Vaccinations should be considered if you are travelling to areas outside of Western Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

The vaccines you need to get before traveling will depend on a number of factors, including:

• Where you plan to travel. Traveling in developing countries and rural areas can bring you into contact with more diseases, which means you might need additional vaccines. Some countries may also require proof of vaccination for certain diseases such as yellow fever or polio for those entering the country.
• Your health. If you are pregnant, have a chronic illness or a weakened immune system, you may need additional vaccines.
• Your vaccination history. It’s important to stay up-to-date with your routine vaccinations. While diseases like measles are rare in Ireland, they are more common in other countries.

Travel vaccines can be categorised as being

• Required (legal requirement for entering a country)
• Routine
• Optional (the disease is present in the country but is the risk of transmission may be low)

In general, the only vaccines that may be required are:

• Yellow fever (depending on the country)
• Meningitis (for pilgrims to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj)
• Polio (an exit requirement for travellers spending more than 4 weeks in countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia and Pakistan)

There is no set list of recommended vaccines for travelling to a particular country. Various international agencies, such as the World Health Organisation and U.S. Centre for Disease Control, produce their own list of recommended vaccines.

It is important to find a balance between protecting yourself against as many diseases as possible and avoiding the cost and potential side-effects of unnecessary vaccinations. The recommendations provided on this site reflect various international agency recommendations and are not intended to replace or conflict with the advice given to you by your doctor.

While travel vaccines protect against many travel-related diseases, few offer 100% protection. It is important to always take general precautions to reduce your risk of exposure to disease when travelling. If you feel ill following your return to Ireland, make sure that you see a doctor as soon as possible.

How far in advance should I get vaccinated before traveling?

Start the process of vaccination well before you plan to travel. Some vaccinations take time to become effective so allow at least 4-6 weeks to protect yourself fully. This will give the vaccines time to start working, so you’re protected while traveling. It will also usually allow enough time for you to get vaccines that require more than 1 dose. An early start to the process is especially important if you plan to travel with children.

Yellow fever: If you are entering a country from another country where yellow fever is present, you may need to show a certificate of vaccination (ICVP) on arrival. You will not be allowed to enter some countries if you have not received the vaccination. If you need vaccination against yellow fever you should attend your GP or local travel clinic.

In some cases, while yellow fever may be present in a country, large parts of the country may not be affected. If vaccination is not legally required and you are travelling to an unaffected part of the country, and not travelling to a neighbouring country that is infected, you will not need to be vaccinated. For more information on yellow fever click here.

Additional resources:

• Visit the CDC’s travel website to find out which vaccines you may need based on where you plan to travel, what you’ll be doing, and any health conditions you have.
• Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website to find out which vaccinations are necessary or recommended for the areas you'll be visiting

All travellers to Africa should consider at least the following vaccinations before travel:

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Routine vaccinations such as measles, mumps & rubella (MMR), as well as polio, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis). If you have not received a tetanus injection in the past 10 years, you may require a booster dose before travel.

IMPORTANT: If you are entering a country from another country where yellow fever is present, you will need to show a certificate of vaccination (ICVP) on arrival. You will not be allowed to enter some countries if you have not received the vaccination. If you need vaccination against yellow fever you should attend your GP or local travel clinic. For more information on yellow fever click here .

Other vaccinations which may be recommended include:

• Cholera – for those spending extended periods in rural locations and/or surrounded by significant poverty, or where you may have difficulty in accessing clean water. For more information on cholera prevention click here.
• Meningitis (Meningococcal) - Vaccination is recommended for those planning to travel to countries in the ‘African Meningitis Belt’ (extending from Ethiopia in the east to Senegal in the west), or to areas affected by meningococcal outbreaks. For more information on meningitis risks click here.
• Rabies – For those who are likely to come in contact with animals in parts of the world where rabies is common. Vaccination may be recommended if you are planning outdoor activities as a part of your trip (such as hiking, adventure travel or caving) or traveling in rural locations that could put you at risk of an animal bite and where access to medical treatment is poor. For more information on rabies click here.

