What vaccinations do I need? The answer is, 'it depends'. Two people travelling to Thailand may have very different risks, if for instance one is going to be lying on a beach at a resort on Koh Samui and the other trekking in hills near the Burmese border. The wet season increases the malaria risk, cycling increases rabies risk, doing humanitarian work increases the risk of Hepatitis, etc. So where you go within the country, where you stay, how long, the time of year all influence the advice. Beware, when your travel agent looks up software to check the 'list' of what vaccines are 'required' this is usually those 'required' by law, ie only Yellow Fever which is the only vaccine required by law for entry to certain countries. This list certainly is not designed to tell you what is appropriate for you to do to protect your health while you are away. The specialist travel doctor at the clinic will discuss the risks posed by your particular planned travels, and give you the information you will need about things you cannot vaccinate against, which is after all most things! That is, altitude sickness, avoiding DVTs, avoiding and treating travellers diarrhoea, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, travelling with kids, and managing pre-existing medical problems while overseas. Nonetheless, it is possible to give some general guidelines. ASIA Always recommended: Vaccinations: Hepatitis A Childhood schedule complete did you complete measles? Tetanus in last 10 years Flu Medical Kit: for Bali Belly , Delhi Belly, Rangoon Runs May be recommended: for longer term or higher risk travellers or certain locations Typhoid Oral cholera Rabies Japanese Encephalitis Hepatitis B Polio (India, Pakistan, Afghanistan) Malaria: Risk varies enormously from trip to trip. Most travellers to resort areas of Bali, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam will have no significant risk, but trekkers, surfers (eg Nias, Sumbawa) and more adventurous travellers may have very high risk. Malaria kills over a million people every year worldwide, and there is no substitute for receiving accurate advice from a doctor who is knowledgeable in this area so your strategies are appropriate. Not required: Yellow Fever. There is no Yellow Fever in Asia. However, if you come to an Asian port having recently visited certain parts of Africa or South America, you will be required to show a certificate. AFRICA Immigration Requirements: Yellow Fever. There is Yellow Fever in the countries of tropical Africa, but not in Southern Africa or North Africa. If you are visiting a country in the endemic zone, you may be required to show a certificate, either at entry or at the next port. Always recommended: Vaccinations: Hepatitis A Childhood schedule complete - did you complete measles? Tetanus in last 10 years Flu Medical Kit: for Pharaoh's Revenge or travellers diarrhoea by any other name. May be recommended: for longer term or higher risk travellers or certain locations Typhoid Cholera (fizzy drink) Rabies Hepatitis B Polio (Nigeria, Somalia, Egypt) Meningococcal meningitis Malaria: Risk varies enormously from trip to trip. Most travellers undertaking a safari will be at very high risk for this mosquito-borne illness which kills over a million people every year worldwide, most of whom are in Africa. However, there will be no risk for many travellers to South Africa, Morocco or Egypt. There is no substitute for receiving accurate advice from a doctor who is knowledgeable in this area so your strategies are appropriate for the risk you will be exposed to. SOUTH AMERICA Immigration Requirements: Yellow Fever. There is Yellow Fever in the countries of tropical South America, but not in the cooler countries of the south, such as Chile, Uruguay, Argentina or Paraguay. If you are visiting a country in the endemic zone, you may be required to show a certificate, either at entry or at the next port. Always recommended: Vaccinations: Hepatitis A Childhood schedule complete - did you complete measles? Tetanus in last 10 years Flu Medical Kit: for Montezuma's Revenge or travellers diarrhoea by any other name. May be recommended: for longer term or higher risk travellers or certain locations Typhoid Cholera (fizzy drink) Rabies Hepatitis B Meningococcal meningitis Malaria: Risk varies enormously from trip to trip. Most travellers undertaking an Amazon river trip will be at risk from this mosquito-borne illness which kills over a million people every year worldwide. However, there will be no risk for most travellers to the cities of Brazil, the 'Gringo Trail' of Peru, or Chile or Argentina. There is no substitute for receiving accurate advice from a doctor who is knowledgeable in this area so your strategies are appropriate for the risk you will be exposed to. Not required: Polio has been eradicated from South America EUROPE Always recommended: Vaccinations: Childhood schedule complete - did you complete measles? Tetanus in last 10 years Flu Medical Kit: for coughs and colds, minor injuries, and for travellers diarrhoea, especially for locations such as Turkey and Eastern Europe. May be recommended: for longer term or higher risk travellers or certain locations Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Typhoid Meningococcal meningitis Not required: Polio. There is no polio in Europe. Yellow Fever. There is no Yellow Fever in Europe. However, if you come to some European ports having recently visited certain parts of Africa or South America, you will be required to show a certificate. NORTH AMERICA Always recommended: Vaccinations: Childhood schedule complete - did you complete measles? Tetanus in last 10 years Flu Medical Kit: for coughs and colds, minor injuries, and for travellers diarrhoea, especially for Mexico May be recommended: for longer term or higher risk travellers or certain locations, especially Mexico Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Typhoid Not required: Polio. There is no polio in North America. Yellow Fever. There is no Yellow Fever in North America. However, if you come to some North American ports having recently visited certain parts of Africa or South America, you will be required to show a certificate. OCEANIA Always recommended: Vaccinations: Hepatitis A Childhood schedule complete - did you complete measles? Tetanus in last 10 years Flu Medical Kit: for travellers diarrhoea by any name May be recommended: for longer term or higher risk travellers or certain locations Typhoid Oral cholera Rabies Japanese Encephalitis, for parts of PNG and Torres Strait Islands. Hepatitis B Malaria: Risk varies enormously from trip to trip. Coastal areas of PNG, and all of Vanuatu and the Solomons have very high risk. Malaria kills over a million people every year worldwide, and there is no substitute for receiving accurate advice from a doctor who is knowledgeable in this area so your strategies are appropriate. Be aware that there are certain malaria tablets which should not be used in scuba divers. Not required: Yellow Fever. There is no Yellow Fever in Oceania. However, if you arrive having recently visited certain parts of Africa or South America, you will be required to show a certificate. Polio has been eradicated.