The Complete Guide to Hepatitis A and B Vaccinations for Travellers
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are two of the most commonly recommended vaccinations for travellers heading abroad—but many people aren't entirely sure what they protect against, how they differ, or whether they actually need both. If you're planning a trip outside Western Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, or New Zealand, this complete guide to hepatitis vaccinations for travellers covers everything you need to know.
Whether you're spending two weeks on a beach or six months working abroad, understanding the difference between these two viruses and the protection each vaccine offers will help you make the right decision for your travel plans.
What Is Hepatitis?
Hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver. It can happen for various reasons—alcohol, toxins, autoimmune conditions—but when we talk about hepatitis A and B, we mean two distinct viruses that attack the liver in different ways.
Both can cause serious illness. Both are preventable by vaccine. But they spread differently, affect your body differently, and have very different long-term consequences. That's why the vaccine approach is different for each.
Hepatitis A: Spread, Risk, and Symptoms
Hepatitis A is primarily spread through contaminated food and water, or close contact with an infected person. It thrives in countries where sanitation and water treatment aren't as reliable—so parts of Africa, Asia, Central and South America, the Middle East, and some Eastern European countries carry higher risk.
What hepatitis A feels like: Symptoms usually show up 2–6 weeks after infection. Expect fatigue, nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, mild fever, dark urine, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). It can be quite debilitating while it lasts.
The good news: Hepatitis A doesn't become chronic. Once you recover, you're immune for life. There's no long-term liver damage, no risk of cirrhosis. You get it, you fight it, you're done.
For more detail on hepatitis A itself, the NHS has a comprehensive guide.
Hepatitis A Vaccination: Protection and Timing
The hepatitis A vaccine is one of the most straightforward travel jabs. A single dose gives you protection for about a year. A booster dose 6–12 months later extends protection for at least 20 years, possibly longer.
We recommend hepatitis A vaccination for travellers to most countries outside Western Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Even if you're staying in good hotels, the contaminated food or water route is real enough to make vaccination a sensible precaution.
If you only have two weeks before travel, a single dose given at least two weeks before departure still provides good protection.
Hepatitis B: Spread, Risk, and Symptoms
Hepatitis B is spread differently—through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. This can happen via unprotected sexual contact, needle sharing, medical or dental treatment with unsterilised equipment, tattooing or body piercing, or blood transfusions in countries where blood screening may not be as rigorous.
Hepatitis B is found worldwide, with highest prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, and the Pacific Islands—but it can be contracted anywhere. The NHS also has detailed information on hepatitis B.
What's different about hepatitis B: Many people infected with hepatitis B have no symptoms at all, especially early on. When symptoms do appear, they can look like hepatitis A—fatigue, nausea, stomach pain, jaundice. But here's the critical difference: some people clear the virus completely, while others develop chronic infection.
Why it matters: Chronic hepatitis B can lead to serious liver problems—cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure. That's why vaccination is so important, and why the vaccination approach is more involved than hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B Vaccination: Course Length and Who Needs It
The standard hepatitis B course is three doses, typically given over six months (at 0, 1, and 6 months). If you're short on time, accelerated schedules exist—we can give the full course in as little as three weeks, with a booster at 12 months.
Hepatitis B vaccination is particularly recommended if you:
- Plan long-term travel or expat work
- May need medical or dental treatment abroad
- Are getting tattoos or piercings while travelling
- Might have new sexual partners while abroad
- Are a healthcare worker or volunteer
- Are visiting remote areas where medical care is limited
If you're travelling to specific regions, check our guides for Vietnam, Egypt, India, Peru, the Caribbean, and the Maldives—each has different hepatitis B risk.
The Combined Hepatitis Vaccine
Yes, a single vaccine protects against both hepatitis A and B. It reduces the total number of jabs and is often the most convenient option if you need both. The combined vaccine is given as three doses.
Your pharmacist can advise whether the combined jab is best for you based on your travel plans and existing immunity.
Cost and NHS Availability
Hepatitis A vaccination for travel is sometimes available free through your GP, though it varies by practice and depends on your travel destination.
Hepatitis B vaccination for travel is generally not available on the NHS and is a private service.
At Kingfisher Pharmacy, both vaccines are available privately. Hepatitis A costs £55, and hepatitis B costs £45 per dose. You can often be seen more quickly at a pharmacy travel clinic than at your GP surgery, and we can discuss timing and costs before any injections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I really need both hepatitis A and B vaccines if I'm only going for two weeks?
A: It depends on where you're going and what you'll be doing. Hepatitis A is recommended for most travellers outside low-risk countries. Hepatitis B depends on your activities and the local prevalence. Speak to your pharmacist about your specific trip—two weeks in a major city has different risks than two weeks in a rural area.
Q: Can I get hepatitis A and B at the same time as other travel vaccines?
A: Yes. Most travel vaccines can be given at the same appointment. Some may need to be spaced out if they're live vaccines. Your pharmacist will plan the best schedule for you.
Q: What if I've already had hepatitis A or B naturally?
A: If you've had hepatitis A naturally, you're immune for life and don't need the vaccine. If you've had hepatitis B, immunity is more complicated—speak to your pharmacist about testing before assuming you're protected.
Q: How long does immunity last?
A: Hepatitis A protection from the vaccine lasts at least 20 years, likely much longer. Hepatitis B protection is typically lifelong after the full course, though immunity can wane over decades in some people. Booster recommendations vary depending on your individual circumstances.
Q: Can I get the hepatitis vaccine if I'm pregnant?
A: Both hepatitis A and B vaccines are inactivated (made from dead virus) and safe in pregnancy. Speak to your GP or pharmacist if you're pregnant or planning pregnancy and need travel vaccines.
Q: What if I don't have time for the full six-month hepatitis B course?
A: Accelerated schedules are available. You can complete all three doses in as little as three weeks, though you'll need a booster at 12 months for long-term protection. Discuss this with your pharmacist when you book.
Q: Can I travel before my hepatitis vaccinations are complete?
A: Yes, but protection is incomplete. A single dose of hepatitis A gives good coverage. For hepatitis B, you have some protection after one dose, more after two, and full protection after three. Speak to your pharmacist about your specific timeline and risk level.
Q: I'm going to South Africa for work—do I definitely need hepatitis B?
A: If you're working abroad, hepatitis B vaccination is strongly recommended, as you may have exposure to blood or bodily fluids through workplace accidents, medical care, or other unexpected routes. Speak to your pharmacist about your specific role and the local risk.
Book Your Travel Vaccinations at Kingfisher Pharmacy
If you're travelling soon and need hepatitis A or B vaccinations, don't leave it to chance. Kingfisher Pharmacy on Kirkgate in Wakefield city centre offers both vaccines as part of our travel vaccinations service. We can advise on which vaccines you need, administer them on the spot, and help you plan a schedule that fits your travel dates.
Call us on 01924 291898 or pop in to book your travel health appointment. Six to eight weeks before your trip is ideal, but we can often fit you in at shorter notice.