Will I need travel vaccinations?

Are getting shots crucial? You should always consult your doctor or health advisor before travelling, giving details of the country/countries you will be travelling and staying. However, we’ve put together a guide for some common vaccinations with regions of the world it is recommended for, so that you can start to plan which shots you may need and inquire about with your doctor.

For COVID vaccine info for the US, please visit our COVID vaccine US travel advice.

What vaccinations do I need for Thailand?

Although you should follow your doctor’s advice, the following information can be used as a guide to see what vaccinations you will need when travelling to Thailand. For a visitor to Thailand who will be staying in a standard tourist hotel, with good levels of food and sanitary hygiene, people will need to be vaccinated with a diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio vaccine and a hepatitis A vaccine.

For travellers expecting to stay in places with poor hygiene and sanitation, or with prolonged contact with locals, travellers should expect to need Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio vaccine, hepatitis A and typhoid. Travellers may also need to consider the following additional vaccinations, based on the location within Thailand, current disease prevalence and the traveller's current health: hepatitis B, tuberculosis, rabies and Japanese encephalitis.

What vaccinations do I need for India?

The guide to vaccinations for India is exactly the same as those recommended for Thailand. Please read the above question to see what travel vaccinations you will need when travelling to India.

What vaccinations do I need for the Philippines?

Travel to the Philippines will require the same vaccinations as India and Thailand. Read the FAQ for vaccinations needed for Thailand above to see the guidelines for travel vaccinations in the Philippines.

What vaccinations do I need for Costa Rica?

Travellers staying in tourist hotels with good sanitation and hygiene should expect to need hepatitis A and diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio vaccines. Travellers travelling to more rural locations, such as those with poor levels of hygiene will potentially need hepatitis B, typhoid and rabies vaccination, in addition to the two mentioned already.

What vaccinations do I need for China?

When travelling to China to a standard tourist hotel with good hygiene and sanitation, travellers should expect to need diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccines and a hepatitis A vaccine. Passengers travelling to rural China will need the two above vaccines as well as typhoid vaccine. In addition, passengers may require injections against the following depending on the individual and their trip: hepatitis B, tuberculosis, rabies, Japanese encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis.

What vaccinations do I need for Brazil?

The standard vaccinations for all travellers to Brazil are diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccine, hepatitis A and yellow fever. In addition, travellers travelling to rural locations with poor hygiene and sanitation may be required to have hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies and tuberculosis.

Vaccinations Overview

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis can cause inflammation and affect your liver's ability to function. You're most likely to get hepatitis A from contaminated food and water or from close contact with a person who is infected.

Recommended when visiting: All countries, especially in the tropics or those with low levels of sanitation.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus that's spread through blood and body fluids.

Recommended when visiting: All countries, especially Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the South Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis (TDaP)

Recommended when visiting: This is present worldwide so it is recommended for travel to any country.

Influenza

Influenza is commonly known as the flu. The risk depends somewhat on the time of year and destination. In the Southern Hemisphere, influenza activity typically occurs during April – September. In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season can begin as early as October and can last as late as April or May. Risk can be increased when travelling as part of large tourist groups (e.g., on cruise ships).

Recommended when visiting: All countries

Typhoid Fever

Recommended when visiting: Present worldwide but more common in South America, Central America, Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands.

Malaria

Malaria occurs in more than 100 countries and is a mosquito-borne infectious disease.

Recommended when visiting: Africa, South America, parts of Caribbean (Dominican Republic and Haiti) and Asia

Rabies

Recommended when visiting: South America, Middle East, Africa and Asia

Cholera

Recommended when visiting: Some African countries (D.R. Congo Egypt and Morocco)

Polio

Recommended when visiting: Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, specifically when travelling to Afghanistan, Nigeria or Pakistan

Meningitis

Recommended when visiting: Africa and the Middle East

Japanese Encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis is a disease spread through mosquito bites. It is rare in tourists, but important to protect against.

Recommended when visiting: Asia and Southeast Asia, especially if travelling to China, regions of Nepal, northern Burma, eastern and southern parts of India, northern Sri Lanka, northern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

Yellow Fever

Yellow fever is an acute viral disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes, endemic in tropical and warmer climates including South America, the Caribbean, and Africa.

Recommended when visiting: All destinations within South America and tropical Africa

Tick-Borne Encephalitis

Recommended when visiting: Mainly found in parts of Europe such as Russia, Austria, Hungary, the Balkans, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Scandinavia. It can also be found in parts of eastern China.

Exceptional Circumstances

As well as considering the destination you are travelling to, there are a few scenario's where the nature of your trip will require additional vaccinations.

Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimage Vaccinations

Due to the geographical location of the Hajj and Umrah and the large number of people present, meaning it can be easier for infection to travel between people, there are a few mandatory health requirements that must be met by visitors to obtain an entry visa for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage. All pilgrim travellers are required to submit a valid Meningitis ACWY vaccination certificate in order to obtain a visa.

There are a few other vaccine requirements depending on where you’re coming from: Yellow Fever vaccination and certificate will be required for all travellers entering Saudi Arabia from a country that has a risk of Yellow Fever.

It is highly recommended that all pilgrims get vaccinated against seasonal influenza to prevent the spread of the flu. All travellers should also ensure they are up-to-date with all their routine immunisations, with further recommendations including: Measles, Hepatitis A/B, Rabies, and Polio.