NHS Ayrshire and Arran are urging locals to check travel health information before jetting off this summer.

If you are lucky enough to be packing your suitcase and looking out your passport, take the time to also check the travel health information available regarding your destination too.

Depending on your destination, there may be specific advice for travellers, or vaccinations needed for visa entry requirements.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran Travel Health Service can offer advice about travel health, vaccinations for travel that are free on the NHS and signposting to additional service providers if needed.

If you have booked a trip to a destination requiring travel health vaccinations, get in touch with the service as early as possible before departure to allow the scheduling of any appointments needed.

Some vaccinations are offered free by the NHS to citizens living in Scotland for the purposes of travel.

These include cholera, hepatitis A, diphtheria, polio, tetanus, typhoid.

The Travel Health Service team can also offer advice about rabies, monkeypox and coronavirus.

If you require vaccines that are not available free through the NHS or antimalarial tablets, you will be signposted to a participating community pharmacy or specialist travel clinic.

Susan Wilson, NHS Ayrshire & Arran Chief Nurse (Immunisation), said: “In previous years patients with travel health requirements may have made their GP practice their first port of call, but that should no longer be the case.

"The NHS Ayrshire & Arran Travel Health Service can help direct you to relevant information and offer advice about travel health, as well as schedule appointments for vaccinations offered free on the NHS.

“You can go online to visit our website https://www.nhsaaa.net/services/services-a-z/travel-vaccines/ to get all the details.

“Our main ask is that you don’t leave it too close to your departure date if you do require travel health services.

"Please get in touch just as early as possible after booking your holiday if you are going to need vaccinations or specific advice regarding your destination with regard to health risks in that country or region.”