India is a rewarding but high-exposure destination where most travellers are advised hepatitis A, typhoid and an up-to-date tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster, with rabies, hepatitis B and Japanese encephalitis considered for some trips. Book a consultation at Crewe Travel Clinic to confirm what you personally need.
For most trips to India, UK travellers are typically advised hepatitis A, typhoid and an up-to-date tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster, with rabies, hepatitis B and Japanese encephalitis recommended for some travellers depending on the trip. Malaria precautions are needed for parts of India, and a yellow fever certificate is only required if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk. Crewe Travel Clinic will confirm exactly what you need for your itinerary at a personalised consultation.
From the temples of Rajasthan and the backwaters of Kerala to the Himalayan foothills and the beaches of Goa, India draws huge numbers of UK travellers every year for tourism, business, pilgrimage and visiting friends and relatives. The sheer variety of climates, altitudes and rural and urban settings means health risks differ enormously depending on where you go and what you do, so personalised advice matters. At Crewe Travel Clinic in Cheshire we tailor recommendations to your exact itinerary, accommodation, activities and medical history.
Ideally arrange your appointment six to eight weeks before departure, as some vaccines are given as a course over several weeks and rabies in particular needs time to complete. Last-minute travellers can still benefit, so do get in touch even if your trip is soon. The recommendations below follow current TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) and NHS guidance and are general in nature; your final vaccine list is always confirmed at your consultation.
Spread through contaminated food and water, which is a common exposure across India, so it is recommended for most previously unvaccinated travellers.
Most adults need a combined booster if it has been over ten years, and proof of polio vaccination can be relevant for some travellers.
Also food- and water-borne and widespread in India, so it is advised for most travellers, especially those visiting friends and relatives or staying with families.
Considered for those whose work, medical care or activities could expose them to blood or bodily fluids, and increasingly offered to many travellers.
India carries one of the highest rabies risks in the world, so pre-exposure vaccination is recommended for many trips, particularly longer stays, rural travel or limited access to prompt medical care.
Considered for longer stays or repeated trips to rural and agricultural areas, especially during and after the monsoon when mosquito numbers peak.
Recommended for higher-risk travellers such as aid and relief workers or those visiting areas with poor sanitation or known outbreaks.
Malaria risk is present but varies by region. There is higher risk in Assam and Odisha, parts of Andhra Pradesh (East Godavari, Srikakulam, Vishakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts) and parts of Madhya Pradesh (Balaghat, Dindori, Mandla and Seoni districts), where antimalarial tablets such as atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine may be advised. Across the rest of India, including Goa and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, there is a low risk where bite avoidance is the main measure, while the Lakshadweep islands have no risk. Mosquito-bite avoidance day and night is important everywhere, and we will confirm whether antimalarials are right for your specific route at your consultation.
There is no risk of yellow fever in India, so the vaccine is not recommended for health reasons. However, India has strict entry requirements: a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers aged nine months and over arriving within six days of leaving a country with risk of yellow fever transmission (mainly parts of sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America). If you are travelling to India directly from the UK this requirement does not normally apply, but it can affect multi-stop or connecting itineraries, so check your full route with us.
Check yellow fever certificate requirementsFood and water hygiene is the single most important precaution in India: stick to bottled or properly treated water, avoid ice and uncooked salads, choose freshly cooked hot food and peel fruit yourself to reduce travellers' diarrhoea. Prevent insect bites around the clock using DEET-based repellent, cover up at dusk and dawn and consider a mosquito net, as this also lowers the risk of dengue, chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis. Because rabies is endemic, avoid contact with dogs, monkeys and other animals, and if you are bitten, scratched or licked on broken skin, wash the wound thoroughly and seek urgent medical care, as post-exposure treatment is needed even if you were vaccinated. If your trip includes high-altitude areas such as Ladakh or Himalayan trekking, ascend gradually and be alert for altitude sickness, and protect against strong sun, heat and air pollution in major cities.