What vaccinations do I need for Thailand?

If you are planning to travel Thailand, there are some vaccinations that health professionals may recommend.

Please note, this is a guide to help with your travel planning. But you should always consult your doctor or a qualified health professional to determine which vaccinations are appropriate for your individual circumstances.

Vaccinations for Covid-19

If you’re planning a trip to Thailand, please refer to our regularly updated travel advice page. Since October 2022, Thailand has been fully open without restrictions; visitors are not required to have Covid vaccinations or a Covid test.

Other vaccinations for Thailand

None of the vaccinations listed below are compulsory for Thailand. However, your doctor or medical adviser may recommend jabs or booster jabs for:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Polio
• Tetanus
• Typhoid

If you are travelling to more remote areas of Thailand or are planning an extended visit which involves jungle trekking or living in remote areas, some health care professionals may suggest malaria tablets and rabies inoculation. But for a typical 2 or 3 week holiday in Thailand, malaria isn’t something to worry about. Mosquitoes are a fact of life in Thailand, but taking simple steps to avoid being bitten is the best form of defence.

Should you have the misfortune to be bitten by a dog or monkey, rabies jabs can be administered quickly and conveniently at hospitals in all of the main tourist areas including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ko Samui, Krabi, Pattaya, Phuket and many others.

Depending on your travel plans and medical history, your health adviser may suggest jabs for Japanese encephalitis.

Pharmacies and hospitals in Thailand

For any minor ailments, local pharmacies are a good first port of call with English-speaking staff able to help out. You can also find branches of Boots in Thailand at locations including Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Pattaya. For items like sunscreen, vitamin tablets, and various health and beauty products, look for branches of Watsons which can be found in shopping malls in many towns and cities across Thailand.

If you require hospital treatment in Thailand, you’ll find it a relatively straight-forward process. In all of the main tourist areas, hospital staff will be able to communicate in English. The important thing to note is that medical treatment for tourists in Thailand isn’t free. You must have medical/travel insurance in place. Always check your policy to make sure it meets your requirements.

Useful links

NHS advice for travel vaccinations
NHS fit for travel (advice for Thailand)
Travel Health Pro (part of  National Travel Health Network and Centre [NaTHNaC])
Travel insurance advice (from UK government)

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