Chemitex Pharmacy on Hornsey Road is one of North London’s registered travel vaccination centres, offering destination-specific vaccines, antimalarials, travel prescriptions and pre-travel health consultations, all without a GP referral.
Travel vaccines cover all your destinations
Most given at your consultation
Book directly with our pharmacists
Official ICVP certificate issued
Many serious travel-related illnesses are entirely preventable. Hepatitis A can be contracted from contaminated food or water in destinations where hygiene standards differ from the UK, and yellow fever is a legal entry requirement in over 40 countries.
The risk you face depends on where you’re going, how long you’ll be there and what you’ll be doing. A beach holiday in Tenerife carries a different risk profile from a trekking expedition through rural Kenya or a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Getting vaccinated is not just about protecting yourself. It also means you’re less likely to bring something back and pass it on to family, colleagues or patients.
Guards against varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox. In adults, the disease tends to be significantly more severe than in childhood and can lead to serious complications.
2 (given 4 to 8 weeks apart)
Long-term; considered lifelong after completing both doses
A vaccine for a mosquito-borne illness causing fever and severe joint pain. Symptoms can persist for months after the initial infection clears.
1
Long-term protection expected; duration still being established in ongoing studies
Prevents a gut infection causing extreme, rapid dehydration through watery diarrhoea. Left untreated, cholera can prove fatal within hours.
2 (taken orally, 1 to 6 weeks apart)
Up to 2 years for adults; a single booster dose restores protection within the 2-year window
Targets dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness with no specific antiviral cure. Severe cases can progress to internal bleeding and organ failure.
2 (given 3 months apart)
Duration still being studied; clinical trials show sustained effectiveness through 4.5 years of follow-up
Covers a bacterial throat infection capable of blocking the airway and damaging the heart muscle. Boosters are recommended every 10 years for travellers heading to affected regions.
1 (booster)
Up to 10 years per booster dose
One course covering two liver infections spread by different routes: hepatitis A through contaminated food and water, hepatitis B through blood and bodily fluids. Both can cause long-term liver damage.
3 (at months 0, 1 and 6)
Potentially lifelong for both after completing the full course
A contagious liver infection passed through contaminated food and water. It causes jaundice, fatigue and abdominal pain that can last several weeks.
2 (second dose given 6 to 12 months after the first)
Potentially lifelong after both doses are completed
Bloodborne virus that can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Spread through blood, sexual contact and contaminated medical or tattooing equipment.
3
Potentially lifelong after completing the full course; most adults retain immunity without boosters
Oral vaccine for travellers visiting regions with poor sanitation or active outbreaks.
3
Studies show strong protection lasting 10 or more years; long-term duration continues to be monitored
Seasonal flu causes fever, muscle aches and respiratory illness. In tropical countries it circulates year-round, so travel timing offers little natural protection without vaccination.
1
Approximately 1 year; annual vaccination is recommended as strains change each season
A brain infection spread by mosquitoes across rural Asia, with no cure once the virus takes hold. Severe cases cause permanent neurological damage or death.
2 (given 28 days apart)
Up to 1 to 2 years after the primary course; a booster is recommended for continued or repeated exposure
Three viral infections in one vaccine: measles, which can cause brain damage; mumps, linked to deafness; and rubella, which causes serious harm to unborn babies if caught during pregnancy.
2
Lifelong after completing both doses
Four meningococcal strains (A, C, W and Y) cause bacterial meningitis and septicaemia, both potentially fatal within 24 hours of symptoms appearing.
1
5 or more years; a booster may be recommended for those with ongoing exposure risk
Serogroup B is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK. It can result in brain damage, limb loss and death if not treated rapidly.
3
Duration not yet fully established; reassessment and booster may be recommended after several years
Highly contagious lung infection causing prolonged coughing fits. Adults can carry and transmit it without knowing they are infected, making vaccination important for those travelling with young children.
