25 years (if 2 doses given within 5 years)
  • Typhoid – protects patients for 3 years

It is important when travelling abroad that you have the appropriate travel advice, vaccinations and anti-malarial medication. Please contact one of the following private vaccination clinics to arrange this. N.B. There will be a charge for this service and the charges do vary. 

You can view your Immunisation status on the NHS App or alternatively if you require a computer print of your vaccination history to take with you to one of the following services, please contact reception to arrange this.

Tablets for fear of flying: why we don’t prescribe them any more.

People sometimes ask the doctor or nurse to prescribe diazepam, or similar drugs like lorazepam temazepam or clonazepam, for fear of flying or to help sleep during flights.

Prescribing these drugs is not recommended any more for these reasons:

  1. Although plane emergencies are rare, taking Diazepam reduces awareness and reaction times for patients so you risk not being able to react to save your life if you have to escape quickly. You may also put other people in danger by getting in their way or making them help you.
  2. The use of these drugs can make you sleep in an unnaturally deep sleep. This means you won’t move around as much as during natural sleep so you have a bigger risk of getting a blood clot (Deep Vein Thrombosis – DVT) in the leg or lungs. Blood clots are very dangerous and can kill. This risk is bigger if your flight is longer than 4 hours.
  3. They have short term bad effects on memory, co-ordination, concentration and reaction times, and are addictive if used for a long time, with withdrawal leading to fits, hallucinations, agitation and confusion. They have also become widely used drugs of abuse since they first came on the market. Diazepam in the UK is a controlled drug. The prescribing guidelines doctors have to follow say that that use to treat short-term ‘mild’ anxiety is inappropriate. They are only to be used short term for a ‘crisis in generalised anxiety’. But if you are having such a crisis you are not likely to be fit to fly. Fear of flying in isolation is not a generalised anxiety disorder.
  4. Some people get agitated and aggressive after taking diazepam and similar drugs, and behave in a way that they would not normally, which can pose a risk on the plane. This affects everyone’s safety and could get you into trouble with the law. A similar effect can be seen with alcohol, which has led to people being removed from flights.
  5. There is evidence use of these drugs stops the normal adjustment response that would gradually lessen anxiety over time, and may increase anxiety in the long term, especially if used repeatedly.
  6. Diazepam and similar controlled drugs are illegal in a number of countriesi. They may be confiscated or you may find yourself in trouble with the police.
  7. Diazepam stays in your system for some time. If your job or sport needs you to have random drug testing you may fail this having taken diazepam.
  8. It is important to tell your travel insurer about your medical conditions and medications you take. If not, there is a risk of your insurer not paying if you try to make a claim.

So we will no longer be providing Diazepam or similar drugs for flight anxiety. Instead please try one of these aviation industry recommended flight anxiety courses.

Fly And Be Calm™

Fly And Be Calm™ is an instant download and comes with a money back guarantee (Guarantee does not apply to app versions).6 MP3 tracks which include instructions, the fear removal tool and two hypnotic tracks. The least expensive option, takes very little time, works on the root cause of your problem. If you are not 100% happy you can get a full refund. https://flyandbecalm.co.uk/

Easy Jet

www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com

British Airways

https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/travelassistance/flying-with-confidence

Virgin Atlantic

https://www.flyingwithoutfear.co.uk/

SF Screening and Vaccination Service
Address: Woodhouse Medical Practice, Cambridge Road, Leeds, LS6 2SF
Appointments can be made by phone or email:

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0113 295 3510
Website: www.sfvaccinations.co.uk

Lloyds Pharmacy
Address: Broadgate Lane, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 4SE

Telephone: 0113 258 3209

STA TRAVEL               
Address: 88 Vicar Lane, Leeds, LS1 7JH
Telephone: 0871 702 9827

Further sources of information and travel advice can be found at: