What Travel Vaccinations Do I Need For Thailand?

If you are planning a holiday to Thailand, the good news is that the list of vaccines you always need is relatively short. 

However, it is worth noting that there can be additional vaccine requirements depending on where you are visiting in Thailand and what time of year you’re travelling. 

This is why it’s important to book an appointment with your local travel health services ahead of your trip, so that you can receive personalised advice based on your medical history and your itinerary. 

What vaccines are always recommended for travel to Thailand?

There are only two vaccines that are always recommended if you are travelling to Thailand:

• Hepatitis A

• Tetanus

If you have travelled widely, it is highly likely that you have already had both of these vaccinations – but make sure you check this with your travel health professional rather than assuming. 

Both these vaccines offer long-lasting protection, so if you have them ahead of your trip to Thailand you will also be covered for other vacations for years to come. 

What vaccines might be recommended for a trip to Thailand?

The list of circumstance-specific vaccines is a bit longer. Whether you need these will often depend on where you are travelling in the country, how long you are staying and what activities you will undertake while you’re there.

Other vaccines that could be recommended are:

• Chikungunya

• Dengue

• Hepatitis B

• Japanese Encephalitis

• Measles

• Rabies

• Tuberculosis

• Typhoid

Chikungunya, dengue and Japanese encephalitis

Some illnesses, such as chikungunya, dengue and Japanese encephalitis are passed on by mosquito bites. This means one of the most effective ways to protect yourself is to take precautions to avoid being bitten.

That includes using insect repellant, sleeping under a mosquito net and keeping your arms and legs covered around dawn and dusk, when mosquitos are most active. 

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B, meanwhile, is spread through contact with blood and body fluids. This means that you are only likely to be recommended to have the hepatitis B vaccine if you are travelling to Thailand to work in a field such as healthcare, where you could be exposed to the virus.

However, it is worth noting that if you plan to participate in contact sports – like Thai boxing – you might also be advised to get the hepatitis B vaccine as you will likely be in close contact with others. 

Measles

You will likely be advised to have the measles vaccine if you were not vaccinated against this illness as a child. Typically, the advice is to ensure you are up to date with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), or measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (MMRV) vaccines. 

Rabies

The rabies vaccine needs to be delivered over the course of three doses which are, ideally, spread across 28 days. You’ll usually only be advised to have the rabies vaccine if you will be travelling to remote regions or if you know you’ll be working with animals. 

Tuberculosis

Many people in the UK are vaccinated against tuberculosis (also known as TB) as teenagers with the BCG vaccination. It is worth checking your medical records to see if you received this when you were younger. 

However, it is often only recommended for those spending prolonged periods in Thailand, or healthcare workers who are more likely to come into contact with someone with TB.

Typhoid

Typhoid is spread through contaminated food and water and it is known to be present in Thailand. Because typhoid can lead to serious illness, if you are unsure whether you will always have access to safe food and water during your travels, it is best to be cautious and have the typhoid vaccine.