1 (booster)
Approximately 5 to 10 years per booster dose
Streptococcus pneumoniae causes pneumonia, meningitis and septicaemia. Older travellers and those with chronic health conditions face the highest risk if exposed abroad.
1
Around 5 years; most adults require only one dose in their lifetime unless at high ongoing risk
Poliovirus still circulates in parts of Asia and Africa, where it can cause permanent paralysis. A booster is advised if your last dose was over 10 years ago.
1 (booster)
Up to 10 years per booster dose
Reduces the risk of serious illness and hospitalisation from COVID-19. Available privately for those topping up immunity before travel or who are at increased clinical risk.
1
Immunity wanes over several months; timing of boosters depends on individual clinical risk
Fatal once symptoms appear, rabies passes through animal bites and scratches. Pre-exposure vaccination buys critical time to reach medical care after an exposure in a remote destination.
3 (on days 0, 7 and 21 to 28)
Several years; blood titre testing determines when a booster dose is needed
A painful reactivation of the chickenpox virus causing nerve pain that can last months or years. Risk increases with age; the private vaccine at our Islington clinic is available to those outside the current NHS threshold.
1
Studies indicate protection lasting 7 to 10 or more years
Bacterial toxin behind painful muscle spasms, including lockjaw. Found in soil worldwide, it enters the body through cuts, puncture wounds and animal bites.
1 (booster)
Approximately 5 to 10 years per booster dose
Viral brain infection spread by tick bites in forested parts of Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and Asia. Severe cases can cause lasting neurological damage.
3
3 to 5 years after completing the primary course.
Serious bacterial infection causing high fever, abdominal pain and, if untreated, intestinal perforation. Spread through food and water contaminated with Salmonella typhi.
1
3 years; a repeat dose is recommended
A potentially fatal haemorrhagic fever transmitted by mosquitoes across tropical Africa and South America. Chemitex Pharmacy is a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre and issues the official International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), required for entry to over 40 countries.
1 (booster)
Lifelong for most travellers; a single dose is accepted as permanent proof .
Note: Your vaccine provides lifelong protection, though you may occasionally need a booster shot depending on your specific circumstances.
We prescribe malaria prevention tablets appropriate to your destination, including Atovaquone/Proguanil (Malarone), Doxycycline and Chloroquine. Suitability is assessed during your consultation.
Acetazolamide (Diamox) is available on prescription for travellers heading above 2,500 metres, including trekkers visiting Nepal, Peru or East African peaks.
Norethisterone (Utovlan) is available to delay menstruation for up to 17 days, which can be useful for travel, sporting events or religious occasions. No advance GP referral is needed.
We can prescribe standby antibiotics such as Azithromycin or Ciprofloxacin for travellers visiting destinations where access to reliable medical care may be limited.
Use our online booking system or call us on 0207 272 4869. Walk-in appointments may be available; booking in advance is recommended to allow time for multi-dose vaccine courses.
Our pharmacist will review your itinerary, health history and vaccination records. You will receive personalised advice on which vaccines, antimalarials and travel medications are relevant for your trip.
Vaccines and prescriptions are administered or issued at the same appointment where clinically appropriate. You will leave with a clear record of what you have received and what follow-up doses are needed.
Meningitis ACWY is a mandatory requirement for all pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah. We also advise on typhoid, hepatitis A and influenza, which are highly relevant given the density of international travellers at these events.
We vaccinate children from appropriate ages across most of our vaccine range. Parents booking for the whole family can arrange a single appointment block to minimise disruption.
Older travellers may need additional consideration for vaccines such as pneumonia, influenza and shingles before travel, alongside destination-specific immunisations. Our pharmacist will assess suitability individually.
Not all vaccines are suitable during pregnancy. Our pharmacist will review your travel plans and health status and advise on which vaccinations are safe, which should be deferred and what alternative precautions apply.
Travellers on immunosuppressive therapy or with conditions affecting immunity need careful assessment before travel vaccination. Some live vaccines are contraindicated; our pharmacist will advise on what is appropriate and when to involve your GP.
