Travel vaccines for Ghana
From the bustle of Accra and the markets of Kumasi to the forts along the Cape Coast and the warmth of family back home, Ghana is a brilliant trip. Pop into Davyhulme Pharmacy in Urmston and we'll get the health side squared away before you fly from Manchester.
Whether you're heading out to see relatives, exploring the coast and the national parks, volunteering, or travelling for work, Ghana is a friendly and rewarding place to visit. There's one thing that sets it apart from a lot of holiday destinations, though: yellow fever vaccination is genuinely required to enter the country, and you'll usually need to show the certificate when you apply for your visa as well as on arrival. The good news is we can sort all of it for you in Urmston.
We're your local community pharmacy on Davyhulme Road, just a short drive from Manchester Airport, so there's no need to head into the city centre for your travel jabs. Bring your travel dates, the regions you're visiting and any record of vaccines you've already had, and our pharmacist will put together a plan that fits your trip. Aim to come in around four to six weeks before you fly where you can — but if your departure is sooner, still give us a ring, as there's almost always something worth doing.
Recommended vaccines for Ghana
Treat this as a starting point — what you actually need depends on where in Ghana you're going, how long you're staying and what you'll be doing, so our pharmacist confirms your final list in the consultation.
Most travellers
Yellow fever (with certificate)
Ghana requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry, usually from travellers aged nine months and over, and the certificate is often needed for your visa too. We give the jab and issue the official certificate.
Most travellers
Hepatitis A
Picked up through contaminated food and water, which is easily done — recommended for almost everyone heading to Ghana.
Most travellers
Typhoid
Another food-and-water infection that's worth covering for most trips, particularly if you're visiting family or staying a while.
Most travellers
Tetanus, diphtheria & polio
A combined booster is advised if yours has lapsed — we'll check your records and top you up if needed.
Some travellers
Hepatitis B
Considered for longer stays, healthcare or volunteer work, adventure activities, tattoos, piercings or possible medical treatment abroad.
Some travellers
Rabies
Rabies is present in Ghana and prompt treatment can be hard to reach in rural areas — sensible for longer trips, children, cyclists and remote travel.
For some trips
Meningitis (ACWY)
Northern Ghana sits within the African meningitis belt — advised for longer stays, backpacking and close contact with local communities, especially in the dry season.
Yellow fever: required for Ghana, and we issue the certificate
Unlike many holiday destinations, Ghana genuinely requires yellow fever vaccination as a condition of entry — typically for everyone aged nine months and over — and you'll usually be asked to upload or show the certificate when you apply for your visa as well as when you arrive. This is one of the few places where the certificate isn't just sensible, it's a rule, so it really pays to plan ahead. We're set up to handle this for you. Our pharmacist gives the single-dose vaccine and issues the official international certificate (the yellow booklet), which is valid for life. One thing to remember: the certificate only counts from ten days after you've had the jab, so don't leave it until the last week before you fly or before your visa deadline.
Malaria & mosquito bites
Ghana is high-risk for malaria — and this is where it differs sharply from a Thailand or Bali beach holiday. The risk is present right across the country, all year round, including the cities such as Accra and Kumasi, so antimalarial tablets are recommended for essentially every trip rather than just some routes. We'll talk through the options and which suits you best, as some are started before you travel. Tablets aren't the whole story, though. Avoiding bites in the first place matters everywhere: use a DEET-based repellent, cover up with loose long sleeves and trousers around dusk and after dark, and sleep under a treated net or with air conditioning. If you come down with a fever during your trip or in the weeks after you get home, treat it as urgent and seek medical help, mentioning that you've been to Ghana.
Dengue, Zika and daytime bites
Alongside malaria, Ghana has mosquitoes that bite during the day and can spread illnesses like dengue and chikungunya. There's no routine jab we'd give most travellers for these, so the same good bite habits are your best defence — and helpfully, covering up in the daytime as well as the evening guards against both the day-biters and the malaria mosquitoes after dark. Zika has been reported in the region too. It's usually mild, but because it can affect a developing baby, anyone who is pregnant or hoping to conceive should have a chat with us before booking, as the advice may be to reconsider travel. We'll go through the current guidance with you so you can decide what's right for you.
Food, water and an upset stomach
A dodgy tummy is one of the most common things to pick up anywhere in West Africa, and far more likely than any of the vaccine-preventable diseases. Sticking to bottled or properly treated water, hot freshly-cooked food, and being a little choosy with ice, salads and street stalls goes a long way towards keeping you well. We'll run through simple food and water hygiene and can suggest a sensible travel kit, including rehydration sachets, so an off meal stays a minor blip rather than a wrecked few days. Vaccines like hepatitis A and typhoid cover the more serious food-and-water infections, but everyday care still does a lot of the work.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — Ghana requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry, usually for travellers aged nine months and over, and you'll often need the certificate for your visa application too. We give the jab and issue the official certificate, which is valid for life. Just remember it only counts from ten days after vaccination, so come in early.
For nearly everyone, yes. Malaria risk is high across the whole of Ghana all year round, including in Accra and Kumasi, so tablets are recommended for essentially every trip rather than just certain areas. Bring your dates and we'll recommend the most suitable option and supply it at your appointment.
It's well worth it. People travelling to see friends and relatives often stay longer, eat in homes and visit areas tourists don't, which can mean more exposure to things like typhoid and malaria, not less. Pop in and we'll tailor the advice to where you'll be and how long for.
Four to six weeks before you fly is ideal. The yellow fever certificate only becomes valid ten days after the jab and is often needed for your visa, and malaria tablets may need starting before you go, so it's best not to leave it late. If your trip is sooner, still call the Urmston clinic on 0161 748 3016 — there's usually plenty we can do.
Yes — your whole travel consultation, your vaccines and your official yellow fever certificate are all done here at Davyhulme Pharmacy by our pharmacist, so there's no need to head into Manchester city centre. Bring your itinerary and any record of past jabs and we'll handle the rest.
This information is grounded in NHS and TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) guidance and is for general information — not a substitute for a personal consultation. Your travel consultation is carried out by our pharmacist.
Getting ready for Ghana?
Book a travel consultation at our Urmston clinic and we'll sort your yellow fever certificate, vaccines and malaria tablets — or give us a call and we'll talk it through.