Travelling to Nigeria? Most UK visitors are advised to be up to date with hepatitis A, typhoid and a tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster, with yellow fever vaccination needed and malaria prevention important countrywide. Crewe Travel Clinic can confirm your personal list at a consultation.
For Nigeria, most UK travellers are advised to be up to date with hepatitis A, typhoid, a tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster and yellow fever, while hepatitis B, rabies and meningitis ACWY may be recommended depending on your trip. A yellow fever certificate is required for entry, and malaria prevention is important as malaria is present countrywide, including Lagos and Abuja. Crewe Travel Clinic can confirm your exact list at a consultation.
Nigeria is West Africa's most populous country and a regular destination for UK travellers visiting family, working in business or oil and gas, or exploring beyond the headlines. Many arrive into Lagos, the buzzing commercial hub on the Atlantic coast, or the planned capital Abuja in the centre of the country, before heading on to Port Harcourt, Kano, Calabar or the wider regions. Trips range from short city stays and conferences to longer placements, family visits in rural areas, and travel out to national parks, rivers and the coast. Your health needs depend heavily on where you go, how long you stay and what you do, so the right advice is rarely one-size-fits-all.\n\nWe recommend booking a travel health appointment around 6 to 8 weeks before you fly, as some vaccines need more than one dose or take time to become fully protective, and a yellow fever certificate only becomes valid ten days after vaccination. Even if your trip is sooner, it is still worth coming in, as we can usually help at short notice. At Crewe Travel Clinic our nurse reviews your itinerary, planned activities, medical history and vaccination record, then gives you a tailored plan. The recommendations below are general guidance following current TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) and WHO advice, and your final list is always confirmed in person at your consultation.
Spread through contaminated food and water, hepatitis A is recommended for most previously unvaccinated travellers to Nigeria.
A combined booster is advised if your last dose was more than ten years ago or your UK course is incomplete, and polio remains relevant in Nigeria.
Recommended where food and water hygiene may be variable, particularly for longer stays, rural travel and those visiting friends or relatives.
There is a risk of yellow fever in Nigeria and a certificate is required for entry, so the vaccine is recommended for almost all travellers aged 9 months and over.
Considered for longer trips, possible medical or dental treatment abroad, adventure activities or other exposure to blood and body fluids.
Worth discussing for stays of a month or more, remote areas with limited medical care, or activities such as cycling, running and working with animals.
Considered for longer or close-contact stays, backpackers and those visiting friends and relatives, as Nigeria lies within the African meningitis belt.
Usually only for aid and relief workers or those heading to areas with poor sanitation, limited safe water or active outbreaks.
Malaria is present throughout Nigeria all year round, including Lagos, Abuja and other cities as well as rural areas, so it is a serious, countrywide risk. Antimalarial tablets are recommended for most travellers, and the usual options are atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine, alongside strict bite avoidance. We will help you choose the right tablets for your dates, route and medical history, and these are prescribed at your consultation. Cover up at dusk and after dark, use a DEET-based repellent and sleep under a treated net where needed.
There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in Nigeria, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry, including for travellers arriving directly from the UK. The vaccine is therefore recommended both for your own health and to meet the entry rule, and is generally given from 9 months of age. As a Registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, Crewe Travel Clinic can assess your suitability, vaccinate you and issue your internationally recognised ICVP certificate, which becomes valid ten days after vaccination.
Check yellow fever certificate requirementsStick to safe food and water practices: drink bottled or treated water, avoid ice of uncertain origin, and choose food that is freshly and thoroughly cooked. Insect-bite avoidance protects against malaria and other mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue and chikungunya, so use a DEET-based repellent, cover up around dusk and after dark and use a net where needed. Rabies is present, so do not approach dogs, cats or other animals, and seek urgent medical advice after any bite, scratch or lick on broken skin. Take out comprehensive travel insurance covering medical care and evacuation, pack regular medication in your hand luggage, take care on the roads and protect yourself from the strong sun and heat.