Trekkers, volunteers and expedition travellers face higher risk through extended time in rural areas, animal contact and limited access to post-exposure care. Rabies pre-exposure vaccination in particular is strongly recommended.
Healthcare workers, laboratory staff and others with occupational exposure risk can access hepatitis B, MMR, chickenpox and BCG-related assessments at our clinic.
Your consultation will typically take 20 to 30 minutes. Our pharmacist will ask about your destination, travel dates, planned activities, accommodation type and your current health status, including any regular medications.
From that, we build a personalised list of recommended vaccines, antimalarials and travel medications. You will receive clear written advice on dose schedules, potential side effects and what to do if you miss a follow-up dose.
If you require vaccines that need to be ordered in advance, we will advise you at the time of booking.
The honest answer is: earlier than most people think. As a general guide, book your travel clinic appointment at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Some vaccines require multiple doses weeks apart, and protection is not always immediate after the first dose.
Rabies pre-exposure vaccination takes 28 days to complete. The combined hepatitis A and B course runs over 6 months at standard spacing. Japanese encephalitis requires two doses 28 days apart.
If you are travelling in under 4 weeks, contact us as soon as possible. We can often start courses and provide partial protection quickly, alongside other precautionary advice.
We are an officially approved yellow fever vaccination site and issue the International Certificate of Vaccination (ICVP), not every pharmacy can do this.
Travel medications including antimalarials, altitude sickness tablets and standby antibiotics are prescribed in-house, so there is no separate GP visit required.
All travel vaccinations and consultations are available directly through the pharmacy. You do not need to be registered with a local GP surgery.
Where vaccines are in stock and clinically appropriate, many can be administered at the same appointment as your consultation.
Our consultations are conducted by an experienced pharmacist who will give you straightforward, destination-specific advice based on your actual itinerary.
Open six days a week, Chemitex Pharmacy is here to support your health. Call us, send an email, or visit our accessible pharmacy near Finsbury Park for all your healthcare needs.
Come and see why families in Islington have trusted Chemitex Pharmacy with their health for over 40 years. We're here for you.
Yes, parking is available right outside the pharmacy.
There's a bus stop just around the corner.
Trusted by generations of families in Islington.
Got some friendly and super quick travel vaccines here as I realised 5 days before travel. The pharmacist was soooo lovely and made the whole appointment easy. She was very informed and answered all my questions with confidence. Will be coming back for any future vaccine needs for sure as the price was much cheaper than the other ones in the area
I came into the chemist on Friday and I was very impressed by your colleague Fiona and how skilled she is with customers, particularly those who are vulnerable. She offered reassurance, was informative, and showed kindness and patience. She is an asset to your business.
Great little local pharmacy with wide selection and convenient hours, always has what I need in stock. Great customer service and advice from a lovely bubbly young woman who works on the till. Would recommend.
I needed to get a Covid and Flu vaccination together, before traveling, and Chemitex were able to give me a next day appointment and a good price.
The service was excellent and friendly.
I thoroughly recommend.
No. Most travel vaccines are given without a prescription. Medications such as antimalarials require prescribing, which our on-site Independent Prescriber can do during your consultation.
Yes. Chemitex Pharmacy is a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre. We administer the vaccine and issue the official ICVP certificate accepted for entry to countries that require it.
Bring your existing vaccination records to your consultation. We will review what you have already received and identify only what is still needed, so you avoid unnecessary repeat doses.
Allow 20 to 30 minutes for your initial consultation. If you are having vaccines at the same appointment, factor in additional time for administration and any post-vaccination observation period.
Yes. We vaccinate children from the appropriate minimum age for each vaccine. Parents can book a family appointment and we will assess each family member’s needs individually.
Expert tips from your local clinical team.
Chemitex Pharmacy is located at 332 Hornsey Road, London, N7 7HE. It’s just a short walk from Holloway Road and Finsbury Park stations. You’ll also find it near the Emirates Stadium. Book online using the link below, or call our team directly.
