Planning to travel abroad? Sharoe Green Pharmacy offers a private Dengue Fever Vaccination Service to help protect eligible travellers visiting countries where dengue fever is common. Our experienced healthcare professionals provide personalised travel health advice, assess your vaccination needs, and help you prepare for a safe and healthy trip.

What is dengue fever?

Dengue fever is a viral infection spread through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, which are most active during the daytime. It is common in many tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including parts of:

• Southeast Asia

• South Asia

• Central and South America

• The Caribbean

• Africa

• The Pacific Islands

The risk of infection can vary depending on your destination, the time of year, and local outbreaks.

Unlike malaria, dengue is caused by a virus, meaning it cannot be prevented with antimalarial medication. Protecting yourself from mosquito bites and, where appropriate, vaccination are important ways to reduce your risk.

What are the symptoms of dengue fever?

Symptoms usually develop between 4 and 10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. While some people experience only mild illness, others can become seriously unwell.

Common symptoms include:

• Sudden high fever

• Severe headache

• Pain behind the eyes

• Muscle and joint pain

• Skin rash

• Nausea and vomiting

• Extreme tiredness

• Swollen glands

Most people recover within one to two weeks. However, a small number of people develop severe dengue, which can lead to bleeding, organ damage, shock, and may require urgent hospital treatment.

Seek immediate medical attention if you develop severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, difficulty breathing, bleeding, or feel faint during or after a dengue infection.

Who is at risk?

Anyone travelling to an area where dengue is present can become infected. Your risk may be higher if you:

• Spend long periods outdoors.

• Visit rural or tropical areas.

• Travel during the rainy season.

• Stay in regions experiencing dengue outbreaks.

• Visit friends and relatives in countries where dengue is common.

Even short-term travellers can be exposed, making travel health advice an important part of your trip planning.

How does the dengue vaccine work?

The dengue vaccine helps prepare your immune system to recognise and respond to the dengue virus if you are exposed in the future. By stimulating your body's natural immune response, vaccination can reduce the risk of developing dengue illness and may help lower the chance of severe disease in eligible individuals.

Vaccination is not suitable for everyone and recommendations depend on factors such as your age, travel destination, previous dengue infection, medical history, and the specific vaccine available. During your consultation, our healthcare professional will determine whether vaccination is appropriate for you.

Even after vaccination, it remains essential to protect yourself from mosquito bites, as no vaccine provides complete protection.

What happens during your appointment?

At Sharoe Green Pharmacy, your appointment includes:

• A private consultation with a trained healthcare professional.

• Assessment of your travel itinerary and individual risk.

• Review of your medical history and current medications.

• Advice on whether dengue vaccination is appropriate.

• Administration of the vaccine if suitable.

• Information about possible side effects and aftercare.

• Personalised travel health advice, including mosquito bite prevention.

If additional travel vaccinations or medicines are recommended for your destination, we can discuss these during your appointment.

Possible side effects

As with all vaccines, side effects can occur, although most are mild and resolve within a few days.

Common side effects may include:

• Pain, redness or swelling at the injection site.

• Headache.

• Muscle aches.

• Mild fever.

• Tiredness.

Serious allergic reactions are very rare. Our healthcare professionals are fully trained to recognise and manage any immediate reactions, and you will receive advice on what to do if you experience any unexpected symptoms after vaccination.

Preventing mosquito bites

Vaccination should always be combined with measures to reduce mosquito bites. We recommend:

• Using insect repellent containing DEET or another effective active ingredient.

• Wearing long-sleeved clothing and long trousers, particularly during daylight hours.

• Sleeping in air-conditioned rooms or under mosquito nets where appropriate.

• Using insecticide-treated clothing or mosquito coils where recommended.

• Removing or avoiding standing water where mosquitoes breed whenever possible.

These precautions also help protect against other mosquito-borne diseases.

Why choose Sharoe Green Pharmacy?

At Sharoe Green Pharmacy, we provide professional, convenient, and personalised travel health services to help you travel with confidence. Our trained healthcare professionals offer expert advice based on your destination and individual health needs, ensuring you receive appropriate protection before you travel.

Whether you are travelling for business, leisure, or to visit family and friends, we are here to support you with comprehensive travel vaccinations and health advice.

Book your Dengue Fever Vaccination appointment with Sharoe Green Pharmacy today and travel with greater peace of mind.