Most UK travellers to the Philippines are advised to be up to date with hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid, with hepatitis B, rabies and Japanese encephalitis considered for some trips. Your final list is confirmed at a consultation at Crewe Travel Clinic.
For the Philippines, most UK travellers are advised to be up to date with hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid, with hepatitis B, rabies and Japanese encephalitis recommended for some trips depending on your plans. There is no significant malaria risk, though rabies and dengue are notable, so bite avoidance still matters. The team at Crewe Travel Clinic will review your itinerary and confirm exactly which vaccines you need at your consultation.
From the malls and history of Manila to the diving and island life of Cebu, Bohol and Palawan, the surf at Siargao and the rice terraces of northern Luzon, the Philippines draws plenty of travellers from Crewe and across Cheshire. It is an archipelago of thousands of islands, so the health advice can vary noticeably depending on exactly where you are heading, how long you are staying and what you plan to do. A resort and diving holiday in Palawan carries different risks from backpacking between islands, trekking inland or working on a longer placement.\n\nWe recommend booking your travel health appointment ideally six to eight weeks before you fly, as some vaccines are given as a course over several weeks and a little forward planning gives them time to take effect. That said, it is always worth contacting us even at shorter notice, as there is usually still something useful we can do. At Crewe Travel Clinic our nurse will review your itinerary, planned activities, vaccination history and general health, then talk you through a tailored, non-individualised list that follows current TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) and WHO guidance for the Philippines, confirmed with you in person.
Spread through contaminated food and water, which is a genuine risk across the Philippines, so this is advised for almost all travellers.
A combined booster is recommended if it has been ten years or more since your last dose, keeping your routine UK protection current.
Recommended for most travellers given the standard of food and water hygiene, especially outside the main resorts and on longer or island-hopping trips.
Considered for longer stays, healthcare or aid work, adventure activities, tattoos or piercings, or anyone who may need medical or dental care while away.
Worth considering as rabies is a notable risk in the Philippines, present in dogs, cats and bats; pre-travel doses simplify treatment if you are bitten or scratched far from a clinic.
Considered for longer stays or repeated travel, particularly in rural and rice-growing areas where mosquitoes spread the virus.
Recommended for anyone not fully vaccinated in childhood, as measles circulates in the Philippines and spreads easily among travellers.
Only occasionally advised for higher-risk travellers, such as aid workers or those visiting areas affected by outbreaks, poor sanitation or limited access to safe water.
There is no significant malaria risk for most travellers to the Philippines, including Manila, Cebu and the popular tourist islands, so antimalarial tablets are not usually needed. Even so, mosquito-bite avoidance is still sensible, because the same biting insects spread other illnesses such as dengue and chikungunya. Where a trip involves remote rural or forested areas, we will review the latest guidance for your route and confirm any precautions at your consultation.
There is no risk of yellow fever in the Philippines, so the vaccine is not recommended for health reasons. There is, however, a certificate requirement under the International Health Regulations: proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required from travellers aged 9 months and over who are arriving from, or who have recently passed through, a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. Travelling directly from the UK this does not normally apply, but it matters if your trip also includes parts of Africa or South America.
Check yellow fever certificate requirementsFood and water hygiene is the most common cause of illness in the Philippines, so stick to bottled or properly treated water, avoid ice of unknown origin, choose freshly cooked hot food and be cautious with salads, peeled fruit and shellfish. Mosquito-borne dengue and chikungunya are common, and dengue mosquitoes bite during the day, so insect-bite avoidance matters at all hours: use a DEET-based repellent and cover up. Avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals because of rabies, and wash any bite or scratch thoroughly and seek urgent advice. Take care in the sun and heat, with road and ferry safety, and arrange travel insurance that covers your activities, including diving.