What the diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccine is for, who UK travel health guidance advises it for, how the course works and what it costs at Peter Morgan Pharmacy, Dyserth.
- Price
- £40
- First step
- Free video consultation
- Guidance checked
- 13 October 2026
What it is
In the UK, tetanus, diphtheria and polio are protected against with one combined booster, so this page covers all three. Tetanus is a rare but dangerous illness caused by bacteria entering a wound, and polio is a viral infection that can, rarely, cause permanent paralysis.
How it is caught
Tetanus is caught when soil or manure containing the bacteria gets into a wound, such as a bite, burn or scratch, while polio spreads from person to person, mainly through contact with infected faeces or contaminated food and water.
Who it is advised for
Everyone in the UK is offered these vaccines through the routine schedule. A booster may be recommended before travel if your last dose was more than 10 years ago and you are going somewhere polio has recently been reported, or where it may be hard to get medical help quickly.
The vaccine course
Most people who were vaccinated as children need a single booster dose before travel. Adults who have never been vaccinated can have a three-dose course.
Where it is given
The combined booster for travel is usually available free on the NHS from your GP surgery, after a risk assessment. It is also available from pharmacies with travel health services and travel clinics.
This vaccine is often available free on the NHS for travel from your GP surgery.
Destinations
Usually advised for travellers to
- Thailand
- India
- Vietnam
- Indonesia
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- South Africa
- Nigeria
- Brazil
- Egypt
- Sri Lanka
- Morocco
- Mexico
- Peru
- Ghana
- Philippines
Going to Thailand, India and Vietnam? Each guide lists every vaccine UK guidance advises for the country, with malaria and certificate notes, so you can see the whole picture before your consultation.
Price
£40
See all vaccine pricesThis is a general guide from UK travel health guidance. The pharmacist confirms what is right for you at your consultation, based on your itinerary, health and vaccine history.
Sources: travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheets/poliomyelitis, nhs.uk/vaccinations/td-ipv-vaccine-3-in-1-teenage-booster, nhs.uk/conditions/tetanus, nhs.uk/conditions/travel-vaccinations. Last checked 13 October 2026.
Often given alongside
These vaccines appear most often next to the diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccine in our destination guides. The pharmacist can usually plan them together at one consultation.
- Travel vaccineHepatitis AHepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus.
- Travel vaccineTyphoidTyphoid is an infection caused by Salmonella Typhi bacteria.
- Travel vaccineYellow feverYellow fever is a viral disease that ranges from mild to severe, and severe cases can cause jaundice, bleeding and organ damage.
Getting your diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccine at Peter Morgan Pharmacy
- Book a free video consultation. The pharmacist goes through your trip, your health and the vaccines you have already had.
- Get your plan. You leave the call knowing which vaccines and advice UK guidance suggests for your route.
- Come in for your vaccines. The team books you in at Peter Morgan Pharmacy, Dyserth, at a time that leaves room for any course to finish before you go.