free vaccs at the GP ?

pix · Nov 1st, 2005, 16:11

Hi everyone
Just a quick question about vaccs, FYI I am in the UK, but i am not a resident, although i am registered with a clinic. Is it better to go to the GP or a travel doc in regards to price ? I have heard that you can get your shots for (gasp!) free if you go to the GP...ia this correct ???
I know I need Hep A
Polio booster
i am up to date on the others...
thanks

nekobus · Nov 1st, 2005, 16:30

You should be able to get them for free on NHS from your GP - just had typhoid, polio, hep a & tetanus all done by a nurse at the local doctors and was very straightforward. I actually got them done during my appointment to register at the surgery.

It may vary though - I'm not completely sure if they have to give them for free. Definitely try getting them on NHS before you pay for them. Travel clinics are expensive.

(hello everyone by the way, joined the site meaning to ask some questions but found something i could actually answer first).

Pookstar · Nov 1st, 2005, 16:42

Just had a Hep A ‘booster’ from my GP and it cost £15.

My GP gave me all the other vacs necessary for India last year and I was charged for them....(my memory is so bad that I can't remember how much they were though).

happysnapper999 · Nov 1st, 2005, 16:46

It depends where your GP is, what area, as to what vaccinations they carry. In areas of high ethnic population they carry most things and you can get them for free, same day.

In more rural areas they may only carry the basics and you have to get the vaccinations on special prescription. It's probably still cheaper than a travel clinic though.

nekobus · Nov 1st, 2005, 16:47

maybe depends where you are then - they're definitely free at my surgery in brixton.
my guess is that maybe surgeries in poorer areas with large immigrant populations are more likely to give free vaccinations due to larger amounts of people travelling abroad?

happysnapper999 · Nov 1st, 2005, 16:48

PS. I live in Peckham and got Hep A for "FREE"!!

happysnapper999 · Nov 1st, 2005, 16:50

Hi nekobus. Seems there are ups to living in these area after all! hehehe!

Pookstar · Nov 1st, 2005, 17:36

Quote:

my guess is that maybe surgeries in poorer areas with large immigrant populations are more likely to give free vaccinations due to larger amounts of people travelling abroad?

Not sure about this - I live in Hackney as still had to pay!

.....maybe my GP is making a few bob on the side!!!

wanderin_star · Nov 1st, 2005, 17:49

If you get them for free you will be very lucky. I have heard some G.P.'s still give NHS prescription but these few and far between. I find it far better, as I have to pay, to go to travel clinic. I find the advice given much more informed than a nurse at my G.P.

happysnapper999 · Nov 1st, 2005, 18:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderin_star

If you get them for free you will be very lucky. I have heard some G.P.'s still give NHS prescription but these few and far between. I find it far better, as I have to pay, to go to travel clinic. I find the advice given much more informed than a nurse at my G.P.

I went out with a very well informed travel nurse who gave me the MASTA printout of requirements for India (rural).

When I saw the nurse at my Peckham surgery the information she had didn't correspond, was less comprehensive. Also she had never heard of Jap Enc vaccine and couldn't tell me if my rabies jabs needed boosting. I still don't know but it's too late now anyway.

At Peckham my Hep A booster was free a few weeks ago. When I last had it done I lived in Maidstone in Kent and I had to pay for every injection. I'm surprised you had to pay in Hackney though.

pix · Nov 1st, 2005, 18:21

ahh thanks everyone! I'm in North London although from the sounds of things im not sure if this makes a difference! Well i think i might give it a try at the GP and see.....thanks again !

semidetatched · Nov 1st, 2005, 19:50

Another south London dweller here. G.P is a bit cheaper than a travel clinic even if you have to pay, at least mine is.

So far I've had Hep A, Diptheria + Tetanus, and Typhoid - all free.
They're giving me the malaria medicine without charge, and I've also had the Hep B jabs - I was supposed to pay for those but the most helpful (and knowledgable) nurse put, falsely, that I was off to do some voluntary health work which saved £75.
The only thing I've paid for is the Rabies jabs - 3 of at £38 each...

Still undecided about Jap Encephalitis and Menengitis, but they'll cost if i want them.

pix · Nov 1st, 2005, 21:13

detached - sounds like you are onto a good thing with your clinic..hopefully mine is somewhere near as good...although I doubt it. At best i think I can hope for cheapish rather than free....

mercedes10 · Nov 1st, 2005, 22:12

My local GP surgery gave me Hep A, typhoid, polio, tetanus, diptheria and Hep B on a prescription basis - so I paid the normal prescription charge for them (£6.50 I think). I got them done at separate times on separate prescription so paid that a few times over. I'm not aware of any GPs giving vaccinations for free. A prescription charge is the norm. Get what you can at your local GP as it will be cheaper than a private travel clinic. Your GP wont do the more 'exotic' stuff though. I got Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis and Meningitis at a travel clinic at a total cost of £206! (eek!) On top of that my malaria tablets cost me £51.

