Most UK travellers heading to India are advised to have the hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines, plus a diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster if their last dose was more than 10 years ago. Other travel vaccinations for India, including hepatitis B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis and cholera, depend on where you are going and what you plan to do there.
Here we will explain the recommended vaccines for travel to India, which ones the NHS provides free and which ones are only available privately.
Booking a travel vaccination appointment with our nurse at The Oakley Medical Practice is the best way to confirm exactly what applies to your trip.
Which Vaccinations Are Recommended for Travel to India From the UK?
The vaccinations for travel to India from the UK fall into two groups. The first group is advised for most travellers. The second depends on your itinerary, so our nurse will review your itinerary before recommending anything.
Recommended vaccines for most travellers to India:
Hepatitis A Vaccine:
This liver infection is spread through contaminated food and water. The vaccine is recommended for anyone who has not had it before and gives long-lasting protection.
Typhoid Vaccine:
This bacterial infection is also spread through contaminated food and water. Typhoid vaccination is recommended for most travellers, particularly those visiting friends and relatives, staying for a long time or travelling to areas with poorer sanitation.
Diphtheria, tetanus and polio:
These three are given together in one booster in the UK. A booster is advised if your last dose was more than 10 years ago.
Additional vaccines that may be recommended for travel to India:
Hepatitis B Vaccine:
This virus is spread through blood and body fluids. Vaccination against Hepatitis B is recommended for longer stays, for anyone who may need medical or dental treatment while away and for travellers visiting friends and relatives. The hepatitis B vaccine is usually a course of three injections.
Rabies:
Vaccination against rabies is advised for longer stays in India, remote travel and activities such as running or cycling.
Japanese encephalitis:
This mosquito-borne infection occurs across India. Vaccination is usually considered for longer stays or rural travel.
Cholera:
The risk for most travellers is low. The oral vaccine is considered for aid workers, people travelling to areas with a cholera outbreak and others whose activities or health put them at higher risk.
Planning to visit other countries on the same trip? Vaccine advice can differ even between neighbouring countries, so see our guide to travel vaccinations for Asia.
Which Travel Vaccines For India Are Free on the NHS?
The NHS provides four of the travel vaccines used for India after you complete a risk assessment form. The others have to be paid for privately.
Free on the NHS
- Hepatitis A
- Typhoid
- Cholera
- Diphtheria, tetanus and polio, given as one combined vaccine
Not available free on the NHS
- Hepatitis B
- Japanese encephalitis
- Rabies
- Malaria tablets, which are not a vaccine but are also paid for privately
You may have had some of these vaccines earlier in life, so check your records with your GP beforehand.
At our private travel clinic in Birmingham, we can provide the vaccines the NHS covers and the ones it does not in the same appointment.
Do I Need Malaria Tablets for India?
Whether you need malaria tablets for India depends entirely on your specific travel itinerary, as risk levels vary by region.
- Antimalarial tablets are recommended for the states of Mizoram, Odisha and Tripura.
- The rest of India, including Goa and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is classed as low risk.
- The Lakshadweep islands have no malaria risk.
Tablets may still be considered in low risk areas for travellers who are more likely to become seriously ill with malaria. This includes
- Adults over 70
- People with a weakened immune system
- Pregnant women
- Young children
- Long-term travellers visiting friends and relatives.
- Our nurse will decide this with you after an individual risk assessment.
Tablets you do not need cost money and add medication with no benefit, so write down the exact states you plan to visit before the appointment.
Mosquito bite prevention is important across India as Japanese encephalitis is also spread by mosquitoes.
- Use insect repellent on exposed skin.
- Use a mosquito net when sleeping.
- Cover arms and legs around dusk and dawn, when the mosquitoes that spread malaria and Japanese encephalitis bite.
- Take extra care in towns and cities during the day, as dengue mosquitoes bite in daylight.
Do I Need a Rabies Vaccine for India?
A rabies vaccine is given as a course of three injections and is recommended for India if:
- You will be staying for more than a month
- Travelling somewhere where medical care is hard to reach
- Planning activities such as running or cycling
- Will be working with animals
Rabies is spread through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite, scratch or lick to broken skin or the eyes, nose or mouth. Dogs cause most cases, and bats can carry the virus too. Stray animals are common in Indian cities as well as rural areas, and any mammal can pass the infection on.
Do I Need Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination for India?
Japanese encephalitis vaccination is considered for India if:
- You will stay in India for one month or more during the transmission season.
- You travel to India frequently.
- You are unsure of your itinerary, locations or activities.
- You are taking a shorter trip that includes rural activities such as visiting rice fields or pig farms.
Japanese encephalitis is a brain infection passed to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes pick up the virus from pigs and wading birds, bite mainly between dusk and dawn and are most common in rural areas with rice fields, swamps and marshes.
The risk in India exists all year and peaks during and just after the monsoon, particularly in northern regions. Vaccination usually consists of two injections, with the second given 28 days after the first. That gap is another reason to book early.
Which Routine Vaccinations Should Be Up to Date Before Travelling to India?
Routine UK vaccinations should be up to date before any trip to India, particularly MMR, because measles is more common in India than in the UK.
- Adults should check their records to confirm they have had two doses of the MMR vaccine.
- Children should be up to date with their childhood vaccinations.
- Children under 16 who will be living in India for more than 3 months may need the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis.
Our guide to who needs the TB vaccine explains more.
When Should I Have Travel Vaccinations Before Going to India?
It’s ideal to book a travel vaccination appointment 6 to 8 weeks before you leave. This gives time for vaccines that need more than one dose and for protection to build up.
- Rabies and hepatitis B are each given as a course of three injections.
- Japanese encephalitis is usually two injections, 28 days apart.
- The oral cholera vaccine is given in two or three doses depending on age, at least 7 days apart and no more than 6 weeks apart, and the course should be finished at least a week before travel.
- The typhoid vaccine is best given at least a month before travel, although it can be given closer to departure if needed.
- Some vaccines take around two weeks to build protection, so a vaccine given a few days before you fly may not protect you in time.
Travelling last minute or in less than six weeks? It is still worth booking a vaccine consultation with us. We can still help protect you.
What Happens at a Travel Vaccination Appointment?
At a travel vaccination appointment in Birmingham, our nurse carries out a personalised risk assessment based on your trip and your health. It helps to have the following details ready:
- Which parts of India you are visiting, as risks such as malaria vary by state.
- How long you are staying.
- What time of year you are travelling, as some risks peak during the monsoon.
- What you plan to do, such as city sightseeing, trekking, volunteering or staying with family in rural areas.
- Your medical history, any medication you take and your vaccination records.
The nurse will then explain which vaccines are recommended for your trip, which are optional and if malaria tablets are needed. Any vaccines you decide on can be given at the same appointment.
How Do I Book Travel Vaccinations for India?
The Oakley Medical Practice in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, is a MASTA-affiliated travel clinic and a NaTHNaC-approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre. Book a travel vaccination consultation with our nurse for £35. The consultation fee will be deducted from the cost of any vaccines you have during your appointment.
Read our Ultimate Guide to Travel Vaccinations for 2026 Travellers for a wider look at the vaccinations you may need for international travel.
Contact us today to discuss your travel plans and find out which vaccinations you may need for India.