Malaria: When traveling in Africa, you should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. You may need to take antimalarial tablets before, during, and after your trip to prevent infection, depending on your travel plans, such as where you are going, when you are traveling, and whether you are spending a lot of time outdoors.

For more detailed information about malaria prevention click here.

It is also very important to reduce your risk of Dengue Fever by avoiding mosquito bites during your trip. For further information about dengue fever click here.

There are no mandatory vaccinations required to enter Australia.

You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling, including measles, mumps & rubella (MMR), as well as polio, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis).

You should consider having a tetanus booster dose if one has not been given in the past 10 years. A booster dose provides 10 years of protection against tetanus and means that in the event of a cut, you will not need to look for a tetanus injection.

There is no risk of yellow fever in Australia. However, if you are entering the country from another country where yellow fever is present, you will need to show a certificate of vaccination (ICVP) on arrival. If you need vaccination against yellow fever you should attend your GP or local travel clinic. For more information on yellow fever click here.

Other vaccinations which may be recommended include:

• Hepatitis A – while the risk is low, Hepatitis A can be spread through contaminated food or water in Australia, so speak to your doctor to see if the hepatitis A vaccine is right for you. For more information on Hepatitis A click here.
• Hepatitis B – this can be spread by sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so you should consider this vaccination if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures during your trip. For more information on Hepatitis B click here.
• Japanese Encephalitis – You may need this vaccine if you are visiting certain remote areas of Australia for more than a month, or if you will be spending a lot of time outdoors in those areas during a shorter trip. For more information on Japanese Encephalitis click here.
• Rabies – Rabies is present in bats in Australia, however is not a major risk to most travellers. Vaccination may be recommended if you are planning outdoor activities as a part of your trip (such as hiking, adventure travel or caving) or traveling in rural locations that could put you at risk of an animal bite and where access to medical treatment is poor. For more information on rabies click here.

Malaria: Mainland Australia is free of malaria, but malaria is occasionally present in the Torres Strait Islands.

All travellers to China should consider at least the following vaccinations before travel:

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Routine vaccinations such as measles, mumps & rubella (MMR), as well as polio, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis). If you have not received a tetanus injection in the past 10 years, you may require a booster dose before travel.

There is no risk of yellow fever in China. However, if you are entering the country from another country where yellow fever is present, you will need to show a certificate of vaccination (ICVP) on arrival. If you need vaccination against yellow fever you should attend your GP or local travel clinic. For more information on yellow fever click here .

Other vaccinations which may be recommended include:

• Hepatitis B – this can be spread by sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so you should consider this vaccination if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures during your trip. For more information on Hepatitis B click here.
• Japanese Encephalitis - You may need this vaccine if your trip will last more than 4 weeks, depending on the region you are going to and at what time of year you are traveling. You should also consider this vaccine if you plan to visit rural areas in China or plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, especially near livestock, even for trips shorter than a month. For more information on Japanese Encephalitis click here.
• Rabies – For those who are likely to come in contact with animals in parts of the world where rabies is common. Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in China. Vaccination may be recommended if you are planning outdoor activities as a part of your trip (such as hiking, adventure travel or caving) or traveling in rural locations that could put you at risk of an animal bite and where access to medical treatment is poor. For more information on rabies click here.
• Polio – You may need a polio vaccine or booster before your trip if you are visiting Xinjiang province, especially if you are working in a health care facility, refugee camp, or humanitarian aid setting. If you were vaccinated against polio as a child but have never had a booster dose as an adult, you should get this booster dose before traveling. Adults need only one polio booster in their lives. If you were not completely vaccinated as a child or do not know your vaccination status, speak with your GP about getting vaccinated. For more information on rabies click here.

Malaria: When traveling in China, you should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. You may need to take antimalarial tablets before, during, and after your trip to prevent infection, depending on your travel plans, such as where you are going, when you are traveling, and whether you are spending a lot of time outdoors. Rare cases are reported in the counties along the China-Burma (Myanmar) border in Yunnan Province and Motuo County in Tibet. No malaria in areas where most major river cruises pass. See more detailed information about malaria in China.

