All travellers should have completed the routine UK vaccination course. A further tetanus-containing booster may be recommended when travelling somewhere with limited medical facilities if your last dose was more than 10 years ago.

Your complete vaccination history and type of travel should be reviewed before another dose is given.

Not routinely. Most people who have completed five appropriately spaced UK doses have satisfactory long-term protection and do not need automatic boosters every 10 years.

Additional doses may still be recommended for certain travel, injury or occupational circumstances.

UK travel boosters are normally given as a combined vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria and polio.

It is commonly called the Td/IPV or three-in-one booster.

The routine UK programme aims to provide five tetanus-containing vaccine doses at appropriate intervals across childhood and adolescence.

People who missed earlier doses may require a catch-up course.

Check the NHS App, your GP surgery, childhood health records, previous travel clinics and occupational health records.

If reliable records cannot be found, the pharmacist can assess your likely history and recommend an appropriate course.

Tetanus spores are found worldwide. The practical risk may be greater where wound cleaning, medical care and vaccination coverage are limited.

Risk is also influenced by your planned activities and likelihood of injury rather than the destination alone.

Arrange travel health advice around four to six weeks before departure where possible.

It is still worth booking at short notice because a single booster can usually be administered during one appointment when required.

Children receive tetanus protection through the routine UK childhood vaccination programme.

Parents should ensure all routine doses are up to date before travel. Catch-up vaccination may be recommended for children with incomplete records.

No. Tetanus is not normally passed directly between people.

Infection occurs when bacterial spores enter damaged skin and produce toxin inside the body.

The rust itself does not cause tetanus. The concern is that a nail may create a deep puncture wound and carry soil, dirt or bacterial spores into tissue.

Any deep or contaminated puncture wound should be cleaned and medically assessed.

Animal bites may be considered tetanus-prone wounds. Seek prompt medical advice because you may also require antibiotics, wound treatment or rabies assessment depending on where the bite occurred.

The need for a tetanus vaccine depends on your records and the nature of the wound.

Tetanus immunoglobulin provides immediate temporary antibodies and may be recommended for certain high-risk tetanus-prone wounds.

It is different from routine vaccination and is provided following urgent clinical wound assessment.

The combined Td/IPV vaccine can often be administered during the same appointment as other suitable travel vaccines.

The pharmacist will review your complete vaccination plan and use separate injection sites where appropriate.

Common temporary effects can include pain, redness or swelling at the injection site. Some people experience a headache, tiredness, mild temperature or general aches.

Serious allergic reactions are very rare.

Same-day or short-notice travel vaccination appointments may sometimes be available, subject to pharmacist availability, clinical suitability and vaccine stock.

Recent wounds requiring urgent treatment should be assessed by an appropriate urgent-care or NHS service rather than waiting for a routine appointment.

Hampstead Travel Clinic is based inside Allchin Pharmacy at 28 Englands Lane, London, NW3 4UE.

Our clinic is convenient for travellers from Hampstead, Belsize Park, Swiss Cottage, Finchley Road, St John’s Wood, West Hampstead, Camden and surrounding North West London areas.