Vaccinations for South Africa

Thinking of travelling to South Africa and want to know about the most recent advice on travel vaccinations for South Africa? Find the latest travel vaccination advice for South Africa from governments around the world, here.

Travel Vaccination for South Africa

General Travel Vaccination Advice for South Africa

The decision to go to South Africa is your choice and you are in charge of getting all the vaccination you are needed to have prior to your planned trip to South Africa.

The material on this page is offered information only and collected from travel advice and warnings for South Africa by governments all over the world to their citizens.

While we make every effort to give you correct travel advice information, it is provided on an “as is” basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied.

This owners of this website does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

General Vaccination Needed for South Africa

Do I need to inoculation when travelling to South Africa? Anybody wanting to go on vacation or business trip to South Africa require to get in touch with a health care professional or go to a travel health clinic ideally six weeks prior to you travel regarding the folloing:

Routine Vaccinations – Be sure that your regular vaccines such as vaccination for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others are up-to-date no matter your trip to South Africa.

Furthermore, you may be at risk for these vaccine-preventable diseases while travelling in South Africa. Speak to your travel health expert regarding which of these vaccinations are right for you:

  • Covid 19 is a contagious viral disease. It can spread from one person to another by direct contact and through droplets airborne.
  • Hepatitis B A disease of the liver spread through blood or other bodily fluids. Travellers that may be exposed (e.g., through sexual contact, medical therapy, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) must obtain vaccinated.
  • Influenza (Flu) Seasonal influenza takes place worldwide is brought on by a virus spread from one person to another when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects as well as surface areas that have actually been contaminated with the virus.
  • Measles is an extremely infectious viral disease. It can spread swiftly from one person to another by direct contact and through droplets airborne.
  • Tick-borne encephalitis is present in some areas of South Africa and it is a viral disease that impacts the central nervous system (brain as well as spinal cord). It is spread to people by the bite of infected ticks or when you take in unpasteurized milk products.
Is it safer to travel to a location with animals in South Africa?

Tourists to South Africa are normally cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including pets, monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats. Some infections discovered in some areas of South Africa, like bird influenza and also rabies, can be shared among human beings and also animals.


Whilst taking a trip South Africa, is it safer to drink water in South Africa?

Tourists to any location worldwide including South Africa can pick up travellers’ diarrhea from consuming contaminated water or food.

As food and water can become carries of diseases like cholera, hepatitis A, schistosomiasis and also typhoid, make sure you practice safe food and water precautions while taking a trip in any part of the globe. Keep in mind: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!

Travel insurance coverage for South Africa

Travel health cover is just one of the major factors travellers get travel insurance policy. It will not avoid you getting sick or hurt, though it can stop you suffering financially. Medical assistance overseas can be extremely expensive.

You need to shell out for all medical care you receive overseas. You can’t expect to get free or subsidised care through your South Africa’s public health system, like you would in your home country.

If you can’t pay, local authorities could detain you. The government from your home country can not pay you health care costs for you, loan you cash or get you out of jail.

You require travel insurance coverage for travelling to South Africa. You also need to make certain you select a policy that is right for you.

Read the fine print of your travel insurance policy.

Declare all pre-existing conditions to your travel insurance firm upfront. If you do not, you might void your travel insurance policy.

Inform your travel insurance company the activities you plan to do, before you go. Many common activities like snowboarding are left out in basic plans. You might require to pay additional.

Check if you have free credit card travel insurance policy. Some cards include travel insurance policy cover. Nonetheless, they usually have various conditions than paid policies. Be aware of the differences.

If you’re travelling to South Africa from a country that has a reciprocal health care agreement, you still require travel health insurance. Agreements are restricted in what they’ll will cover.

If you have a terminal illness, you might not be able to obtain basic travel insurance policy. Nevertheless you might have the ability to find a specialised insurance firm that covers you for health, mishaps or property issues unassociated to your ailment. Speak to your insurance provider to learn.

Discover more about getting international travel insurance for South Africa before you go.