Gorgie and Dalry sit right on the doorstep of Avante Pharmacy and Travel Clinic, which trades inside Sainsbury's on Westfield Road, EH11 2QW — a short walk from Dalry Road, a few minutes' drive down Gorgie Road past Tynecastle Park, and with free customer parking in the Sainsbury's car park. The pharmacy team talks through where you're going and for how long, checks your travel plans against current UK travel health guidance, and lets you book online rather than wait for a GP referral.
Where can I get travel vaccinations in Edinburgh?
Anyone in Gorgie, Dalry or the wider EH11 area can get travel vaccinations at Avante Pharmacy and Travel Clinic on Westfield Road, or through NHS Lothian's travel clinics if you meet their referral criteria. NHS Lothian runs six clinics across the region from a hub at the Western General Hospital, but as an in-demand NHS service its clinics are "regularly fully booked around 6-8 weeks in advance" (NHS Lothian). A community pharmacy travel clinic is often the quicker route if your trip is close.
Visiting friends and relatives abroad — why you still need advice
Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) is now the second most common reason people travel abroad from the UK, after holidays (NaTHNaC TravelHealthPro). Gorgie and Dalry are home to many residents with family overseas, and VFR travellers are, on average, less likely to seek pre-travel advice even though they can face a higher risk of certain vaccine-preventable illnesses and malaria, often because trips are longer, less predictable, or spent staying with relatives in areas without hotel-standard food and water precautions. The same guidance is clear that even a late booking, close to departure, is still worthwhile — it's never "too late to ask".
Getting to the clinic from Gorgie Road and Dalry Road
The pharmacy is inside the Sainsbury's superstore on Westfield Road, set back from Gorgie Road and easily reached on foot from Dalry Road or by a short bus or car journey from either street. There's free customer parking in the Sainsbury's car park, which makes it a practical stop if you're combining an appointment with a supermarket shop, and the branch is open until 6pm on weekdays and 5pm on Saturdays, so an appointment can usually fit around a working day.
Do NHS Lothian offer free travel vaccinations?
Some travel vaccines are free on the NHS in Scotland: the combined diphtheria, polio and tetanus booster, hepatitis A, typhoid and cholera (NHS inform Scotland). Others, including yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis and rabies, are not routinely free and are usually charged for wherever you have them. At Avante Pharmacy, your pharmacist will recommend what's right for your trip after a consultation, based on your destination, itinerary and health — see current prices for anything outside the NHS-funded list.
How can I book an appointment at the NHS Lothian Travel Clinic?
You can book an NHS Lothian appointment online or by calling their booking line on 0131 537 2823, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (NHS Lothian). Because that service is regularly booked out weeks in advance, many people in Gorgie and Dalry instead book online at Avante Pharmacy and Travel Clinic on Westfield Road, where most travellers are seen within the same week, including slots held back for people flying out soon.
If your flight is only a week or two away, please don't assume it's too late to come in — we'd always rather see you and talk through what's realistic than have you travel with no advice at all.
— Emmanuel Ebube Umezulike, superintendent pharmacist
How long before travel should I get vaccinated?
Both the NHS and NaTHNaC recommend arranging travel health advice at least four to six weeks before you leave, since some vaccines are given as a course of two or more doses spaced days or weeks apart, and it takes time for protection to build up (NHS). If you're travelling at shorter notice — common for family emergencies or last-minute VFR trips — it's still worth booking, as a partial course or timely advice on food, water and insect-bite precautions is far better than none.
What to bring to your appointment
Bring your travel dates and itinerary, including any stopovers, and a note of any accommodation type (staying with relatives is useful to mention, given the different risks involved). Bring a record of previous vaccinations if you have one, a list of any medicines you take, and details of any long-term health conditions or pregnancy, since these can affect which vaccines are suitable. If you're bringing children, their vaccination history helps the pharmacist plan the right schedule.
Nearby clinics and related pages
If Westfield Road isn't the most convenient branch, the same pharmacist-led travel service also runs from Westfield Road travel clinic directly, or you can compare the Sighthill travel clinic and Haymarket & West End travel clinic pages for coverage further into town. If hepatitis A is one of the vaccines you're considering, our guide to the hepatitis A vaccine in Edinburgh explains who it's usually recommended for and why it matters for VFR travel in particular.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get travel vaccinations near Gorgie and Dalry?
The nearest travel vaccination service is Avante Pharmacy and Travel Clinic inside Sainsbury's on Westfield Road, EH11, a short walk from Dalry Road and a few minutes from Gorgie Road with free customer parking. You can also use NHS Lothian's travel clinics if you meet their referral criteria.
Do the NHS offer free travel vaccinations in Scotland?
Yes, some are free: the combined diphtheria, polio and tetanus booster, hepatitis A, typhoid and cholera. Others, such as yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis and rabies, are not routinely free and are usually charged for, whether at a GP practice, NHS clinic or pharmacy.
How can I book an appointment at the NHS Lothian Travel Clinic?
NHS Lothian takes bookings online or by phone on 0131 537 2823, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, through its six clinics across Lothian. Because the service is regularly booked out 6 to 8 weeks in advance, many people book a pharmacy travel clinic instead if their trip is closer.
How long before travel should I get vaccinated?
Aim to get advice at least 4 to 6 weeks before you leave, since some vaccines involve more than one dose spaced weeks apart and need time to take effect. If your trip is sooner than that, it's still worth booking — a late consultation is far better than none, especially for family travel arranged at short notice.
Do I need travel vaccinations if I'm visiting family, not going on holiday?
Often yes. Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) is the second most common reason UK residents travel abroad, and VFR travellers can face a higher risk of certain vaccine-preventable illnesses because trips are often longer and involve staying with family rather than in tourist accommodation. Pre-travel advice is still worthwhile even when time is short.
Is there parking at the Westfield Road travel clinic in Gorgie?
Yes. The pharmacy is inside the Sainsbury's superstore on Westfield Road, which has its own customer car park, making it a straightforward stop if you're travelling from Gorgie Road, Dalry Road or nearby.
What should I bring to my travel vaccination appointment?
Bring your travel dates and itinerary, any record of previous vaccinations, a list of current medicines, and details of any long-term health conditions or pregnancy. If you're booking for children, bring their vaccination history too, so the pharmacist can plan the right schedule.
Can children get travel vaccinations at Avante Pharmacy?
Children can be seen for a travel health consultation, and the pharmacist will advise on what's appropriate for their age and itinerary after discussing your trip. Bring along any vaccination record you have for them when you book.
Sources
- Travel Clinics – NHS Lothian — NHS Lothian
- Travelling to visit friends and relatives — NaTHNaC (TravelHealthPro)
- Travel health and vaccinations — NHS inform Scotland
- Travel vaccinations — NHS
General information, not a substitute for a consultation. Your pharmacist will recommend what is right for you after assessing your health and plans.
