4 in 10 Brits say they might reconsider a holiday if vaccinations are needed
- 1 in 10 have forgotten to check which vaccines they need before travelling
- 14% admit they have forgotten to check their passport is in date
- More than 1 in 10 confess they’ve forgotten to take their passport when heading on holiday
Getting vaccinated is a requirement for visiting many countries worldwide, but new research from Go.Compare Travel has revealed that four in ten Brits (40%) would consider scrapping their holiday plans if vaccinations are needed.*
Surveying 2,000 Brits, the comparison sites' findings suggest vaccinations can put off travellers for a variety of reasons. Around one in five people (19%) surveyed said it is the added cost of vaccinations that would make them think twice about travelling, while 12% said it’s because they don’t have time to get vaccinated. A further 10% said a fear of needles might be enough to put them off.
The research also revealed that some Brits are forgetting to check vaccine requirements altogether - 10% said they have forgotten to check which vaccinations they need for their destination, and another 10% said they’ve neglected to get the required vaccines in good time before their trip.
Surprisingly, the list of forgotten tasks extends beyond vaccinations, with 14% of people admitting they have forgotten to check their passport is in date - and more than one in ten (11%) confessing they’ve even forgotten to take their passport with them when leaving for their holiday. Additionally, 15% of people surveyed have forgotten about getting travel insurance before departing, potentially leaving them unprotected against any travel mishaps.
The pre-travel activities holidaymakers are most likely to forget are:
|
Task |
|
|
1 |
Researching local laws and customs |
|
2 |
Getting travel insurance before departing |
|
3 |
Checking passport is adequately in date |
|
4 |
Thinking about how you will be spending money (getting currency / checking bank fees) |
|
5 |
Making sure you have enough prescribed medication to last the trip |
|
6 |
Booking accommodation for the trip |
|
7 |
Taking your passport with you |
|
8 |
Checking which vaccinations are needed |
|
9 |
Getting required vaccines in good time |
|
10 |
Booking a hire car |
Rhys Jones, Go.Compare Travel Insurance spokesperson, said: “Getting the required vaccinations in good time before your trip is essential, so it’s surprising so many travellers are forgetting about this important step.
“The vaccinations you need vary significantly depending on where you’re going, so make sure to do your research - you can use Go.Compare’s Travel Vaccinations Tool to quickly learn more about the required and recommended vaccinations for your destination.
“It’s important to remember that vaccines can add a significant extra cost to your holiday expenditure, and can require multiple trips to the doctors, which can be a real time commitment. The NHS recommends you see a GP or private clinic at least 6 to 8 weeks before you’re due to travel. This makes it even more important for travellers to check about vaccine requirements before booking a holiday.
“Thinking about travel insurance well in advance of your trip is also something we would really recommend, as it helps make sure you are protected against any mishaps in the run-up to your departure date, as well as during your trip. Travel insurance can cover a range of things, from airline closures to accommodation issues, so it’s well worth taking a look as soon as your holiday is booked.”
For more information about the different types of travel insurance, visit: https://www.gocompare.com/travel-insurance/
And for Go.Compare's holiday checklist, visit: https://www.gocompare.com/travel-insurance/holiday-checklist/
Contact Information
Rosie Johns
Notes to editors
*The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 nationally representative UK respondents (aged 16+). The data was collected between 09.07.2025 - 11.07.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
40% would consider scrapping their holiday plans if vaccinations are needed, combines ‘I might reconsider the trip because I'm afraid of needles’ , ‘I might reconsider the trip due to the additional cost of vaccinations’ and ‘I might reconsider the trip because I don't have time to get vaccinated’
For further information please contact:
Lynsey Walden on lynsey.walden@gocompare.com, or Kath Chadwick on Kathryn.chadwick@gocompare.com
Keep up-to-date with Go.Compare on Twitter; @GoCompare
About Go.Compare
Go.Compare is a comparison website that enables people to compare the costs and features of a wide variety of insurance policies, financial products and energy tariffs.
It does not charge people to use its services and does not accept advertising or sponsored listings, so all product comparisons are unbiased. Go.Compare makes its money through fees paid by the providers of products that appear on its various comparison services when a customer buys through the site.
When it launched in 2006, it was the first comparison site to focus on displaying policy details rather than just listing prices, with the aim of helping people to make better-informed decisions when buying their insurance. It is this approach to comparing products that secured the company an invitation to join the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) in 2008, and it is still the only comparison site to be a member of this organisation.
Go.Compare has remained dedicated to helping people choose the most appropriate products rather than just the cheapest and works with Defaqto, the independent financial researcher, to integrate additional policy information into a number of its insurance comparison services. This allows people to compare up to an extra 30 features of cover.
Go.Compare is part of Future Plc and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
More information can be found here www.gocompare.com or here https://www.futureplc.com/brands/.