Vaccinations for Fiji: what Australians need before they go

Travel health ·Published 26 October 2026 ·Reviewed 26 October 2026

Written by the Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair team. Reviewed by Jason Markey, BPharmSci, MPharm, Owner and Pharmacist, Ahpra registration PHA0001976405.

General health information from a registered pharmacist. It doesn’t replace advice from your own pharmacist or doctor. How we write and check our articles.

You don’t need any vaccines to enter Fiji from Australia, but a few are well worth having. Make sure you’re up to date with measles (MMR), tetanus and flu, and talk to a pharmacist about hepatitis A and typhoid, which spread through food and water. Smartraveller also advises a meningococcal vaccine, though the disease is rare in Fiji, so ask us whether it’s worth it for your trip. Fiji has no malaria and is recognised as rabies-free, but dengue is a risk, so pack insect repellent. Try to start 6 to 8 weeks before you fly.

Our pharmacist immunisers at Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair give most of these vaccines, for anyone aged 5 and over. Walk in or book a time, and see our travel health page for how it works.

Which vaccines do I need for Fiji?

It depends on your health, how long you’re staying and what you’re planning, so treat this as a starting point for a chat with a pharmacist or doctor.

Most travel vaccines aren’t free, so a private fee usually applies. You’ll see current prices when you book online. If a vaccine is free for you under the National Immunisation Program or a Queensland Government program, there’s no fee.

Measles: check you’ve had 2 doses

Fiji has had a measles outbreak in the past. Two doses of MMR vaccine give lifelong protection against measles to 99 in 100 people, so check your records, and have your final dose at least 2 weeks before you leave.

Hepatitis A and typhoid

Both spread through contaminated food and water, and foodborne and waterborne illnesses are common in Fiji.

• Hepatitis A. One dose gives protection, and a second dose 6 to 12 months later makes it last longer.
• Typhoid. Cases have been reported in Fiji, though the risk is low for most travellers. The vaccine is a single injection, or capsules taken over several days (from age 6). The injection is estimated to be about 65% effective over 3 years, so careful eating and drinking still matter.

Hepatitis B and meningococcal disease

• Hepatitis B is common in Pacific island countries, and the vaccine is recommended for long or frequent trips. Travellers can be exposed through blood, such as during emergency medical or dental treatment, or through sex. The Fiji Government has also declared an HIV outbreak, so take precautions with anything that could expose you to infection.
• Meningococcal disease is rare in Fiji, with up to 10 cases a year according to Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services, but it can be life-threatening, and Smartraveller advises getting vaccinated before you go. Ask us whether it’s worth it for you and which vaccine suits you. Get medical help straight away if you have a high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, nausea or vomiting, or a rash of red-purple spots that don’t fade when pressed.

Dengue and mosquito bites

Fiji is prone to outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses, and dengue, Zika and chikungunya are all risks there. Before you leave, check Smartraveller and Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services for current outbreaks. The mosquitoes that spread dengue bite throughout the day, and are most active in the early morning and late afternoon.

A dengue vaccine is registered in Australia for people aged 4 and over, given as 2 doses 3 months apart. It’s mainly recommended for people who’ve had dengue before, or who’ll spend long or repeated periods where dengue is common. It can’t be given to people with a weakened immune system, isn’t recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and hasn’t been studied in people over 60. It needs a prescription and we don’t give it, so ask a GP or travel doctor whether it suits you.

Vaccinated or not, avoiding bites matters:

• Use an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, and reapply it as directed.
• Wear loose, light-coloured clothing that covers your arms and legs.
• Choose rooms with screens or air-conditioning.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, see your doctor before you go, as Zika can cause serious birth defects. While you’re away, get medical help if you have a fever, muscle pain, a rash or a severe headache.

Leptospirosis: take care after floods

Leptospirosis cases have been reported in Fiji. It spreads through water or soil contaminated with animal urine, and the risk often rises after a cyclone or flood. Fiji’s cyclone season runs from November to April, which takes in the Christmas holidays. There’s no vaccine for people, so avoid flooded rivers and creeks, don’t swim or wade in water that could be contaminated, cover cuts with a waterproof dressing, and wear footwear outdoors.

Is there malaria or rabies in Fiji?

