Me and a friend are going to Gambia next month what injections will we need and are they compulsory?

Unfortunately, the location of the Gambia necessitates the taking of one or two precautionary drugs. The Gambian government do not require visitors to take anything, unless they are travelling from a Yellow Fever area, in which case visitors need a certification that they have been innoculated against Yellow Fever.

As a precaution though, the folowing innoculations are recommended:-

Polio
Tetanus
Typhoid
Yellow Fever (if coming from an infected area)
Cholera innoculations are of limited effectiveness.
Finally, malaria. Yes, unfortunately you will need to take anti-malarial drugs, and yes, unfortunately the recommended one, at the time of writing, is mefloquine (brand name Larium). In addition it is advisable to take all the usual sprays and creams to make yourself less attractive to the mosquitos. Along the coast in the dry season, mosquitos are unlikely to be a problem. Obviously in the rainy season, and as you get away from the coast, this situation changes. We are finding that opinion regarding mefloquine has been changing over the last couple of years, and some doctors are not recommending it for the usual two or three week holiday, where you will not be treking through jungles or be out in the countryside at night. As with all these type of things, its up to individuals what they do. We took Larium, and had all the jabs except Cholera. We didn't see many mosquitos.
One last thing. From time to time they do have outbreaks of Meningitis, so its worth checking the situation before you go. Coming from the UK, we seem to be moderately exposed to meningitis here, especially in the winter months, so going to The Gambia, even when there had been cases of meningitis there didn't seem to be much different from staying at home!

You need to take some anti malaria pills and plenty of mosquito repellant. Check with your surgery re jabs they will sort them out for you.

I went many years ago, needed Yellow fever then, check Home office website or go to Gambia Experience website for advise. You will need malaria tablets. Within 12 hours of landing back in England from my first trip I was booking up again. Got a bit expensive as was going 4-5 times a year. So gave up work and moved there only came back to earn more money to build my own compound and return to live. Loved it. Enjoy your holiday.

Yellow fever is recommended.
If you stay near the coast and do not venture up the river, don't worry about malaria.

o am a Gambian let me advise you take malaria injection.but malaria is year round disease in the Gambia.
sleep under a mosquito net,spraying with insecticides,you are highly welcome to the smiling cost of Africa.