Most people travelling to Thailand are advised to have the hepatitis A vaccine. They should also check that their tetanus, diphtheria, polio and MMR protection is up to date. Typhoid, hepatitis B, rabies and Japanese encephalitis vaccines may need to be considered depending on where you stay and what you plan to do.

Which Travel Vaccinations are Recommended For Thailand?

The Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for nearly all travellers to Thailand. Typhoid, hepatitis B, rabies and Japanese encephalitis are considered case by case, alongside a diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster if yours is due. You will not need all of them, as it will depend on where and what you plan to do.

  • Hepatitis A and up-to-date routine vaccines are the starting point for most trips.
  • Typhoid and hepatitis B are often added for longer stays and more adventurous trips.
  • Rabies and Japanese encephalitis are considered for rural travel, animal contact and stays of a month or more.
  • Malaria tablets are rarely needed because most of the country is low or very low risk.

Our nurse at The Oakley Medical Practice can confirm which vaccines you have already had, then recommends the rest based on your itinerary.

Which Routine Vaccines Should be up to Date Before I Travel to Thailand?

Routine UK vaccines, particularly diphtheria, tetanus, polio and MMR, should be up to date before you travel to Thailand. Our nurse checks your record at the start of a travel appointment, including your childhood vaccines.

  • The diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster is a single combined vaccine. It is advised for Thailand if your last tetanus dose was more than ten years ago. Tetanus bacteria live in soil and enter the body through cuts and grazes.
  • MMR protection matters because the measles risk in Thailand is higher than in the UK. You can read more about the MMR vaccine we offer at the practice.
  • Children under 16 who will live in Thailand for more than three months may be advised to have the BCG vaccine. You can read more about the TB vaccine on our website.

Which Vaccines Protect Against Food and Water Infections in Thailand?

Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines protect against the two main infections spread through contaminated food and water in Thailand. Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for almost all travellers, and typhoid vaccination is considered for longer stays or places where hygiene standards may be lower.

  • Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver. The vaccine gives long-lasting protection.
  • Typhoid is a bacterial infection spread in the same way. The vaccine is best given at least a month before you travel, although it can be given closer to your departure date if needed.

Do I Need a Hepatitis B Vaccine for Thailand?

A hepatitis B vaccine can be considered by any traveller to Thailand and is advised for longer stays. Thailand has an intermediate to high level of hepatitis B, and the virus spreads through blood and body fluids.

The vaccine is most relevant if any of the following apply:

  • You may have unprotected sex with a new partner.
  • You may have a tattoo, piercing or acupuncture with equipment that is not sterile.
  • You may need medical or dental treatment while you are away.
  • You plan to play contact sports.

The usual course is three injections.

Which Vaccines Apply to Animals, Rural areas and Mosquito Bites?

Rabies and Japanese encephalitis vaccines are the two considered for trips that involve animals, farmland or rural parts of Thailand. Neither is needed on all trips, so the decision depends on your plans.

Do I need a rabies vaccine for Thailand?

A rabies vaccine is worth considering if you will be around animals, travelling in remote areas or staying longer than a month. Rabies spreads through animal bites and scratches by infected animals such as dogs, cats, monkeys and bats.

The rabies vaccine is most relevant if any of the following apply:

  • You plan to visit animal sanctuaries or other places with close animal contact.
  • You plan to cycle or run outdoors.
  • You will be somewhere medical care is hard to reach.
  • You are staying for more than a month.

The course is three doses, and having it before you travel makes treatment simpler if you are bitten. Children are at higher risk because they are less likely to avoid animals or report a bite. Seek medical help straight away after any bite or scratch, even if you have been vaccinated.

Do I Need a Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine for Thailand?

A Japanese encephalitis vaccine is considered for stays of a month or more and for shorter trips that include rural areas. The infection affects the brain and spreads through mosquitoes that bite between dusk and dawn, mainly near rice fields and pig farms.

The risk exists across Thailand all year, with a peak between May and October, particularly in the north including the Chiang Mai Valley. A short trip that stays in cities such as Bangkok carries a lower risk. The vaccine is two injections given 28 days apart, so it needs planning.

Do I Need Malaria Tablets for Thailand?

Most travellers to Thailand do not need malaria tablets because the risk in most areas is low, very low or absent. The level of risk depends on the area you visit.

  • The risk is low in the rural, forested border areas with Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
  • The risk is very low in the rest of the country, including Kanchanaburi.
  • There is no risk in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Pattaya.

Tablets may be considered in exceptional cases for higher-risk groups, such as pregnant women, young children, older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system. Our nurse can advise on this after your risk assessment.

Avoiding mosquito bites is the main protection in all areas. Use repellent on exposed skin and sleep under a net if your room is not screened. Cover up around dusk and dawn, when malaria and Japanese encephalitis mosquitoes bite.

How Far Ahead Should I Book Travel Vaccinations for Thailand?

The best time to book travel vaccinations for Thailand is six to eight weeks before you leave, because some vaccines need several doses. If your departure is sooner, an appointment is still worthwhile, since some vaccines can be given closer to your travel date.

  • The rabies course is three doses.
  • The Japanese encephalitis course is two injections, 28 days apart.
  • The hepatitis B course is usually three injections.
  • Typhoid is best given at least a month before you travel.

Does Thailand Require a Yellow Fever Certificate?

Thailand has no yellow fever risk. It asks for a yellow fever certificate if you are aged nine months or over and arrive after visiting a country with yellow fever risk. The same applies after more than 12 hours in transit at an airport in such a country.

This matters if you combine Thailand with parts of Africa or South America. Our practice is a NaTHNaC-approved yellow fever vaccination centre and can provide the certificate.

What Happens at a Travel Vaccine Appointment at The Oakley Medical Practice?

At a travel vaccine appointment, our nurse reviews your itinerary, medical history and vaccination record, then recommends the vaccines that match your trip.

  • The nurse asks where you are going, when, for how long and which activities you have planned, including rural travel and animal contact.
  • They check your medical history, including any conditions, allergies or medications that may affect which vaccines you can have.
  • They review your vaccination record to see which boosters are due.

The Oakley Medical Practice is a MASTA-affiliated travel clinic in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham so advice reflects current country-specific data and outbreak alerts. Each consultation is logged with MASTA, which keeps your vaccination records secure.

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