Stay Safe Out There
Health & Vaccines Guide
Vaccine requirements, malaria zones, food safety tips and medical prep for Indian travellers — by destination. Always consult your doctor 4–6 weeks before travel for personalised advice.
💉 Vaccines by Destination
🇦🇪 UAE / Dubai: No vaccines required. Routine vaccines (MMR, DPT, Hepatitis B) recommended. Hepatitis A if eating street food.
🇹🇭 Thailand: Hepatitis A + B, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis (if rural). Malaria prophylaxis for Mae Hong Son and Kanchanaburi border areas.
🇯🇵 Japan: No requirements. Japan has excellent healthcare. Routine vaccines sufficient. Japanese Encephalitis if staying in rural areas for 30+ days.
🇪🇺 Europe: No requirements. Tick-Borne Encephalitis vaccine for forest hiking in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
🇰🇪 Kenya / Africa: Yellow Fever certificate REQUIRED if arriving from yellow fever zone. Malaria prophylaxis essential. Typhoid, Hepatitis A.
🇲🇻 Maldives: No requirements. Hepatitis A recommended. Dengue risk — use repellent.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka: Hepatitis A + B, Typhoid. Malaria risk in Northern Province. Dengue throughout.
🇳🇵 Nepal: Hepatitis A + B, Typhoid. Altitude sickness precautions for treks above 3,000m. Rabies if trekking in remote areas.
🦟 Malaria & Dengue Zones
HIGH RISKSub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) — Malaria prophylaxis mandatory. Start Doxycycline or Malarone 1–2 days before travel.
MODERATEParts of Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar border — Risk mainly in rural areas. DEET repellent essential.
DENGUE RISKThailand, Bali, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam — No vaccine widely available. Use DEET repellent (30%+), wear long sleeves at dusk.
LOW RISKUAE, Singapore, Japan, Europe, Australia — No malaria. Standard precautions sufficient.
Medicines to carry: Oral Rehydration Salts, Azithromycin (traveller's diarrhoea), Paracetamol, Antacid, Antihistamine, Antiseptic cream, Imodium.
🍽 Food & Water Safety
✅ Safe everywhere: Bottled/sealed water, hot cooked foods, peeled fruits, pasteurised dairy.
⚠️ Be careful: Ice in drinks (Thailand, Bali, Sri Lanka) — ask if made from filtered water. Salads with tap-water wash. Raw shellfish.
❌ Avoid: Tap water in Thailand, Bali, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Africa. Street food from unhygienic stalls. Unpasteurised milk.
Japan, Singapore, UAE, Australia: Tap water is completely safe to drink.
Altitude sickness (Nepal, Bhutan, Peru): Ascend slowly, rest for 1–2 days at 3,000m+, carry Diamox (acetazolamide) — available by prescription in India.
🏥 Medical Emergency Numbers
UAE: 998 (ambulance). Indian Embassy Dubai: +971-4-397-1222
Thailand: 1669 (ambulance). Indian Embassy Bangkok: +66-2-258-0300
UK: 999 (emergency). Indian High Commission London: +44-20-7836-8484
USA: 911. Indian Embassy Washington: +1-202-939-7000
Singapore: 995. Indian High Commission: +65-6737-6777
Japan: 119 (ambulance). Indian Embassy Tokyo: +81-3-3262-2391
MEA India helpline: +91-11-2301-2113 (24/7 for Indians in distress abroad)