Vaccinations for Thailand and Vietnam: a pharmacist's guide

Travel health ·Published 17 October 2026 ·Reviewed 17 October 2026

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

General health information from a registered pharmacist. It doesn’t replace advice from your own pharmacist or doctor.

For most trips to Thailand or Vietnam, make sure you’re up to date with measles (MMR) and tetanus, and have the hepatitis A vaccine. Typhoid is worth discussing too, especially for Vietnam or if you’ll be eating street food or travelling outside the big cities. Rabies, Japanese encephalitis (JE) and hepatitis B vaccines depend on how long you’re going and what you’ll be doing. 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?

Treat this as a starting point for a chat with your pharmacist or doctor. The right mix depends on your health, your itinerary and your plans.

Most travel vaccines aren’t free, so a private fee usually applies. You’ll see current prices when you book online.

Why measles comes first

NSW Health lists both Thailand and Vietnam among the countries with prolonged measles outbreaks. Two doses of MMR vaccine give lifelong protection against measles to 99 in 100 people. If you were born in or after 1966 and don’t have records of 2 doses, you can have the vaccine free in Queensland. NSW Health advises having the final dose at least 2 weeks before you leave.

For 3 weeks after you get home, watch for fever, cough, runny nose, sore red eyes and a spotty rash that starts on the head and neck. If they appear, call your GP or the emergency department before you go in, and mention your trip.

Hepatitis A and typhoid

Both spread through contaminated food and water.

• Hepatitis A is recommended for travellers to countries where it’s common, including Thailand and Vietnam. One dose gives protection, and a second dose 6 to 12 months later makes it last longer.
• Typhoid is common in most Southeast Asian countries. The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends the vaccine for travellers where food hygiene or drinking water may not be safe, and for people visiting friends and relatives. It’s a single injection, or capsules taken over several days from age 6. It doesn’t give full protection, so careful eating and drinking still matter.

Rabies

Rabies is found in both countries, carried mainly by dogs, and by some other animals, including bats. According to healthdirect, rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.

UK travel health advice recommends rabies vaccination before you go for travellers whose activities put them at higher risk. In both countries that includes stays of more than a month, or anywhere you might struggle to get medical care quickly. Think about it if you’ll be cycling, running, trekking, working with animals or travelling with young children. The Handbook suggests parents consider it for younger children.

We don’t give the rabies vaccine at Pacific Fair. If it sounds right for your trip, see a GP or travel clinic early, as the course takes 1 to 4 weeks.

If an animal bites or scratches you

1. Wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes straight away.
2. Apply an antiseptic such as povidone-iodine, and don’t cover the wound.
3. Get medical help urgently, the same day if you can, even if you’ve had the rabies vaccine.
4. Ask for a written record of any treatment you’re given, and see your GP when you get home.

Japanese encephalitis

JE is spread by mosquitoes in rural and farming areas, such as rice fields and pig farms. The Handbook recommends the vaccine for people spending a month or more in areas where JE is found, and says it may be worth it for shorter trips in the wet season or with lots of outdoor activity. The risk is very low for short city stays. Depending on the type, the vaccine is a single dose or a 2-dose course, and we can give it at Pacific Fair.

Do I need malaria tablets?

For most holidays, no. According to UK travel health advice:

• Thailand: there’s no malaria risk in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Pattaya, and only a very low risk in most other areas. The risk is low in the rural, forested border areas next to Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
• Vietnam: there’s no risk in big cities including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the Red River delta, the coast north of Nha Trang, or Phu Quoc Island. There’s a low risk in some southern provinces and other rural areas.

If you’re heading off the tourist trail, see a GP or travel doctor about whether you need malaria tablets, which need a prescription. Help Medical, an independent general practice located inside our store, can help.

Dengue and mosquito bites

Dengue is a risk in both countries, especially in the rainy season, and the mosquitoes that spread it bite throughout the day. A dengue vaccine is now registered in Australia for people aged 4 and over, given as 2 doses 3 months apart. It’s mainly for people who’ve had dengue before, or who’ll spend long or repeated periods where dengue is common, and it isn’t suitable for everyone. We don’t offer it yet, so ask a GP or travel doctor whether it suits you.

To avoid bites, use an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, cover your arms and legs, and choose rooms with air-conditioning or screens. Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

Food, drink and medicines

• Drink sealed bottled water, and skip ice unless you know it’s safe.
• Choose food that’s freshly cooked and served hot, and peel fruit yourself.
• Only drink branded, sealed alcohol. Smartraveller warns that methanol poisoning is a risk in Thailand: “As little as one shot can be fatal.”
• Take enough of your regular medicines for the whole trip. Smartraveller notes that some medicines are restricted in Thailand, and travellers have been arrested for carrying medicine bought at a Thai pharmacy without a prescription. Check your medicines with the embassy before you go.

Our travel health checklist has a full countdown, and our travel sickness tips help with long bus and boat trips.

When to see a pharmacist or GP

Talk to your pharmacist about which vaccines suit your trip, a travel health kit, and travelling with your regular medicines.

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

After you get home, see a doctor if you develop a fever, a rash or diarrhoea that doesn’t settle, or if an animal bit or scratched you, and tell them where you’ve been. In an emergency, call 000.

Frequently asked questions

What vaccines do I need for Thailand?

None are required to enter Thailand from Australia. Most travellers should be up to date with measles and tetanus and have the hepatitis A vaccine. Typhoid, hepatitis B, JE and rabies vaccines depend on your plans.

What vaccines do I need for Vietnam?

None are required to enter Vietnam. UK travel health advice recommends hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid for most travellers, and hepatitis B, JE, rabies and cholera for some. Check your measles protection too.

How long before my trip should I get vaccinated?

Ideally 6 to 8 weeks before you fly. If you’re leaving sooner, come in anyway. A single dose of hepatitis A vaccine still protects you, and some courses can be sped up.

Can I get travel vaccines without seeing a GP?

Yes. Our pharmacists can give hepatitis A and B, typhoid, cholera, JE, measles, tetanus and whooping cough, and flu vaccines to people aged 5 and over, with no GP visit needed. You’ll need a GP or travel clinic for rabies and dengue vaccines and for malaria tablets.

Planning Southeast Asia? Walk in to Pacific Fair, or book a travel vaccination 6 to 8 weeks before you go.

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.