Health advice on immunisations for travel

What is the issue?

Victorians travelling overseas are at increased risk of a range of vaccine preventable diseases, including measles, mpox, respiratory infections (e.g. influenza and COVID-19), gastrointestinal illnesses (e.g. hepatitis A, typhoid), and mosquito-borne diseases such as Japanese encephalitis and yellow fever.

Vaccines are available to protect against these diseases.

• Some of these diseases occur infrequently in Australia but are endemic (regularly found) in other countries. They can be brought into Australia by returning travellers who are infected while overseas. Sometimes, infected travellers may not become unwell until they return to Australia. These illnesses may then be passed on to others in our community and cause disease outbreaks.
• Rates of vaccination against many diseases have decreased worldwide, further increasing the risk of outbreaks, with measles a particular concern at present.
• Vaccine schedules have changed over time. Some Victorians may not be immune (protected) to infectious diseases which are not common in Victoria but are currently circulating worldwide.

Important vaccine-preventable diseases for travellers

Measles

Measles outbreaks are occurring globally, including popular travel destinations such as Indonesia, New Zealand, UK, USA, and Thailand and surrounding countries.

Mpox

Mpox continues to spread in many countries, including Australia, and the risk of transmission linked to international travel remains. Mpox vaccine is not routinely recommended for travel, however, it should be offered to people who already meet eligibility criteria in Victoria and may engage in sexual risk activities in countries where Clade I mpox is circulating.

Respiratory diseases

Influenza and COVID-19 remain common vaccine-preventable diseases among travellers.

Diseases acquired through unsafe water or food preparation

Some diseases are spread when traces of faeces/stools (poo) containing the virus contaminates hands, objects, water or food.

• Returned travellers are at increased risk of hepatitis A infection. Hepatitis A is a virus that causes severe inflammation of the liver. Most infections occur in travellers to India and Pakistan, however, hepatitis A vaccination is strongly recommended prior to travel to any country where the disease is common.
• Typhoid and paratyphoid fevers are bacterial infections that affect the intestinal tract and bloodstream. Without prompt medical treatment, typhoid and paratyphoid fevers can be fatal.

Who is at risk?

Any person who is travelling overseas is at risk of getting a travel-related infectious disease. People who have close contact with travellers who have recently returned from overseas may also be at risk.

The risk of contracting a travel-related illness or becoming seriously unwell is higher in people who are not fully vaccinated against these infectious diseases, are older, or have underlying health conditions.

Travellers returning to their country of birth, or to visit friends or relatives may be at increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases compared to tourists on holiday. This risk is influenced by the length of the visit, a loss of immunity (protection) to previous diseases, being more likely to eat local food and drink, and a tendency for closer or more frequent interactions with people in the local community.

Recommendations

For the public

See your immunisation provider early

• If you are planning overseas travel, visit your GP, travel health clinic or immunisation provider at least 6 to 8 weeks before you go. They can advise on recommended vaccinations and health precautions based on your destination, activities and length of stay.

Check your routine vaccinations

• Before travelling make sure your routine vaccinations, including any boosters, are up to date. This includes measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-whooping cough (pertussis), polio, and chickenpox (varicella) vaccines.
• Two doses of measles-containing vaccines are needed for full protection against measles.
• Free MMR vaccine is available to people born during or after 1966 who do not have records of having received 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine.
• Infants aged 6 to 11 months can receive a free dose of measles containing vaccine prior to travel if recommended by your GP or immunisation provider. They will still need further doses at the routine ages of 12 and 18 months of age.

Other travel vaccines

• Depending on where you are going or what you will be doing, you may need extra vaccines such as hepatitis A, typhoid, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis vaccines. Ask your healthcare professional about which vaccines are recommended for you.
• Make sure you have had a 2025 influenza vaccination (recommended for all Victorians over the age of 6 months). Check you’re up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters if recommended.
• Mpox vaccine is not routinely recommended for travel. However, it is available to people who already meet eligibility criteria in Victoria and may engage in sexual risk activities in countries where Clade I mpox is circulating. Two doses of mpox vaccine are needed for best protection.

Check your vaccination records online

• Vaccination records can be checked online using MyGov through Medicare. See how to find your immunisation records for more information.
• Visit your local GP, travel health clinic or immunisation provider to access vaccines.
• Chemist Care Now allows Victorians to receive some treatments at a local chemist without needing to see a doctor to get a prescription first, including some recommended vaccinations for travel and other health vaccines such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis and typhoid. Find a participating chemist.
• To access mpox vaccines see Mpox immunisation providers.

Get trusted travel health advice

• Visit the Australian Government smartraveller website and Travel immunisation on Better Health Channel.

For health professionals

Planning for travel

• GPs and other health professionals should discuss vaccinations with patients planning to travel overseas at least 6 to 8 weeks prior to departure. Provide advice tailored to destination, activities, length of stay and individual health needs.
• Refer to the Australian Government smartraveller website and Vaccination for international travellers (Australian Immunisation Handbook) for up-to-date guidance on destination risk, vaccine recommendations and eligibility.

Ensure routine vaccinations are up to date

• Check immunisation records to ensure routine vaccinations are up to date. This includes COVID-19 (including booster doses if recommended) and influenza vaccines.
• Due to the global increase in measles, it is strongly recommended that all overseas travellers are immune to measles, by completing a full course of measles-containing vaccine or demonstrated serological immunity.
• Free MMR vaccines can be offered to people born during or after 1966 who lack documentation of 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine. Offer vaccination to anyone unsure of their vaccination history, regardless of Medicare status.
• Infants from 6 to 11 months of age can receive a free dose of MMR vaccine prior to overseas travel to endemic countries or where outbreaks are occurring. If given at less than 11 months of age, they still require the 2 recommended vaccine doses at 12 months (MMR) and 18 months (measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV)) of age.

Assess risk for other diseases

• Travellers should be assessed for their individual risk of enteric diseases (e.g., hepatitis A, typhoid) and endemic mosquito-borne diseases (e.g., Japanese encephalitis and yellow fever), based on their location, activities and duration of travel, and appropriate vaccinations offered.
• Mpox vaccine is not routinely recommended for travel. However, it should be offered to people who already meet eligibility criteria in Victoria and may engage in sexual risk activities in countries where Clade I mpox is circulating. Two doses of mpox vaccine are needed for best protection. Check the eligibility criteria and refer to an mpox immunisation provider, if you do not currently stock the vaccine.

More information

Clinical information

• Assessment of returned travellers with fever
• Disease information and advice
• Immunisation
• Vaccination for international travellers - Australian Immunisation Handbook

Consumer information

• Health advice for travelling Australians - Smartraveller
• Travel and holidays - Better Health Channel
• Travel immunisation - Better Health Channel

Disease specific information on Better Health Channel

• Measles
• Mpox (monkey pox) immunisation providers
• Advice for people with mpox
• COVID-19
• Influenza (flu) – immunisation
• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid and paratyphoid
• Travel health - yellow fever immunisation
• Japanese encephalitis