You have received a renal transplant and are taking drugs to prevent your body from rejecting your kidney. These immunosuppressant drugs make it unsafe for you to receive certain holiday vaccines. You should not receive live vaccines but can safely receive inactivated vaccines.

Check the following lists to see if the vaccinations you have been advised to receive before your holiday are safe for you. This list is not exhaustive and you should always check with your clinician before being vaccinated.

The following applies to adults only.

Vaccines which are SAFE to receive include:-

• COVID
• Cholera vaccine (Dukoral)
• Diptheria/Tetanus/Pertussis/Polio/Hib/Hepatitis B vaccine
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Human Papillomavirus Vaccine
• Immunoglobulins
• Inactivated Polio injection ('special order only')
• Influenza
• Japanese encephalitis vaccine (IXIARO)
• Meningococcal
• Pneumococcal
• Rabies
• Shingles - Shingrix Brand Only
• Tetanus/diptheria/polio booster
• Typhoid injection

Vaccines which you should NOT receive are the “LIVE” vaccines and these include:-

• BCG
• Chickenpox 
• Cholera vaccine (Vaxchora)
• Dengue (Qdenga)
• Nasal Influenza vaccine
• Measles, mumps and rubella
• Oral polio
• Oral typhoid
• Rubella
• Shingles - except Shingrix Brand
• Yellow fever

Up to date information on which vaccines are needed to travel to different areas is available from your doctor or local pharmacy.

Malaria Prophylaxis
It is always best to check with your GP, practice nurse or specialist travel health centre before you travel as the tablets recommended will vary depending on the country you are visiting
If you have kidney disease, the doses of malaria tablets you will need may differ from other travellers.

You should always check with your renal doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are not sure what dose to take.

Chloroquine: 310mg (as a base which is equal to 2 x250mg chloroquine phosphate tablets) once a week. You will need to take your tablets for 1 week before travel, whilst away, and 4 weeks after returning. The dose may need to be reduced if you are on dialysis or have a creatinine clearance under 10ml/min. Note this can interact with Ciclosporin-please seek advice from your renal team before taking this medication.

Atovaquone/Proguanil: One tablet daily (250mg/100mg) starting 1 to 2 days before travel, throughout travel and 7 days after leaving area. This can be taken if your renal function is above 30ml/min. Your renal team will be able to tell you what your creatinine clearance is and can check the dose for you.

Doxycycline: 100mg (one capsule) daily for 1 or 2 days before travel, whilst away and for 4 weeks after returning. Note enhanced monitoring of tacrolimus/ ciclosporin levels may be required before/ after travel. Please contact your local transplant team.

Mefloquine: 250mg (one tablet) once a week. You will need to take your tablets starting 2 to 3 weeks before travel, whilst away and 4 weeks after returning.

Atovaquone/Proguanil Drugs for malaria prophylaxis are not available on NHS prescriptions (even if you don’t pay for your prescriptions). Mefloquine and doxycycline can only be obtained on a private prescription, but your GP can prescribe them for you or you can obtain from some local pharmacies/ travel clinic.

Up to date information on which vaccines are needed to travel to different areas is available from your Doctor or local Pharmacy.

Last reviewed  May 2026
Next review May 2029
Amy Page & Lauren Hall Specialist Renal Pharmacists

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The National Kidney Federation cannot accept responsibility for information provided. The above is for guidance only. Patients are advised to seek further information from their own doctor.

More holiday information

Holiday guide for kidney patients

Holiday dialysis UK

Holiday Companies

Holiday tips and guidelines

Travel Insurance

Holiday guidelines for PD patients

Holiday guidelines for HD patients

Holiday guidelines for transplant patients