What shots do I need for South Asia?
If you are traveling to South Asia, there is a good chance you'll need some shots. The shots you need will depend on (a) what part of South Asia, (b) how long you're staying, (c) what you will be doing while there, and (d) your immunization and medical history.
South Asia vaccine checklist
CDC vaccine recommendations for South Asian countries
Title | Typhoid vaccine | Japanese encephalitis vaccine | Cholera | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | Recommended | Recommended for some travelers | Polio booster for adults | ||
Bangladesh | Recommended | Recommended for some travelers | Recommended for some travelers | ||
Bhutan | Recommended | Recommended for some travelers | |||
India | Recommended | Recommended for some travelers | Recommended for some travelers | ||
Nepal | Recommended | Recommended for some travelers | Recommended for some travelers | ||
Maldives | Recommended | ||||
Pakistan | Recommended | Recommended for some travelers | Recommended for some travelers | Polio booster for adults | |
Sri Lanka | Recommended | Recommended for some travelers |
* Patients traveling to these countries for a month or more, spending extended periods of time outdoors, or are uncertain about their travel duration or activities are recommended to receive the Japanese encephalitis vaccine.
Japanese encephalitis and typhoid in South Asia
Typhoid and Japanese encephalitis are the two most frequently recommended vaccines for travel to South Asia. Both of these vaccines are safe and effective. Both of the diseases they protect against are deadly or disabling.
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Typhoid vaccine: This vaccine provides protection from typhoid fever which is mainly spread through contaminated water. You can choose from an oral vaccine or an injection. Typhoid can be treated with antibiotics but extremely drug-resistant typhoid has become prevalent in Pakistan and other areas.
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Japanese encephalitis vaccine: This vaccine protects against Japanese encephalitis virus which is spread by mosquitoes.
You may need malaria pills too
There is currently no vaccine in the U.S. for malaria but there are drugs you can take to help prevent malaria. Talk to a travel health specialist about your options. Whether you need to take malaria pills really depends on where you go and what you're doing while there.
Map shows 2020 rate of malaria deaths from Malaria Atlas Project