Scared of needles? You can still get travel-ready
A fear of needles is really common — and it shouldn't stop you protecting yourself for your trip. We help nervous travellers every week with oral options where suitable, combined jabs to reduce the number of injections, numbing cream, and a calm, unhurried appointment. Here's how we make it easier.
Medically reviewed by Muhammad Adnan, Superintendent Pharmacist (GPhC 2073652) · last reviewed June 2026.
Three ways we make it easier
1 · Oral options
Oral typhoid is a needle-free course of capsules instead of the injection. Oral cholera (a drink) is available too. We'll check they're suitable for you.
2 · Fewer needles
Combined jabs — like hepatitis A + typhoid in one injection, or hepatitis A + B — cut the number of needles. We plan the smallest sensible number for your trip.
3 · A calm visit
Numbing cream, sitting or lying down, no surprises, distraction and breathing, and the applied-tension technique to prevent fainting. Bring someone if it helps.
If you faint at the sight of needles
Feeling faint at needles (a vasovagal reaction) is common and completely manageable — it is one of the most frequent things we accommodate. We have you recline or lie down so a faint can't cause a fall, work slowly, and can teach you the applied-tension technique: repeatedly tensing the muscles of your arms, legs and trunk for a few seconds at a time to keep your blood pressure up and stop the faint before it starts. Tell us you're a fainter when you book and we'll plan around it.
The goal is simple: get you protected for your trip in the way that feels most manageable to you — whether that's an oral option, fewer combined injections, or just a slower, kinder appointment.
Needle-phobia FAQ
Needles & oral options — your questions answered
The main needle-free travel vaccine is oral typhoid — a short course of capsules taken on alternating days instead of the typhoid injection. Oral cholera vaccine (a drink) is also available. Most other travel vaccines do not yet have an oral version, so the best way to reduce needles is to combine vaccines (see below) and use techniques that make injections easier. Oral typhoid isn't suitable for everyone (for example in pregnancy or if your immune system is suppressed), so we'll check it's right for you.
Often, yes. Several vaccines come as combined jabs — for example hepatitis A and typhoid in a single injection, or hepatitis A and hepatitis B together — which can noticeably cut how many needles you need. At your consultation we'll plan the smallest sensible number of injections for your trip.
A few simple things help a lot: numbing cream applied before the injection to dull the sensation, having you sit or lie down so you feel steady, taking it slowly with no surprises, distraction and breathing techniques, and the 'applied tension' technique that helps prevent fainting in people who feel faint at the sight of needles. You're welcome to bring someone with you. Tell us you're nervous when you book and we'll plan the appointment around it.
Yes. Fainting at needles (a vasovagal reaction) is common and manageable. We have you lie down or recline so a faint can't cause a fall, work slowly, and can teach you the 'applied tension' technique — repeatedly tensing your muscles to keep your blood pressure up — which genuinely helps. It's one of the most common things we accommodate.
At Altrincham Travel Clinic in Timperley — serving Manchester, Trafford, Stockport and Cheshire. We're used to looking after nervous travellers, with calm, unhurried appointments, oral options where suitable, combined jabs to reduce needles, and numbing cream. Just let us know when you book.
Nervous about needles? Just tell us
Book at our Timperley clinic, near Manchester — serving Trafford, Stockport and Cheshire — and let us know you're anxious. We'll plan oral options where suitable, combine jabs to reduce needles, and take it at your pace.