Travel vaccinations for Thailand
One of the most popular long-haul holiday and backpacking destinations from Kent, from Bangkok's temples to the northern hill country and southern islands.
Do I need injections for Thailand?
For most UK travellers, yes. The travel injections usually discussed for Thailand are combined hepatitis A and B, with typhoid and rabies considered for longer stays, rural travel or eating widely outside resorts, and Japanese encephalitis for rural stays of a month or more. It is also worth checking your routine NHS vaccinations are up to date, including a diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster if yours was over 10 years ago. Malaria risk is low in the main tourist areas and cities, with some risk in border and forested rural regions, so whether tablets come up depends on your route.
Thailand does not ask travellers arriving from the UK for any vaccination certificates, so these jabs are about protecting you rather than paperwork. Rabies is the one backpackers and longer-stay travellers most often leave out. Independent travel through rural areas increases exposure to animal-related risks, and motorbike and scooter use is a frequent cause of injury, so both are worth discussing at your consultation.
Book 6 to 8 weeks before you fly if you can. The rabies course runs over at least a week and the combined hepatitis A and B course has an accelerated schedule that needs 3 to 4 weeks. Travelling sooner? Book anyway. Single-dose jabs still give useful protection.
Thailand attracts everyone from short-break tourists to gap-year backpackers, and the health preparation needed differs a lot between a resort holiday and weeks of independent travel through rural areas.
Motorbike and scooter use is common among visitors and is a frequent cause of travel injury, so this is always worth discussing alongside vaccinations.
Assessed individually
Vaccines commonly discussed for Thailand
- Hepatitis A and B combinedMost travellers. Commonly recommendedFull course £195
- TyphoidSome travellers. Considered for longer stays, rural travel or eating widely outside resortsFull course £50
- RabiesSome travellers. Considered for backpacking, rural travel or longer staysFull course £240
- Japanese encephalitisSome travellers. Considered for rural stays of a month or moreFull course £230
- Diphtheria, tetanus and polioEveryone - check you are up to date. Booster if it's been over 10 yearsFull course £50
No vaccine for this
Malaria in Thailand
Low in most tourist areas and cities; some risk in border and forested rural regions.
Antimalarial tablets and pricesOnly if arriving via a risk country
Yellow fever
No yellow fever vaccination is needed for travel from the UK. A certificate is only required from travellers aged 9 months and over arriving from a yellow fever risk country, and for travellers who have transited for more than 12 hours through an airport in one.
Yellow fever certificates and exemptionsBeyond the jabs
Before you go
- Road safety, particularly around motorbike and scooter hire
- Mosquito bite prevention for dengue as well as malaria
- Food and water hygiene, especially from street vendors
- Sun protection and heat management
- Entry requirements
- UK passport holders can generally visit visa-free for short tourist stays; check current entry rules before booking.
- When to go
- November to February is generally cooler and drier across most of the country.
Common questions
Travelling to Thailand
Do backpackers need different vaccines to resort holidaymakers?
Often yes - longer, more rural or independent travel generally increases exposure to food, water and animal-related risks, so backpackers are more often advised to consider rabies vaccination and broader protection.
Is it worth vaccinating against Japanese encephalitis for a two-week holiday?
This is usually reserved for longer stays or rural travel during transmission season - your pharmacist will look at your specific plans before advising.
