You may need a polio booster if your last dose was 10 or more years ago and you are going somewhere with recent reports of polio. In the UK, the adult polio booster is one combined jab with diphtheria and tetanus, so the same booster also tops up those two. UK guidance recommends it when you need protection against any of the three and your last dose of that vaccine was more than 10 years ago. The NHS says a GP surgery may give it free for travel. At Bowland Pharmacy in Wythenshawe it is £30 privately.
Looking to book? Choose a time on our diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccination page, or call 0161 998 7114. You do not need a GP referral.
What the travel booster is
If you grew up in the UK, you were probably offered these vaccines as a child. The NHS routine schedule includes the 6-in-1 vaccine as a baby, the 4-in-1 pre-school booster at 3 years and 4 months, and the 3-in-1 teenage booster at 14. For many adults, the teenage booster was their last dose.
The travel booster is the same 3-in-1 combination as the teenage booster: tetanus, low dose diphtheria and inactivated polio, given as one injection. UK guidance uses this combined vaccine whenever protection against any one of the three is needed. So a “polio booster” and a travel “tetanus jab” are usually the same injection.
Who needs a booster before travel
The UK Green Book, the national guide to vaccines, says all travellers to places where these diseases are found should be fully vaccinated to the UK schedule. Where protection against any of the three is needed and the last dose was more than 10 years ago, the combined booster should be given.
Polio. TravelHealthPro, run by the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre, recommends a booster for travellers to areas or countries with recent reports of polio if their last dose was 10 or more years ago. It says polio still commonly occurs in two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and that the risk for most UK travellers is very low.
Diphtheria. The NHS says you may need a booster if you are going to a part of the world where there may be a risk of diphtheria and you were last vaccinated more than 10 years ago. The places with more cases change over time, so check the TravelHealthPro country guide for where you are going.
Tetanus. Tetanus is found all over the world. The Green Book says that if you are going somewhere medical help may be hard to reach and your last tetanus dose was more than 10 years ago, you should have a booster before you go, even if you had five doses before. This is a precaution in case the antibody treatment used after a high-risk wound is not available abroad.
If you never finished your childhood jabs
The NHS says you can have a polio vaccination at any point if you have never had one, and that you may need a tetanus vaccine if you are not fully vaccinated or are unsure. TravelHealthPro says adults who have never had polio vaccines can have a three dose course. If you do not know what you have had, the NHS says you can get help in the NHS App or ask your GP.
Do you need a polio vaccination certificate?
Sometimes. The NHS says some countries ask for proof of polio vaccination, an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, before you can enter or leave. TravelHealthPro explains that under temporary World Health Organization recommendations, people staying in certain countries for more than four weeks may need proof of a polio vaccine given four weeks to 12 months before leaving that country. You do not need proof to leave the UK.
The list of countries changes, so check the TravelHealthPro country page for each place on your trip. TravelHealthPro says a polio certificate is valid for one year from the date of the vaccine. If your destination asks for one, mention it when you book.
Free at your GP surgery or private at the pharmacy
The NHS travel vaccinations page lists polio, given as part of the combined diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccine, among the travel vaccinations you can get free at a GP surgery after completing a risk assessment form. So it is worth asking your GP surgery first.
If you would rather come to us, our price list shows “Diphtheria / Tetanus / Polio” at £30. It is a single dose, and the appointment takes under 20 minutes. It can be given at the same visit as other travel vaccines. Prices are subject to change, so check the list before you come.
Side effects and when to wait
TravelHealthPro says pain, swelling or redness where the injection was given are common after the polio part of the vaccine, and usually settle without treatment in 1 to 2 days. Severe allergic reactions are extremely rare. The NHS says do not have a travel vaccine if you are unwell with a high temperature. Tell the person vaccinating you about any past serious allergic reaction to a vaccine, any health conditions, or if you are pregnant.
Common questions
Where can I get a polio booster near me in Manchester?
At Bowland Pharmacy, 52 Bowland Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester M23 1JX. Book on our booking page or call 0161 998 7114. You can also ask your GP surgery about having it free on the NHS.
Do I need a diphtheria vaccine for travel?
The NHS says you may need one if you are going somewhere there may be a risk and your last dose was more than 10 years ago. It comes in the same combined jab as tetanus and polio.
How long before travel should I have the diphtheria vaccine?
The NHS advises getting travel health advice at least 4 to 6 weeks before you go, because some vaccines for the same trip need more than one dose or take time to work. The booster itself is one dose. If you are leaving sooner, it is still worth asking.
Can I have a tetanus jab privately?
Yes, as part of the combined travel booster, which is £30 at Bowland Pharmacy. If you have a wound now and are not sure you are fully vaccinated against tetanus, do not wait for a travel appointment. The NHS says ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111.
For help planning the rest of your trip, read what to expect at a travel health consultation in Wythenshawe.
Important health information
This article is general information only. It does not diagnose a condition, recommend a vaccine or medicine, or replace an individual travel health assessment by a pharmacist, GP or specialist. Whether you need a booster depends on your trip and your own vaccine history. For a life-threatening emergency, call 999. For urgent medical help that is not life-threatening, use NHS 111.
Sources
Official guidance checked 5 October 2026:
- NHS: Travel vaccinations
- NHS: Polio
- NHS: Diphtheria
- NHS: Tetanus
- TravelHealthPro: Polio
- TravelHealthPro: Tetanus
- TravelHealthPro: Poliomyelitis factsheet
- TravelHealthPro: Polio vaccination certificate
- UKHSA Green Book: Polio, chapter 26
- UKHSA Green Book: Diphtheria, chapter 15
- UKHSA Green Book: Tetanus, chapter 30
Published by Bowland Pharmacy. Written to NHS and UKHSA guidance. Superintendent Pharmacist: Ahmed Al-Liabi (GPhC 2208502).
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