UK guidance recommends the hepatitis B vaccine for some travellers rather than most, because the risk depends on what you’ll be doing more than where you’re going. It spreads through blood and sex, so it’s recommended if you’re visiting family, staying a long time, having medical or dental treatment abroad, working in healthcare or aid, playing contact sports, or might have sex with a new partner. The NHS doesn’t fund hepatitis B vaccination for travel, so wherever you have it, you’ll pay privately. You can book your hepatitis B vaccine in Epsom with us.
Why it’s about what you do
Hepatitis B passes through blood, semen and vaginal fluids: during sex, through contaminated needles and equipment in medical, dental, tattooing or piercing procedures, and from mother to baby at birth. UK travel health guidance says the risk for tourists and short-term travellers is usually low, and higher with certain activities.
Your trip at a glance
| Your trip | What UK guidance says |
|---|---|
| Visiting family or friends | Recommended: you’re more likely to need medical or dental care while you’re there |
| A long stay, living or working abroad | Recommended |
| Medical or dental treatment abroad | Recommended |
| Health, aid or volunteer work | Recommended |
| Contact sports | Recommended |
| Possible sex with a new partner | Recommended |
| Adopting a child from abroad | Recommended for the family |
| A long-term health condition that could mean hospital care abroad | Recommended |
| A short holiday with none of the above | Risk usually low; vaccination can be considered for any traveller to the countries below |
Popular destinations
NaTHNaC rates each of these countries as having an intermediate or high prevalence of hepatitis B, and lists the vaccine for some travellers: Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Brazil. For each, it says vaccination could be considered for all travellers and is recommended for those at higher risk.
Travelling to one of these? Our guide to which countries you need the hepatitis A vaccine for covers the other hepatitis vaccine most travellers need.
How common it is worldwide
The World Health Organization estimates that 240 million people were living with long-term hepatitis B in 2024, with 0.9 million new infections a year and 1.1 million deaths in 2024, mostly from cirrhosis and liver cancer. Only around a quarter of people with it knew they had it.
Staying safe while you’re away
- Use condoms with any new partner.
- Leave tattoos, piercings and acupuncture until you’re home, unless you’re sure the equipment is sterile.
- Don’t share razors or other shaving equipment, or anything used for injecting.
- Think carefully about medical and dental treatment abroad, where equipment may not be sterile.
Planning the doses
Adults can have three doses in three weeks on the very rapid schedule, followed by a dose at 12 months. With about two months, the accelerated schedule fits. Our guide to hepatitis B vaccine schedules sets out which works for your date.
Children
Children born on or after 1 August 2017 had hepatitis B in their 6-in-1 baby vaccine. Bring their red book and the pharmacist will check where they stand before your trip.
Hepatitis A as well
If you need both, they’re given as separate injections at the same appointment, one in each arm.
Getting it before you go, near Epsom
We’re at 94 Chessington Road, Ewell, Epsom, KT19 9UR, with a bus stop outside and Ewell West station nearby. If you’re travelling from Epsom, Ashtead, Leatherhead or Kingston, bring your itinerary and we’ll go through it with you. Call us on 020 8393 1000.
Questions about hepatitis B and travel
Do I need the hepatitis B vaccine for Thailand?
NaTHNaC lists it for some travellers to Thailand: it could be considered for anyone, and is recommended if your plans put you at higher risk, such as a long stay, medical treatment or a new sexual partner.
Do I need it for India?
The same applies. It’s especially relevant if you’re visiting family there, because you’re more likely to need a doctor or dentist while you’re away.
Is the hepatitis B vaccine free on the NHS for travel?
No. The NHS lists hepatitis B among the travel vaccines that aren’t routinely available on the NHS, so you pay at a private clinic, a pharmacy with travel health services or a GP surgery that offers it.
I’m only going for two weeks. Is it still worth having?
For a short trip, the risk is usually low, but it can be considered for any traveller, and it’s recommended if anything in the table above applies. Bring your plans and the pharmacist will go through them with you.
Can I catch hepatitis B from a tattoo abroad?
Yes, if the equipment isn’t sterile. That’s why UK guidance advises leaving tattoos and piercings until you’re home unless you’re sure the equipment is sterile.
Sources
- NaTHNaC: hepatitis B factsheet (updated 5 June 2025), checked 2 October 2026
- NaTHNaC: country information pages (Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Brazil), checked 2 October 2026
- UKHSA: the Green Book, chapter 18, hepatitis B, checked 2 October 2026
- NHS: travel vaccinations, checked 2 October 2026
- WHO: hepatitis B fact sheet, 28 July 2026, checked 2 October 2026
