Vaccination information
The following information was sourced from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for your information and should be considered in consultation with your Doctor. For further information, the CDC traveller’s health site may be found at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.
Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks) before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need.
All travellers
You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while travelling to any destination. Some vaccines may also be required for travel.
Routine vaccines
Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.
Most travellers
Get travel vaccines and medicines because there is a risk of these diseases in the country you are visiting.
Hepatitis A
CDC recommends this vaccine because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in Vietnam, regardless of where you are eating or staying.
Typhoid
You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in Vietnam. CDC recommends this vaccine for most travellers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater.
Some travellers
Ask your doctor what vaccines and medicines you need based on where you are going, how long you are staying, and what you will be doing.
Japanese Encephalitis
You may need this vaccine if your trip will last more than a month, depending on where you are going in Vietnam and what time of year you are travelling. You should also consider this vaccine if you plan to visit rural areas in Vietnam or will be spending a lot of time outdoors, even for trips shorter than a month. Your doctor can help you decide if this vaccine is right for you based on your travel plans.
Malaria
When travelling in Vietnam, you should avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. You may need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria, depending on your travel plans, such as where you are going, when you are travelling, and if you are spending a lot of time outdoors or sleeping outside. Talk to your doctor about how you can prevent malaria while travelling.