• Malaria: no. The World Health Organization lists Fiji among the countries where malaria never existed or disappeared without specific measures, so you don’t need malaria tablets for Fiji.
• Rabies: the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji says Fiji is recognised as a rabies-free country, so most travellers won’t need the vaccine. Bats anywhere in the world can carry rabies-like viruses, so don’t touch them. If a bat or any other animal bites or scratches you, wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes, apply an antiseptic and get medical care as soon as possible.

Food, water and drinks

To avoid travellers’ diarrhoea:

• If you’re not sure the water is safe, drink sealed bottled water and use it to brush your teeth.
• Skip ice unless you know it’s made from safe water.
• Eat food that’s freshly cooked and served hot, and peel fruit yourself.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before you eat and after the toilet.

If you get diarrhoea, keep drinking clean water or oral rehydration solution, and get medical advice if you have a fever or it doesn’t settle.

Kava (yaqona) can be dangerous if it reacts with alcohol or prescription medicines, including antidepressants, so check with your pharmacist first if you take regular medicines. Drinks can also contain methanol, which is highly toxic: even one shot can be fatal. Only drink branded, sealed drinks, and get urgent medical help if you think you’ve been poisoned.

Pack a travel health kit with oral rehydration solution, pain relief, antiseptic, insect repellent and sunscreen, and see our travel health checklist for a full countdown to your trip.

Sun safety

UV is stronger closer to the equator, and water and sand reflect it, so pack SPF50 or SPF50+ water-resistant sunscreen, a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and follow our Gold Coast sun safety guide.

Going on a South Pacific cruise?

If your cruise from Brisbane stops in Fiji, everything above applies when you go ashore. Life on board adds a few things.

• Flu, COVID-19 and gastro. All three are common on cruise ships, where people are confined together for days at a time. Check whether you’re due for flu and COVID-19 vaccines before you sail, and pack hand sanitiser for when soap and water aren’t handy.
• Every port is different. For example, Smartraveller says malaria occurs in parts of Vanuatu, mainly the northern provinces, which include Espiritu Santo, and a dengue outbreak was declared on Efate, the island Port Vila is on, in June 2026. Read the travel advice for each stop, and ask us or a GP about any port you’re unsure of. If you need malaria tablets, which need a prescription, Help Medical, an independent general practice located inside our store, can help.
• Travel insurance. Whether you sail or fly, medical care may not match Australian standards and evacuation can be very expensive, so get insurance that covers medical evacuation, plus cruising and shore excursions if you sail.
• Your medicines. Pack enough to cover any delays, and if you have a health condition, talk to your doctor about your cruise plans before you commit.

How far ahead should I start?

Ideally 6 to 8 weeks before you fly, as some vaccines need more than one dose or take a couple of weeks to work. Flying over the Christmas holidays? Count back from your departure date and book early. Leaving sooner? Come in anyway. A single dose of hepatitis A vaccine still gives protection, and some courses can be sped up.

When to see a pharmacist or GP

Talk to your pharmacist about which vaccines suit your trip, what to pack, and how to take your regular medicines with you.

See a GP or travel doctor before you go if you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, have a weakened immune system or a long-term health condition, are travelling with children under 5, or need dengue vaccine or malaria tablets.

After you get home, see a doctor if you have a fever, a rash or diarrhoea that doesn’t settle. Call ahead and tell them you’ve been to Fiji. In an emergency, call 000.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need vaccinations to travel to Fiji?

None are required to enter Fiji from Australia. But being up to date with measles, tetanus and flu, and talking to a pharmacist about hepatitis A and typhoid, is recommended for most travellers.

What vaccines do I need for a South Pacific cruise?

Check your routine vaccines, and whether you’re due for flu and COVID-19, as both are common on cruise ships. Then check each port, as places like Vanuatu carry different risks from Fiji.

Can I get Fiji vaccines at a pharmacy on the Gold Coast?

Yes. At Pacific Fair we give hepatitis A and B, typhoid, measles, tetanus and whooping cough, flu and COVID-19 vaccines to people aged 5 and over, and we offer meningococcal vaccines too. For the dengue vaccine, see a GP or travel clinic. Children under 5 should see a GP.

Heading to Fiji? Walk in to Pacific Fair, or book a travel vaccination 6 to 8 weeks before you fly.

This article is general information only and isn’t a substitute for personal advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist or you’re worried, talk to your pharmacist or GP. In an emergency, call 000.