Travel Vaccinations: The not-so-secret ingredient for a smooth trip
Planning a holiday usually starts with excitement, snapping up flight deals and trying (again) to convince yourself you’ll pack lighter this time. But before you disappear into the world of beige travel cubes and hotel reviews, there’s an important step worth adding to your prep list: checking your travel vaccinations status.
It’s not the most glamorous part of planning, but it beats spending your days overseas in bed with a fever or trying to decipher medication labels in another language. Travel vaccines help reduce those risks so you can focus on all the fun parts of your trip.
Why travel vaccinations matter
Venturing outside of Australia means stepping into environments with different climates, microbes, water quality and sanitation standards. Your individual level of risk depends on where you’re going, the activities planned, how long you’re staying and your overall health.
Some groups, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic conditions and those heading into remote areas, are especially vulnerable.
Five key infection risks you need to be aware of:
Many of these infections exist in Australia, but the likelihood of exposure is often higher overseas.
1. Food and waterborne illnesses
Contaminated food and water are a major cause of travel-related diarrhoea, typically from bugs picked up through undercooked food, unsafe water and unwashed produce. Some infections, like hepatitis A and typhoid caused by Salmonella Typhi, come from different organisms but present similarly.
Ask your pharmacist or health professional for guidance on vaccination and other protective mechanisms against hepatitis A, typhoid or cholera.
2. Mosquito-borne illnesses
Mosquitoes in many regions can transmit dengue and malaria, which frequently affect travellers in Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Other mosquito-borne diseases include Japanese encephalitis (found in parts of Asia, eastern Indonesia and Papua New Guinea), and Yellow fever which is present in certain regions of Africa and South America.
For advice on vaccination and protection against Japanese encephalitis and Yellow fever, speak with your pharmacist or health professional. Dengue and malaria are best prevented through insect repellent, protective clothing and, for malaria, preventative medication.
3. Airborne-spread infections
Crowded airports, markets and festivals can increase exposure to infections transmitted via aerosols and/or droplets such as:
- COVID-19
- influenza
- meningococcal disease
- whooping cough
- measles
- mpox
- pneumococcal
- varicella (chickenpox)
Measles is of particular concern right now due to a global resurgence since 2023, with a number of outbreaks across multiple countries during 2025.
Check with your pharmacist or health professional to see if you could benefit in receiving vaccination against any of the above diseases.
4. Bloodborne & sexually transmitted infections
Infections such as hepatitis B, HIV and mpox (monkeypox) can be risks where medical facilities may lack sterile equipment or where safer sex practices are less accessible.
A pre-travel discussion with your pharmacist or health professional is a good time to review hepatitis B and mpox vaccination considerations and explore further protective measures.
5. Exotic infectious agents
Rabies is a serious infection spread through the bite or scratch of infected animals such as dogs, cats, livestock and bats. The World Health Organisation notes that once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal, making prevention essential.
Ask your pharmacist or health professional for guidance on whether vaccination against rabies could benefit you for your travel circumstances.
Which vaccines do you need?
There is no one-size-fits-all list for travel vaccinations. Recommendations depend on your destination, the style of travel, your health, and the activities you’re planning.
Travel vaccines fall into three categories:
- Routine vaccines: such as measles, tetanus and influenza.
- Recommended vaccines based on itinerary and activities: for example, hepatitis A or typhoid for countries with lower sanitation, or Japanese encephalitis for rural travel in some regions.
- Vaccines required for entry: yellow fever being the most common under international health regulations.
A pre-travel consultation is a great option, to review your health history, check your routine vaccine status and identify any travel specific vaccines that may be recommended for your itinerary. It’s best to plan early, as some vaccines require multiple doses or need time to become fully effective.
Before you take off
Remember that travel vaccines play a vital role in protecting your health overseas. They help reduce the risk of serious infections that can interrupt your trip or bring it to an abrupt end.
If you’re unsure where to start, speak to one of our knowledgeable WholeLife Pharmacy and Healthfoods pharmacists, they can assist you on what to consider and help you navigate your travel health vaccination options.
References
- Australian Immunisation Handbook. Vaccination for International Travellers. Department of Health and Ageing. Updated 2nd May 2025. Accessed via: https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/contents/vaccination-for-special-risk-groups/vaccination-for-international-travellers
- US measles outbreak: causes, consequences and the path forward. EClinicalMedicine. 2025 Mar 24;81:103174. Accessed via: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12046242/