Semidetached - sounds like you got lucky! I feel bitter! ;-) I'm genuinely doing voluntary work with slum kids and its because of that I've needed so many shots and its cost me a bloody fortune! :-(

seventies'hippy · Nov 1st, 2005, 22:36

As shere & I mentioned on this recent thread ours were free from our UK NHS GP actual cost of travel shots

Nov 1st, 2005, 16:11	#1
pix Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: london Posts: 61	free vaccs at the GP ? Hi everyone Just a quick question about vaccs, FYI I am in the UK, but i am not a resident, although i am registered with a clinic. Is it better to go to the GP or a travel doc in regards to price ? I have heard that you can get your shots for (gasp!) free if you go to the GP...ia this correct ??? I know I need Hep A Polio booster i am up to date on the others... thanks __________________ ~~dance~~

Nov 1st, 2005, 22:36	#15
seventies'hippy Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,127	As shere & I mentioned on this recent thread ours were free from our UK NHS GP actual cost of travel shots __________________ . . . My Photo Gallery

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Nov 1st, 2005, 16:30	#2
nekobus Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: london Posts: 32	You should be able to get them for free on NHS from your GP - just had typhoid, polio, hep a & tetanus all done by a nurse at the local doctors and was very straightforward. I actually got them done during my appointment to register at the surgery. It may vary though - I'm not completely sure if they have to give them for free. Definitely try getting them on NHS before you pay for them. Travel clinics are expensive. (hello everyone by the way, joined the site meaning to ask some questions but found something i could actually answer first).

Nov 1st, 2005, 16:42	#3
Pookstar Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 60	Just had a Hep A ‘booster’ from my GP and it cost £15. My GP gave me all the other vacs necessary for India last year and I was charged for them....(my memory is so bad that I can't remember how much they were though).

Nov 1st, 2005, 16:46	#4
happysnapper999 Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 79	It depends where your GP is, what area, as to what vaccinations they carry. In areas of high ethnic population they carry most things and you can get them for free, same day. In more rural areas they may only carry the basics and you have to get the vaccinations on special prescription. It's probably still cheaper than a travel clinic though.

Nov 1st, 2005, 16:47	#5
nekobus Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: london Posts: 32	maybe depends where you are then - they're definitely free at my surgery in brixton. my guess is that maybe surgeries in poorer areas with large immigrant populations are more likely to give free vaccinations due to larger amounts of people travelling abroad?

Nov 1st, 2005, 16:48	#6
happysnapper999 Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 79	PS. I live in Peckham and got Hep A for "FREE"!!

Nov 1st, 2005, 16:50	#7
happysnapper999 Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 79	Hi nekobus. Seems there are ups to living in these area after all! hehehe!

Nov 1st, 2005, 17:49	#9
wanderin_star Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United kingdom Posts: 31	If you get them for free you will be very lucky. I have heard some G.P.'s still give NHS prescription but these few and far between. I find it far better, as I have to pay, to go to travel clinic. I find the advice given much more informed than a nurse at my G.P.

Nov 1st, 2005, 18:21	#11
pix Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: london Posts: 61	ahh thanks everyone! I'm in North London although from the sounds of things im not sure if this makes a difference! Well i think i might give it a try at the GP and see.....thanks again !

Nov 1st, 2005, 19:50	#12
semidetatched Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 27	Another south London dweller here. G.P is a bit cheaper than a travel clinic even if you have to pay, at least mine is. So far I've had Hep A, Diptheria + Tetanus, and Typhoid - all free. They're giving me the malaria medicine without charge, and I've also had the Hep B jabs - I was supposed to pay for those but the most helpful (and knowledgable) nurse put, falsely, that I was off to do some voluntary health work which saved £75. The only thing I've paid for is the Rabies jabs - 3 of at £38 each... Still undecided about Jap Encephalitis and Menengitis, but they'll cost if i want them.

Nov 1st, 2005, 21:13	#13
pix Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: london Posts: 61	detached - sounds like you are onto a good thing with your clinic..hopefully mine is somewhere near as good...although I doubt it. At best i think I can hope for cheapish rather than free....

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Nov 1st, 2005, 22:12	#14
mercedes10 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 556	My local GP surgery gave me Hep A, typhoid, polio, tetanus, diptheria and Hep B on a prescription basis - so I paid the normal prescription charge for them (£6.50 I think). I got them done at separate times on separate prescription so paid that a few times over. I'm not aware of any GPs giving vaccinations for free. A prescription charge is the norm. Get what you can at your local GP as it will be cheaper than a private travel clinic. Your GP wont do the more 'exotic' stuff though. I got Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis and Meningitis at a travel clinic at a total cost of £206! (eek!) On top of that my malaria tablets cost me £51. Semidetached - sounds like you got lucky! I feel bitter! ;-) I'm genuinely doing voluntary work with slum kids and its because of that I've needed so many shots and its cost me a bloody fortune! :-(