Typing “vaccinations for Thailand from UK” into a search bar, gives you the short answer for the most common vaccinations that most travellers require for travelling to Thailand: two to three shots, and how far in advance you need to have them given to you. In addition to the above shots, some travellers will require a few more depending on where about in Thailand they are travelling to and the activities that they are involved in.

What Most Travellers Need

As stated above, Hepatitis A is advised for nearly all travellers as it can be spread through contaminated food and water and is prevalent in countries where there is low hygiene especially in food stalls and small family run hotels etc. Typhoid is also recommended for most travellers for similar reasons and most UKclinics will also update other items such as tetanus/diphtheria/polio as required, these are not country specific and are normally given as a combined single vaccination.

What Some Travellers Need

While Hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis and rabies are not recommended for the majority of travellers, they are recommended for specific journeys. Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for those staying long term, who work within the healthcare profession or those who may require medical treatment within Thailand and therefore at risk of accidental exposure to blood etc. Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended for extended periods of time spent in rural areas, particularly during the rainy season. As with any animal contact, rabies vaccine is recommended for those who intend to go cycling/hiking and to come into contact with stray dogs/monkeys etc. Post bite treatment can be difficult to access in some countries and so it is best to be covered.

Which Are Free on the NHS

For the recommended list for Thailand, the following are free on the NHS for the majority of travellers: Hepatitis A is sometimes free and sometimes charged by individual GP practices for the vaccine Hepatitis A so it is best to check with your GP practice first. Other vaccines recommended for Thailand such as typhoid are also free as they are part of the routine schedule that GPs give to their patients. The NHS free vaccines for Thailand recommended for most travellers are therefore listed below for the split number of travellers recommended for each vaccine: Most travellers recommended for Thailand (2-3 vaccines): Hepatitis A vaccine (often charged by individual GP practices for the vaccine Hepatitis A but sometimes free) and typhoid vaccine (free as part of routine schedule given by GPs to their patients). Some travellers (3-4 vaccines): Hepatitis B vaccine (all paid for by travellers as not given as part of routine NHS schedule), Japanese encephalitis (all paid for by travellers as not given as part of routine NHS schedule) and rabies (all paid for by travellers as not given as part of routine NHS schedule).

Comparison Table

Hepatitis A: Most travellers need Hepatitis A vaccination for Thailand. Vaccination is NHS-free at many pharmacies and some GP surgeries for Hepatitis A vaccine. The cost of Hepatitis A vaccine varies between pharmacies, some charge from £40 for the first dose and a second dose later. Typhoid: Almost all travellers should be vaccinated against Typhoid for Thailand. Vaccination is NHS-free for the injected typhoid vaccine but not for the oral Typhoid vaccine.

Additional Vaccinations for certain parts of Thailand (dependent on itinerary): Hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and also information on dengue for awareness. NHS-free but would typically be administered by a travel clinic and cost in excess of £40 per vaccine for a full course.

The Yellow Fever Certificate Trap

Even if you are not visiting Thailand directly from the UK, travellers are often asked to prove that they have been vaccinated against yellow fever if they have been travelling from countries where the disease is present for more than 12 hours. This can be a trap for those making complex multi-centre trips that start in countries in Africa or South America and then continue on to Southeast Asia. Thailand requires proof of yellow fever vaccination at entry for such travellers. Beware, when checking entry requirements for Thailand, the small print can often contain extra conditions that may affect some travellers but not others. For other examples of such small print see destinations where the small print catches travellers out.

Malaria, Dengue and Mosquito Bites

While there is no vaccine for malaria it is necessary to take antimalarial tablets as well as avoid bites. We recommend that you ask your GP or pharmacist for advice on the type of malaria prophylaxis that you require for your trip to Thailand as this will depend on the area that you are travelling to and the time of year that you travel. For dengue and Zika there is currently no vaccine available for most travellers and so we recommend that all travellers avoid bites as they would for malaria. This can be achieved by covering up, especially during dawn and dusk when the mosquitoes that transmit these diseases are most active, by using DEET repellents and by sleeping in air-conditioned, screened rooms or under a net. If you want vaccinations for thailand from uk, https://travelsnews.co.uk/destinations/five-places-you-should-probably-read-the-small-print-on/ is a good place to start.

Booking Timeline

Plan your health travel advice appointment around your flight departure date. Most vaccines need to be given weeks or even months apart so its essential to book in good time. We recommend 8 weeks or more before travel although it is possible to get some vaccinations speeded up for an additional fee when booked through a travel clinic.

Beyond Health Prep

Although you have been provided with health advice for travel to Thailand, there are also other aspects of travel for which you need to plan. For example, you should check the entry requirements for Thailand and also ensure that you have suitable travel insurance for your travel. The small print for many countries includes hidden aspects of travel to particular destinations and these are detailed in a number of articles such as those about destinations where the small print catches travellers out for other reasons than health.

FAQ

What vaccines are most commonly required for travel to Thailand? According to TravelHealthPro’s country-specific health advice for Thailand, the vaccines most travellers will require are Hepatitis A, typhoid and a Tetanus/diphtheria/polio booster.

Which are free and which do you have to pay for? Tetanus, diphtheria and polio boosters are provided free of charge by the NHS as they are part of the routine schedule of vaccination for children and adults. Typhoid is also often provided free of charge. For hepatitis A it is often free but sometimes charged by a particular surgery. Hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis and rabies vaccines are almost always charged for by travel clinics and pharmacies and can cost from £40+ per vaccine depending on the number of doses required for the full course.

Allow 8 weeks or more before travel for all vaccinations, as some need to be given weeks or even months apart, and several doses of a vaccine are required.

Do you need a yellow fever vaccination certificate for entry into Thailand? The simple answer is no for direct flights to Thailand from the UK but see special requirements for travel from certain countries. There is a 12 hour window after having been in certain countries where yellow fever is present and transiting through other countries, and your certificate will be requested on arrival in Thailand if you have been in these countries within this time frame.

Malaria and dengue and Zika (all mosquito-borne diseases for which there are as yet no vaccines for most travellers) need to be discussed with your GP/pharmacy in order to work out the best method of protection for your specific journey.