Travel Vaccines
Book a travel health visit at least 6 weeks before you leave, ideally 12. Some vaccines need several doses or time to work. Start with the routine vaccines: measles is the one most often caught overseas and brought home.
The airport is the wrong time to remember your typhoid shot.
Routine vaccines first
- Measles (MMR): two doses if you were born in or after 1966. Babies from 6 months can have an early dose before travel.
- Flu and COVID-19: flu season runs at different times in the northern hemisphere.
- Tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough: a booster if it’s been 10 years, or 5 for higher-risk trips.
- Polio for some countries.
Common travel vaccines
- Hepatitis A: from food and water. Recommended for most trips to Asia, Africa, the Pacific and South America.
- Typhoid: also from food and water, especially in South Asia.
- Hepatitis B: for longer stays or if you might need medical care, tattoos or new partners.
- Japanese encephalitis: for longer or rural stays in parts of Asia and the Pacific. Now also given in parts of Australia.
- Rabies: for long stays, remote areas, or working with animals. Monkeys at temples are a classic exposure.
- Yellow fever: some countries in Africa and South America require a certificate. Only given at registered clinics.
- Meningococcal ACWY: required for the Hajj, and recommended for parts of Africa.
Beyond vaccines
- Malaria: no vaccine for travellers. Tablets, repellent and nets for at-risk areas. Fever after travel to a malaria area is an emergency.
- Mosquitoes: dengue is common in South-East Asia and the Pacific. Use repellent with DEET or picaridin, day and night.
- Food and water: boil it, cook it, peel it or leave it.
- Travel insurance and a check of Smartraveller advice for your destination.
Costs
- Routine vaccines are often free under the National Immunisation Program.
- Most travel-only vaccines are private, so ask about cost when you book.
See a doctor after you’re home if
- You get a fever within 3 months of visiting a malaria area. Say where you’ve been
- You were bitten or scratched by an animal overseas and didn’t get rabies treatment
Common questions
How long before travel should I get vaccinated?
See your GP or a travel clinic at least 6 weeks before you leave, ideally 12, as some vaccines need several doses.
Do I need a measles vaccine before travelling?
If you were born in or after 1966 and haven’t had two doses, yes. Measles is common in many countries and is the vaccine-preventable disease most often brought back to Australia.
Is there a vaccine for malaria for travellers?
No. Travellers use tablets, repellent and nets. Fever after visiting a malaria area needs urgent testing.
Are travel vaccines free?
Routine vaccines are often free under the National Immunisation Program. Most travel-only vaccines, such as hepatitis A, typhoid and rabies, are paid privately.
Helpful resources
- SmartravellerDestination advice and health information. Australian Government.
Evidence and more information
maladywise.com/travel-vaccines/