Position Statement; The prescribing of single agent hepatitis B and combined hepatitis
A and hepatitis B vaccine is not supported for patients going on holiday.
Castle Point and Rochford and Southend Clinical Commissioning Groups do not support the
prescribing of the single agent hepatitis B vaccine or the combined hepatitis A/hepatitis B vaccine
for travel as hepatitis B vaccine should not be prescribed on the NHS for travel.

Hepatitis B vaccine is not commissioned by the NHS as a travel vaccine.

If patients are travelling to an area where hepatitis B is endemic and they are considered to be at HIGH
RISK of contracting hepatitis B, they should be strongly encouraged to consider vaccination but this
should be provided privately.

Combined hepatitis A and B vaccine is not commissioned by the NHS as a travel vaccine; it is therefore
not to be provided for travel as an NHS service. Hepatitis A is commissioned by the NHS as a travel
vaccine. The combined hepatitis A & B vaccine is prescribable on the NHS because it contains hepatitis
A. However, because hepatitis B is not commissioned for travel, CPR CCG and SCCG do not support the
prescribing of this combination product for travel purposes.

Patients with additional lifestyle risks or a medical indication that is listed in the Green Book (hepatitis
B, chapter 18) are entitled to NHS provision of Hepatitis B whether or not they are travelling. In these
circumstances, Hepatitis B should be given as part of their general medical care on the NHS.
Providers commissioned to provide services on behalf of Castle Point and Rochford and Southend CCGs are
reminded that they are required to follow the Castle Point and Rochford and Southend CCGs formulary and
prescribing guidance as detailed in their contract (Medicines Management Service Specification).See Southend
and Castle Point and Rochford CCGs websites – Medicines Management for all prescribing guidance.
Adapted from Thurrock CCG Policy Statements.
Approved for use in Castle Point & Rochford
and Southend CCGs
Title
Reference
Drugs and Therapeutics Committee 5th April 2017
Hepatitis B vaccine for travel v1.0
NHS Choices
PrescQIPP bulletin 74 Travel Vaccines September 2014
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NHS Castle Point and Rochford CCG
www.castlepointandrochfordccg.nhs.uk
@CPRCCG
NHS Southend CCG
www.southendccg.nhs.uk
@SouthendCCG