Yes, it’s mandatory. The Gambia won’t let you enter without a valid Yellow Fever certificate, and airlines check at check-in. You need the vaccine at least 10 days before travel for the certificate to be valid. We’re an approved Yellow Fever centre at Coxheath Pharmacy, so you can get your official certificate here rather than travelling to London.

For basic protection, you’re looking at £215 – that covers Yellow Fever (£65), Hepatitis A (£50), Typhoid (£50), and Meningitis ACWY (£50). If you need additional protection like Hepatitis B or Rabies, budget another £150-250. Antimalarial tablets are extra and vary by trip length. We’ll give you an exact quote during your consultation based on what you actually need.

Yes, though it’s not ideal. Yellow Fever needs 10 days to be valid for entry, so that’s your absolute deadline. Other vaccines like Hepatitis A and Typhoid start working within days. Call us on 01622 745567 for a same-day appointment – we keep vaccines in stock for urgent travel. Even partial protection beats none.

High risk, all year round. You need antimalarial tablets starting before travel, throughout your stay, and after return. The exact schedule depends on which medication suits you.

Most are fine for children, with some age limits. Yellow Fever can be given from 9 months old, while other routine travel vaccines are safe from younger ages. Rabies vaccines can even be given from birth if necessary. We regularly vaccinate families at Coxheath Pharmacy and make it as stress-free as possible for kids. Bring the whole family and we’ll sort everyone in one visit.

Often you need more protection, not less. Visiting family usually means staying in local homes, eating home-cooked food, and spending time in residential areas where tourists don’t go. You’re actually at higher risk for diseases like typhoid and hepatitis. Many Maidstone families visiting relatives in Gambia get the full vaccination package for this reason.

Most people just get a sore arm for a day or two. Some feel tired or get a mild headache – nothing paracetamol won’t sort. Serious reactions are incredibly rare. We’ve given thousands of vaccines at Coxheath Pharmacy and know what’s normal. We’ll explain what to watch for and you can always call us if concerned.

Depends what you’re doing. If you’re staying in Kololi beach resorts, probably not. But if you’re volunteering, working with animals, travelling with kids (who might not tell you about animal contact), or going rural, it’s worth considering. The pre-exposure course is three doses costing £255 total. Without it, you’d need urgent treatment if bitten – not always available quickly in Gambia.

Usually yes. We can give multiple vaccines in one visit – different arms, different sites. The only exception might be if you’re starting courses that need multiple doses weeks apart. Most people coming for Gambia travel get their Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Meningitis vaccines all in one appointment. Saves time and multiple trips to Maidstone.

Bring any records you have and we’ll work out what you still need. Many vaccines last years – Yellow Fever is for life, Typhoid lasts 3 years, Hepatitis A booster gives 25 years’ protection. No point paying for vaccines you don’t need. If you can’t find your records, we can sometimes check with your GP or previous travel clinic.

Ideal is 6-8 weeks before travel. This gives time for vaccines to take effect and complete any courses needing multiple doses. But we see plenty of last-minute travellers – even if you’re flying tomorrow, some protection is better than none. Call 01622 745567 and we’ll fit you in. We keep vaccines in stock specifically for urgent cases.