Belfast Travel Clinic advise that some travel vaccines are available free of charge through your GP, potentially saving up to £135. During your travel consultation they will identify which vaccines you are eligible for on the NHS. If your GP requires a referral letter from a clinician trained in travel medicine, Belfast Travel Clinic can provide this for £25 per person. It is worth checking with your GP before paying privately for everything.
Some vaccines are administered through school (e.g. MMR, MenACWY, DTP booster) and may not appear on your GP's health record. Schools do not hold vaccination records themselves — these are held by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Schools Health Service (Immunisation Office). If you need to confirm what vaccines were given at school, contact them directly:
Vaccination Requirements
| Vaccine | Status | Private price (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Fever | REQUIRED | ~£75 | Physical certificate required at Tanzania border — not a photo. Needed because route goes through Kenya. Not available on NHS. |
| Hepatitis A | Strongly Recommended | ~£68 | Combined Hep A+B accelerated course available. May be available on NHS — check with GP. |
| Hepatitis B | Strongly Recommended | ~£54 | Village conditions — faecal/bodily fluid exposure possible. May be available on NHS — check with GP. |
| Typhoid | Strongly Recommended | ~£48 | Food & water-borne. May be available on NHS — check with GP. |
| Meningitis ACWY | Strongly Recommended | ~£64 | May be available on NHS — check with GP. |
| MMR (Measles) | Strongly Recommended | ~£48 | Check you have had two doses — measles is common in Tanzania. Available on NHS if doses missed — check with GP. |
| DTP / Polio | Strongly Recommended | ~£44 | Ensure up to date. May be available on NHS — check with GP. |
| Rabies | Optional | ~£114 | Go MAD has never encountered a rabid animal. Village animals are vaccinated. Not insisted upon. |
ⓘ Prices are approximate private rates from Belfast Travel Clinic's April 2026 price list and are subject to change without notice. Confirm current prices directly with your chosen clinic. Some vaccines may be available free on the NHS — ask your GP or travel clinic.
🦟 Malaria Prevention
✓ Malarone (Recommended)
Atovaquone/Proguanil — Go MAD's preferred choice
- • Start: 2 days before departure (11 June 2026)
- • Take: every evening with fatty food
- • Continue: 1 week after returning home
- • Available from TravelPharm online or via GP
Alternative: Doxycycline
Cheaper but more demanding
- • Start: 2 days before departure
- • Continue: 4 weeks after returning (vs 1 week for Malarone)
- • ⚠ Increases sun sensitivity — not ideal if fair-skinned
- • May be out of stock — check availability
Bite Prevention Rules
💧 General Health in Tanzania
💧 Water & Hydration
- ✓ Drink only filtered water at Eagle Lodge (high-performance filters)
- ✗ Do NOT drink shower water (not filtered)
- • Bring a 1L+ insulated water bottle — smaller is not enough
- • Dehydration looks like malaria — leaders will treat it seriously
- • Drink constantly throughout the day
🐍 Snakes & Safety
- • Walking boots mandatory outside Eagle Lodge at all times
- • No flip flops or bare feet outside — even to collect water
- • No serious snake incidents in Go MAD's history — boots prevent it
🏥 Medical Facilities
- • Go MAD uses Coptic Hospital and AICT (African Inland Church Tanzania)
- • Any illness: leader takes you to clinic; parents notified by WhatsApp
- • Medical team in UK consulted for serious cases
- • Travel insurance included in Go MAD trip fee
🏠 Returning Home
- • Continue Malarone for 1 week after return
- • If you develop flu symptoms or night sweats after returning: see your GP immediately
- • Tell them you travelled to Tanzania — they will test for malaria
- • Malaria can appear weeks after return