Travel Clinic
Hepatitis B Vaccination
Standard and accelerated hepatitis B courses for travellers, workers and anyone who wants the protection.
- Course
- Standard or accelerated course
- Doses
- 3 doses plus a booster
- Who it is for
- From birth
- When to book
- Plan ahead where possible
About this service
Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver spread through blood and body fluids, and it is one of the most common infections travellers can be vaccinated against. Unlike hepatitis A, which is caught from food and water, hepatitis B is spread through unprotected sex, contaminated needles, tattooing and piercing with unsterile equipment, and medical or dental treatment where infection control is poor. At Berkeley Pharmacy our travel clinic offers standard and accelerated hepatitis B courses after a full risk assessment.
Because the standard course takes six months to complete, planning ahead makes a real difference, but we also offer accelerated schedules for adults travelling at short notice. We welcome travellers and workers from across Gloucestershire, including Dursley, Cam and Wotton-under-Edge, and we will give you honest advice on which schedule fits the time you have before you go.
What hepatitis B is
Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver spread through blood and body fluids, including unprotected sex, contaminated needles, tattooing and piercing with unsterile equipment, and medical or dental treatment where infection control is poor. Many people have no symptoms at first, but some go on to develop long term liver damage.
It is common in sub-Saharan Africa, East and South East Asia, the Pacific Islands, parts of South America and parts of Eastern Europe. The standard course is three doses at zero, one and six months. An accelerated course of zero, seven and 21 days is available for adults aged 18 and over travelling at short notice, with a booster at twelve months. A further schedule of zero, one and two months is also used. The vaccine is licensed from birth.
Who this service is for
Suitable for
- Travellers on longer trips or repeat visits to higher risk countries
- Healthcare, laboratory, aid and emergency workers
- People planning tattoos, piercings or medical or dental treatment abroad
- Adventure and contact sports participants where injury is likely
- Anyone who may have a new sexual partner while away
- People who want protection for work or peace of mind at home
Not suitable for
- Previous severe allergic reaction to this vaccine or its ingredients
- Anyone currently unwell with a high temperature, who should wait
- People already known to be immune or previously fully vaccinated, unless a check is advised
- The accelerated 21 day schedule is not used for under 18s
How it works
A simple, consistent process for every service at Berkeley Pharmacy.
Get in touch
Call us or use our contact form to arrange a consultation.
Consultation
A private, face-to-face appointment with our pharmacist in our Berkeley consultation room.
Clinical assessment
We review your medical history and confirm whether the service is suitable for you.
Treatment or referral
If it is suitable we treat you the same day; if not, we explain why and advise on the best next step.
What to expect at your appointment
Your appointment begins with a full risk assessment covering your travel, work and personal circumstances. We then give you a clear explanation of the schedule options and which fits the time you have before you go.
- The injection is given into your upper arm
- All remaining appointments are booked before you leave the pharmacy
- A written record of every dose and, with your consent, a note to your GP
- Honest advice if there is not enough time to complete a course, including what partial protection means
Aftercare and safety
Soreness at the injection site, tiredness and a mild headache are the usual effects and settle within a day or two. It is important to finish the whole course, because partial courses give reduced and shorter lived protection.
- If you used the accelerated schedule, the twelve month booster matters, so put it in your calendar
- Keep practising safe precautions abroad, since the vaccine does not protect against hepatitis C or HIV
- Get in touch if you miss a dose and we will advise rather than restarting unnecessarily
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the standard and accelerated hepatitis B course?
The standard course is three doses at zero, one and six months, which gives the strongest and longest lasting protection. The accelerated course is zero, seven and 21 days for adults aged 18 and over travelling at short notice, with a booster at twelve months. We will explain which fits the time you have before you go.
How quickly can I be protected before travelling?
With the accelerated course, adults aged 18 and over can have doses at zero, seven and 21 days, with a booster at twelve months. This is designed for last minute travel, although the standard six month course gives the strongest protection when there is time. We will advise honestly on what is achievable for your departure date.
Do I need a booster after the accelerated course?
Yes. The accelerated course of zero, seven and 21 days is followed by a booster at twelve months, which is important for lasting protection. We will book it before you leave and remind you when it is due, so it is easy to keep on track.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Get in touch and we will advise rather than restarting unnecessarily. In most cases the course can be continued from where it left off, although long gaps may affect the timing of later doses. The sooner you let us know, the more straightforward it is to get back on schedule.
Who should consider hepatitis B vaccination?
It is worth considering for longer trips or repeat visits to higher risk countries, healthcare and aid workers, people planning tattoos, piercings or medical or dental treatment abroad, and anyone who may have a new sexual partner while away. Some people also choose it for work or peace of mind at home.
Can I have hepatitis A and B together in one vaccine?
Yes, a combined hepatitis A and B vaccine is available, which means fewer injections and fewer appointments than having the two separately. We will compare the options at your assessment and recommend the most suitable one for your trip and timescale.
How we can supply treatment without a GP appointment
Some treatments at Berkeley Pharmacy are supplied under a Patient Group Direction, or PGD – a written instruction, signed by a doctor and a pharmacist, that legally allows our trained pharmacists to supply and administer specified medicines to people who meet defined clinical criteria, without a prescription from your GP. If you do not meet the criteria set out in the PGD we cannot supply the treatment, and we will explain why and advise you on the best next step. Our pharmacists also work as independent prescribers where that is appropriate.
Serving Berkeley and the surrounding Gloucestershire villages
Berkeley Pharmacy is on Market Place in the centre of Berkeley, with easy access from junctions 13 and 14 of the M5. We welcome patients from Berkeley, Sharpness, Newport, Berkeley Heath, Alkington, Ham, Stone and Rockhampton, and we are a short drive from Cam, Dursley, Slimbridge, Cambridge, Falfield, Charfield, Tortworth, Cromhall, Oldbury-on-Severn, Wotton-under-Edge, Thornbury, Frampton on Severn and Stonehouse. Patients also travel to us from Stroud, Nailsworth, Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Tetbury and Gloucester.
Safe, regulated care from your local pharmacy team
- Berkeley Pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. You can check any pharmacy or pharmacist on the GPhC register at pharmacyregulation.org.
- Every consultation is face to face and private, in our dedicated consultation room – not an online questionnaire.
- Serving the Berkeley community for over 25 years.
- This service does not replace care from your GP. With your consent we will inform your GP of any treatment provided. If you are unwell, have new or worsening symptoms, or need urgent care, contact your GP or NHS 111, and in an emergency call 999.
- If you experience a side effect from any medicine you can report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.
Page last reviewed: September 2026. Next review due: September 2027.
Related services
Other services you may be interested in at Berkeley Pharmacy.
Combined Hepatitis A and B Vaccination
Protection against both infections in a single course, with fewer injections and fewer appointments.
Find out more Travel ClinicHepatitis A Vaccination
One of the most commonly recommended travel vaccinations, and one of the easiest to arrange before you go.
Find out more Travel ClinicRabies Vaccination
Pre-travel rabies protection for remote trips, long stays and anyone likely to be around animals.
Find out moreSpeak to our pharmacy team about hepatitis b vaccination
Visit us in Berkeley or get in touch to arrange a private consultation with our pharmacist.
Book a consultation Call 01453 810316
Address
14 Market Place, Berkeley, GL13 9BB
Opening hours
Mon–Fri 9am–6pm (closed 1–2pm)
Sat 9am–1pm
Sun Closed