Vaccinations, disease and malaria advice for your chosen destination:

India (Asia)

Includes the following destinations: Goa, Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands

Immunisations Malaria Malaria Map WHO Yellow Fever Certificate Requirements News

Advice for All Destinations

The risks to health whilst travelling will vary between individuals and many issues need to be taken into account, e.g. activities abroad, length of stay and general health of the traveller. It is recommended that you consult with your General Practitioner or Practice Nurse 6-8 weeks in advance of travel. They will assess your particular health risks before recommending vaccines and /or antimalarial tablets. This is also a good opportunity to discuss important travel health issues including safe food and water, accidents, sun exposure and insect bites. Many of the problems experienced by travellers cannot be prevented by vaccinations and other preventive measures need to be taken.

Measles occurs worldwide and is common in developing countries. The pre-travel consultation is a good opportunity to check that you are immune, either by previous immunisation (2 doses) or natural measles infection.

Ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including repatriation. UK travellers visiting other European Union countries should also carry the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) as it entitles travellers to reduced cost, sometimes free, medical treatment in most European countries. Online applications normally arrive within seven days. Applications may also be made by telephone on 0845 606 2030 or by post using the form which can be downloaded from the website.

For Travel Safety Advice you should visit the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.

A worldwide list of clinics, run by members of the International Society of Travel Medicine is availble on the ISTM website.

Immunisations

  • Confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain - including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.
  • Courses or boosters usually advised: tetanus; poliomyelitis; hepatitis A; typhoid (polio not required for Andaman and Nicobar islands).
  • Other vaccines to consider: diphtheria; hepatitis B; rabies; Japanese encephalitis; cholera.
  • Yellow fever certificate requirements for India are specific and quite lengthy; read the full details via the link at the top of this page.

Notes on the diseases mentioned above

  • Tetanus is contracted through dirty cuts and scratches and poliomyelitis is spread through contaminated food and water. They are serious infections of the nervous system. A total of 5 doses of tetanus vaccine is recommended for life in the UK. Tetanus vaccine is usually recommended for travellers who will be in a country or situation where the correct treatment of a tetanus prone injury may not be readily available. 
  • Typhoid and  hepatitis A are spread through contaminated food and water. Typhoid causes septicaemia and hepatitis A causes liver inflammation and jaundice. In risk areas you should be immunised if good hygiene is impossible. 
  • Cholera is spread through contaminated water and food. More common during floods and rainy seasons. Those unable to take effective precautions, for example, during wars and when working in refugee camps or slums may consider vaccination.
  • Diphtheria is spread by droplet infection through close personal contact. Vaccination is advised if close contact with locals in risk areas is likely.
  • Hepatitis B is spread through infected blood, contaminated needles and sexual intercourse, It affects the liver, causes jaundice and occasionally liver failure. Vaccination is recommended for those at occupational risk (e.g. health care workers), for long stays or frequent travel to medium and high risk areas, for those more likely to be exposed such as children (from cuts and scratches) and those who may need surgical procedures.
  • Japanese encephalitis is spread by mosquitoes. It is a serious infection of the brain and vaccination is advised for those in risk areas unable to avoid mosquito bites, staying for long periods (e.g. more than 4 weeks) or visiting rural areas.
  • Rabies is spread through bites or licks on broken skin from an infected animal. It is always fatal. Vaccination is advised for those going to risk areas that will be remote from a reliable source of vaccine. Even when pre-exposure vaccines have been received urgent medical advice should be sought after any animal bite.

Malaria

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes. You cannot be vaccinated against malaria.

Malaria precautions

  • Malaria Map
  • Malaria precautions are essential in all areas below 2000m, all year round. There is very low to no risk in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir and Sikkim, which are at high altitude.
  • Avoid mosquito bites by covering up with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers especially after sunset, using insect repellents on exposed skin and, when necessary, sleeping under a mosquito net.
  • Check with your doctor or nurse about suitable antimalarial tablets.
  • Chloroquine together with proguanil is usually recommended for risk areas (except for Assam).
  • For Assam where resistance is more widespread atovaquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine is the first choice.
  • If you have been travelling in a malarious area and develop a fever seek medical attention promptly. Remember malaria can develop even up to one year after exposure.
  • If travelling to high risk malarious areas, remote from medical facilities, carrying emergency malaria standby treatment may be considered.

WHO Yellow Fever Certificate Requirements

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 9 months of age (1) arriving within 6 days from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission, or (2) has been in such an area in transit (except those passengers and members of crew who while in transit through an airport and remained within  the airport premises for their entire stay and the Health Officer agrees to such exemption), or (3) arrives on a ship that started from or touched at any port in an area with risk of yellow fever transmission up to 30 days before its arrival in India, unless such a ship has been disinsected in accordance with the procedure laid down by WHO, or (4) arrives on an aircraft that has been has been in area with risk of yellow fever transmission and has not been disinsected in accordance with the Indian Aircraft Public Health Rules 1954, or as recommended by WHO.

India considers the following countries to be countries with a risk of yellow fever:   

Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda.

Americas: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

NB: when a case of yellow fever is reported from any country, that country is regarded by the Government of India as a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

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