Registered Yellow Fever Centre
Travel Vaccines for India
Whether you are visiting family, touring Rajasthan or relaxing in Goa, the right vaccines and malaria advice depend on the regions you visit, how long you stay and how you travel. This page summarises current UK advice from TravelHealthPro. For advice that fits your own trip, book a travel consultation.
Vaccines recommended for most travellers
TravelHealthPro recommends these for most travellers to India:
Hepatitis A: recommended for all previously unvaccinated travellers.
Typhoid: recommended for most travellers, especially those visiting friends and relatives, young children, and frequent or long-stay travellers to areas with poor sanitation. Injectable and oral vaccines are available.
Tetanus: you should have completed the UK course. Where medical care may be limited, a booster is advised if your last dose was more than ten years ago.
Routine UK vaccines, including MMR and diphtheria, tetanus and polio, should also be up to date. See our MMR vaccine page.
Vaccines for some travellers
These are recommended for some travellers depending on itinerary, activities and medical history:
Hepatitis B: could be considered for all travellers, and is recommended for long stays, health and aid workers, contact sports and anyone who may have unprotected sex. See hepatitis A and B vaccines.
Rabies: a pre-exposure course is recommended for stays of more than one month, trips where post-exposure treatment may be limited, work with animals and higher-risk activities such as running or cycling.
Japanese encephalitis: for stays of a month or more during the transmission season, frequent travellers and those with uncertain plans, and sometimes for shorter trips with higher-risk activities such as visiting rice fields or pig farms.
Cholera: an oral vaccine for people at increased risk, such as aid workers or those going to outbreak areas with limited safe water and medical care.
Dengue: may be considered for people aged 4 and over who have had dengue before and are going to a risk area or outbreak.
Chikungunya: may be considered for people aged 12 and over going to an outbreak area, frequent travellers to higher-risk areas and those at risk through work.
BCG (tuberculosis): for unvaccinated children under 16 who will live in India for more than three months.
For less common vaccines, such as cholera and dengue, we’ll check stock when you book so it’s ready for your appointment.
Yellow fever certificate
There is no risk of yellow fever in India, but there is a certificate requirement. Under International Health Regulations, travellers aged 9 months and over need a yellow fever certificate if they arrive within 6 days of leaving an area with risk of yellow fever transmission. India applies strict rules, including for some transits through risk areas, and travellers without a valid certificate can be isolated for up to 6 days.
If your trip includes Africa or South America first, speak to us. Both branches are registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres, and certificates are valid for life. See our yellow fever vaccine page.
Malaria in India
TravelHealthPro describes malaria risk in India by area:
Mizoram, Odisha and Tripura: risk of malaria. Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine is recommended, along with bite avoidance.
Rest of India, including Goa and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: low risk. Awareness of risk and bite avoidance are recommended. Antimalarials may be considered in exceptional circumstances for higher-risk travellers, such as long-term visits to friends and relatives.
Lakshadweep islands: no risk.
Seek urgent medical help for any fever during or after travel.
Other health risks
Dengue, chikungunya and Zika
Dengue is a risk throughout India and is most common in towns and cities. TravelHealthPro reported 70,140 dengue cases in India in 2026 as of 19 October 2026. Chikungunya and Zika are also present. For Zika, TravelHealthPro advises women to avoid pregnancy while travelling and for 2 months after their last possible exposure. Avoid mosquito bites, especially in the daytime.
Rabies
Rabies is present in India, including in domestic animals, and bats may carry rabies-like viruses. Avoid touching animals, and get urgent medical assessment after any bite, scratch or lick. TravelHealthPro has also reported falsified rabies vaccine in India, so talk to us about rabies before you go.
Food, water and air quality
Take care with food and water hygiene. Poor outdoor air quality is a significant problem in many areas, so if you have a heart or lung condition, discuss your trip with your doctor and take enough medication.
Before you go
A small travel health kit saves a lot of hassle if you feel unwell abroad. It is worth packing:
Any regular medicines in your hand luggage, with a copy of your prescription
Insect repellent and high factor sun cream
Oral rehydration sachets and simple pain relief
Plasters, antiseptic and hand sanitiser
Make sure your travel insurance covers medical treatment and repatriation. Save the local emergency numbers in your phone before you leave; the FCDO travel advice for India lists them along with current safety information.
When to book
Ideally, book your appointment 6 to 8 weeks before you travel. Some vaccines need more than one dose, and protection takes time to build. If you are leaving sooner, a last-minute appointment is still worthwhile. Many vaccines can still be given, and you will leave with practical advice.
Please tell us if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or have a weakened immune system. Some travel vaccines are live vaccines, such as MMR and the yellow fever vaccine. The Green Book advises delaying live vaccines until after pregnancy and not giving them on certain immunosuppressive treatments without specialist advice.
Book your India travel consultation
Every appointment is with one of our pharmacists. We check your whole itinerary against current UK guidance and go through every vaccine and travel medicine you might need in one visit.
We have two branches, and both are registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres. Cambridge Travel Clinic at Petersfield Pharmacy, 56 Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 2AS (01223 354383), is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. Book at Mill Road online. Cambridge Travel Clinic at Waterbeach Pharmacy, 5 Greenside, Waterbeach, Cambridge CB25 9HW (01223 564422), is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm and 1:30pm to 5:45pm. Book at Waterbeach online.
We see travellers from Cambridge, Cherry Hinton, Trumpington, Chesterton, Histon, Milton, Cottenham, Waterbeach and nearby villages. Our current fees are on the pricing page. You can also read about other destinations in Asia, such as Sri Lanka.
We’re happy to talk through your plans, however close your departure.