Pakistan is a 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. Polio vaccination is especially important here, as Pakistan is one of the few countries where wild polio still circulates. Book a consultation at Crewe Travel Clinic to confirm what you personally need.
For most trips to Pakistan, 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. Polio matters especially in Pakistan, as wild poliovirus still circulates and proof of vaccination can be required when leaving after a longer stay. Malaria precautions may be needed in lower-altitude areas, and a yellow fever certificate is only required if you arrive from or transit a country with yellow fever risk. Crewe Travel Clinic will confirm exactly what you need for your itinerary at a personalised consultation.
From the bazaars and Mughal architecture of Lahore and the energy of Karachi to the Karakoram Highway, the Hunza Valley and the high peaks around K2, Pakistan attracts UK travellers for tourism, business, pilgrimage and, very commonly, visiting friends and relatives. Health risks vary enormously with where you go and what you do, from the lowland cities to remote mountain regions, so personalised advice matters. At Crewe Travel Clinic in Cheshire we tailor recommendations to your exact itinerary, accommodation, length of stay, 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. This lead time also matters in Pakistan because polio vaccination should be documented before you travel, and proof can be required when leaving the country after a longer stay. 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 Pakistan, so it is recommended for most previously unvaccinated travellers.
Most adults need a combined booster if it has been over ten years, and polio protection is particularly important as wild poliovirus still circulates in Pakistan.
Food- and water-borne and widespread in Pakistan, where an extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strain has been circulating, so vaccination is advised for most travellers, especially those visiting friends and relatives.
Considered for those whose work, medical care or activities could expose them to blood or bodily fluids, and increasingly offered to many travellers and longer stays.
Rabies is present in Pakistan, so pre-exposure vaccination is recommended for many trips, particularly longer stays, rural or mountain travel, and where access to prompt medical care may be limited.
Considered for longer stays or repeated trips to rural and agricultural areas, including parts of Sindh province, 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, flooding or known outbreaks.
May be considered for unvaccinated children under 16 who will be living or staying long-term among the local population.
There is a low risk of malaria in areas of Pakistan below 2,000m and a very low risk above 2,000m. For most travellers to lower-risk areas, mosquito-bite avoidance day and night is the main measure rather than tablets, but antimalarials such as atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine may be advised for higher-risk trips, longer rural stays or those visiting friends and relatives in affected areas. Because risk varies with region and season, we will confirm at your consultation whether antimalarial tablets are appropriate for your specific route.
There is no risk of yellow fever in Pakistan, so the vaccine is not recommended for health reasons. However, under International Health Regulations a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers aged one year and over arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission, or who have transited for more than 12 hours through an airport in such a country. Travelling 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 Pakistan, particularly given the drug-resistant typhoid risk: 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 present, avoid contact with dogs 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. A key point for Pakistan is polio: if you stay for four weeks or more, you may be asked to show proof of polio vaccination given between four weeks and twelve months before you leave the country, so keep your records with you. If your trip includes high-altitude areas such as the Karakoram, Hunza or trekking routes, ascend gradually and watch for altitude sickness above around 2,500m, and protect against strong sun and heat in the lowlands.