All travellers to India should consider at least the following vaccinations before travel:

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Routine vaccinations such as measles, mumps & rubella (MMR), as well as polio, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis). If you have not received a tetanus injection in the past 10 years, you may require a booster dose before travel.

There is no risk of yellow fever in India. However, if you are entering the country from another country where yellow fever is present, you will need to show a certificate of vaccination (ICVP) on arrival. If you need vaccination against yellow fever you should attend your GP or local travel clinic. For more information on yellow fever click here .

Other vaccinations which may be recommended include:

• Hepatitis B - this can be spread by sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so you should consider this vaccination if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures during your trip. The risk is also increased for those working in clinical or humanitarian aid-work settings. For more information on Hepatitis B click here.
• Japanese Encephalitis - You may need this vaccine if your trip will last more than 4 weeks, depending on the region you are going to and at what time of year you are traveling. You should also consider this vaccine if you plan to visit rural areas or plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, especially near livestock, even for trips shorter than a month. For more information on Japanese Encephalitis click here.
• Rabies – For those who are likely to come in contact with animals in parts of the world where rabies is common. Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in India. Vaccination is recommended if you are planning a long trip, outdoor activities as a part of your trip (such as hiking, adventure travel or caving) or traveling in rural locations that could put you at risk of an animal bite and where access to medical treatment is poor. For more information on rabies click here.
• Cholera – Vaccination is recommended for adults who are traveling to areas of active cholera transmission. Cholera is present in India, and while it is is rare in travellers it can be severe. Avoiding unsafe food and water and washing your hands can help prevent cholera. Certain factors increase the risk of getting cholera or having severe disease – for more information on cholera click here.

Malaria: When traveling in India, you should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. You may need to take antimalarial tablets before, during, and after your trip to prevent infection, especially if you are visiting low-altitude areas.

All areas throughout India have malaria present, including the cities of Mumbai (Bombay) and Delhi, except none in areas >2,000 m (6,562 ft) in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Sikkim (source: CDC). For more detailed information about malaria prevention click here.

It is also very important to reduce your risk of Dengue Fever by avoiding mosquito bites during your trip. For further information about dengue fever click here.

Most travellers to South America should receive the following vaccinations before travel:

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Yellow Fever – This is a legal requirement for entry into some countries. While vaccination against yellow fever is not always required for travel to individual South American countries, it is invariably required if you are travelling to more than one South American country. If you need vaccination against yellow fever you should attend your GP or local travel clinic. For information on risk areas of yellow fever click here
• Routine vaccinations such as measles, mumps & rubella (MMR), as well as polio, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis). If you have not received a tetanus injection in the past 10 years, you may require a booster dose before travel.

Other vaccinations which may be recommended include:

• Hepatitis B - this can be spread by sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so you should consider this vaccination if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures during your trip. For more information on Hepatitis B click here.
• Rabies - For those who are likely to come in contact with animals in parts of the world where rabies is common. Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in South America. Vaccination may be recommended if you are planning outdoor activities as a part of your trip (such as hiking, adventure travel or caving) or traveling in rural locations that could put you at risk of an animal bite and where access to medical treatment is poor. For more information on rabies click here.
• Meningitis (Meningococcal) - The risk for the majority of travellers is low however vaccination may be recommended for those spending extended periods of travel in densely populated areas or in locations where the disease is present, such as health workers or volunteers. For more information on meningitis risks click here.

Malaria: Malaria occurs in every South American country except Chile, Uruguay and the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). When traveling in affected regions, you should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. You may need to take antimalarial tablets before, during, and after your trip to prevent infection, depending on your travel plans, such as where you are going, when you are traveling, and whether you are spending a lot of time outdoors. For more detailed information about malaria prevention click here.

It is also very important to reduce your risk of Dengue Fever by avoiding mosquito bites during your trip. For further information about dengue fever click here.

