Summer has arrived and many Brits are likely jetting off to exotic locations in search of some much-needed sunshine. However, it’s crucial to stay informed about the latest health and safety advice before hopping on that plane.
While it’s not mandatory to have vaccination certificates for entry into popular European destinations such as Spain, Italy, and Greece, a few are recommended for your personal safety. With this in mind, we’ve gathered some tips from the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s Travel Health Pro and the Government’s Foreign Office to help you stay well while abroad.
Greece
Tourists should ensure their vaccinations are up-to-date in the UK, even though certificates aren’t required for trips to Greece. This includes the diphtheria-tetanus-polio and MMR vaccines.
Tetanus is a potentially fatal condition caused by bacteria entering a wound. It is prevalent worldwide and typically occurs when an open wound comes into contact with dirt or manure.
With this in mind, travellers are advised to thoroughly clean any injuries and seek medical assistance for ‘animal bites/scratches, burns, or wounds contaminated with soil’.
Anyone with greater vulnerability to infectious diseases because of their lifestyle, health issues, or occupational risks may need extra vaccinations. For example, while ‘most’ travellers know about tetanus, ‘some’ should also be cautious of bat lyssaviruses, or bat rabies.
Vaccines against bat lyssaviruses are available in the UK. The UK Foreign Office has advised: “Treatment and facilities are generally good on the mainland, but may be limited on the islands.
“The standards of nursing and aftercare, particularly in the state sector, is not to the usual standard of the UK. The public ambulance service is basic. There are serious shortages of ambulances on some islands.
“If you are uninsured, you may not be able to get medical treatment or diagnostic tests from private doctors in Greece, only from public hospitals and primary healthcare centres.”
Tourists in Greece can dial 112 or 166 to request an ambulance during an emergency.
Spain
In Spain, current regulations do not require vaccination certificates for entry, although tourists are still advised to stick to routine jabs, including diphtheria-tetanus-polio and MMR.
Like Greece, this also includes the diphtheria-tetanus-polio and MMR vaccines. Additionally, it is important to consider the rabies risk in Spain’s African territories of Ceuta and Melilla.
The remaining parts of Spain, such as the Balearic and Canary Islands, are thought to be free of rabies or at low risk. Although rare, rabies remains a serious disease that is usually contracted through bites or scratches from infected animals.
The NHS highlights that rabies is ‘almost always fatal once symptoms develop, ‘ but early vaccination and treatment can prevent death. Therefore, some travellers to Ceuta and Melilla are advised to get pre-exposure rabies vaccines, particularly if they plan to participate in ‘higher risk activities’ such as cycling or running.
Aside from this, tourists are also encouraged to consider potential risks with food and water hygiene when travelling to Spain. The country reported a possible threat of poliovirus after identifying a variation within a sewage sample from the Besòs Wastewater Treatment Plant in Barcelona, Catalonia, in 2024.
Travel Health Pro reports that additional investigations are underway, and the Public Health Agency of Catalonia has released more information on its website.
Before jetting off to Spain, tourists must review current vaccine recommendations a full eight weeks prior. Should sickness strike while enjoying Spain, dial 112 without delay to summon medical help.
“Contact your insurance or medical assistance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment,” the Foreign Office has said.
Italy
Like Spain, Italy currently does not ask tourists for vaccination certificates. Nonetheless, British travellers are advised to stay current with routine vaccines such as MMR and diphtheria-tetanus-polio.
Travellers should also stay alert for tick-borne encephalitis. This viral disease, found in the UK, parts of Europe, and Asia, spreads through tick bites.
After a bite, you might experience a high fever, fatigue, and nausea, which could worsen into more severe symptoms within days or weeks. Infected ticks are frequently found in forests, farmland, and urban parks, so vaccination can lower the risk.
“All travellers should avoid tick bites during outdoor activities, apply insect repellent frequently and follow tick bite avoidance advice,” Travel Health Pro has explained. “Travellers should check their skin and clothes regularly for ticks and remove them as soon as possible with a recommended technique. Wearing light coloured clothes makes it easier to spot ticks. Travellers should not eat or drink any unpasteurised milk products.”
Thankfully, the threat to most travellers is relatively low, though anyone taking part in more adventure-style activities, such as caving, may face an increased risk. Pre-exposure vaccines are therefore recommended for certain visitors.
The Foreign Office has encouraged tourists to check Italy’s latest vaccination advice at least eight weeks before a trip. If they fall ill while on holiday, they can dial 112 and ask for an ambulance.