Health Vaccination for Travellers

Flu vaccine effectiveness varies from year to year, but it typically prevents 30 to 60% of flu cases, with stronger protection generally seen in children. Confirmed data from the completed 2025/26 season shows the vaccine provided meaningful protection even against a newly evolved flu strain, which is a reassuring sign as this year's vaccination campaign gets underway. How Effective Was Last Season's Flu Vaccine? Last season's flu vaccine (2025/26) was confirmed to be 67.9% effective at preventing hospital attendance in children aged 2 to 17, 21.7% effective in adults aged 18 to 64, and 29.1% effective in adults aged 65 and over. These final figures come from UKHSA's annual epidemiological report , covering a season in which flu activity was driven by a drifted strain of influenza A known as subclade K. These results sit within the typical range for flu vaccine effectiveness and show the vaccine did its job well, despite the virus having evolved slightly since the va...

Yes, impetigo is highly contagious and can easily spread through a household. When it comes to impetigo 's contagious family transmission, the infection can pass through direct skin contact or by sharing items such as towels and bedding, particularly among children and people living in close contact. What Is Impetigo? Impetigo is a common bacterial skin infection that causes sores or blisters, usually around the nose, mouth and hands. It develops when staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria enter the skin, often through a small cut, insect bite or patch of eczema. According to the NHS , impetigo is most common in young children, but it can affect people of any age. Is Impetigo Contagious? How Does It Spread? Is impetigo contagious? Yes. It spreads easily through direct contact with sores or anything that has come into contact with them. This means it can move quickly between family members, especially in households with young children. Common ways it spreads include: Direct...