Most travellers to Southeast Asia should receive the following vaccinations before travel:

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Routine vaccinations such as measles, mumps & rubella (MMR), as well as polio, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis). If you have not received a tetanus injection in the past 10 years, you may require a booster dose before travel.

Yellow fever is not found in Southeast Asia. However, if you are entering a country from another country where yellow fever is present, you may need to show a certificate of vaccination (ICVP) on arrival. If you need vaccination against yellow fever you should attend your GP or local travel clinic. For more information on yellow fever click here .

Other vaccinations which may be recommended include:

• Hepatitis B – this can be spread by sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so you should consider this vaccination if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures during your trip. The risk is also increased for those working in clinical or humanitarian aid-work settings. For more information on Hepatitis B click here.
• Japanese Encephalitis - You may need this vaccine if your trip will last more than 4 weeks, depending on the region you are going to and at what time of year you are traveling. You should also consider this vaccine if you plan to visit rural areas or plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, especially near livestock, even for trips shorter than a month. For more information on Japanese Encephalitis click here.
• Rabies – For those who are likely to come in contact with animals in parts of the world where rabies is common. Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in Southeast Asia. Vaccination may be recommended if you are planning outdoor activities as a part of your trip (such as hiking, adventure travel or caving) or traveling in rural locations that could put you at risk of an animal bite and where access to medical treatment is poor. For more information on rabies click here.

Malaria: When traveling in southeast Asia, you should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. You may need to take antimalarial tablets before, during, and after your trip to prevent infection, depending on your travel plans, such as where you are going, when you are traveling, and whether you are spending a lot of time outdoors. For more detailed information about malaria prevention click here.

It is also very important to reduce your risk of Dengue Fever by avoiding mosquito bites during your trip. For further information about dengue fever click here.

Most travellers to Thailand should receive the following vaccinations before travel:

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Routine vaccinations such as measles, mumps & rubella (MMR), as well as polio, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis). If you have not received a tetanus injection in the past 10 years, you may require a booster dose before travel.

There is no risk of yellow fever in Thailand. However, if you are entering the country from another country where yellow fever is present, you will need to show a certificate of vaccination (ICVP) on arrival. If you need vaccination against yellow fever you should attend your GP or local travel clinic. For more information on yellow fever click here .

Other vaccinations which may be recommended include:

• Hepatitis B – this can be spread by sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so you should consider this vaccination if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures during your trip. For more information on Hepatitis B click here.
• Japanese Encephalitis - You may need this vaccine if your trip will last more than 4 weeks, depending on the region you are going to and at what time of year you are traveling. You should also consider this vaccine if you plan to visit rural areas in Thailand or plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, especially near livestock, even for trips shorter than a month. For more information on Japanese Encephalitis click here.
• Rabies – For those who are likely to come in contact with animals in parts of the world where rabies is common. Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in Thailand. Vaccination may be recommended if you are planning outdoor activities as a part of your trip (such as hiking, adventure travel or caving) or traveling in rural locations that could put you at risk of an animal bite and where access to medical treatment is poor. For more information on rabies click here.

Malaria: When traveling in Thailand, you should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. You may need to take antimalarial tablets before, during, and after your trip to prevent infection, depending on your travel plans, such as where you are going, when you are traveling, and whether you are spending a lot of time outdoors.

Areas of Thailand with risk of malaria: Primarily in provinces that border Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, and Laos and the provinces of Kalasin, Krabi (Plai Phraya district), Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phang Nga (including Phang Nga City), Rayong, Sakon Nakhon, Songkhla, Surat Thani, and Yala, especially the rural forest and forest fringe areas of these provinces. Rare to few cases in other parts of Thailand, including other parts of Krabi Province and the cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, and Phuket. None in the islands of Krabi Province (Koh Phi Phi, Koh Yao Noi, Koh Yao Yai, and Ko Lanta) and Pattaya City (source: CDC).

For more detailed information about malaria prevention click here.

It is also very important to reduce your risk of Dengue Fever by avoiding mosquito bites during your trip. For further information about dengue fever click here.