What are the mandatory and recommended vaccines for a trip to India?
No vaccine is mandatory for India from Europe. Strongly recommended: hepatitis A, typhoid, and routine vaccinations (tetanus, diphtheria, polio). Depending on your stay: meningitis, rabies for trekking, Japanese encephalitis in rice-growing areas.
Recommended vaccines for everyone
- Hepatitis A: strongly recommended, especially for those under 70 years old who are not naturally immunized
- Typhoid: highly recommended, India being the birthplace of this disease
- Universal vaccines: check that you are up to date with diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough, hepatitis B and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
Vaccines depending on the type of stay
Long stays or in northern India: meningococcal meningitis (A + C), particularly recommended for those under 40 years old.
Treks and hiking: rabies vaccination recommended for trekking enthusiasts.
Rice paddy areas during monsoon season: Japanese encephalitis recommended for stays in humid rural areas.
Key takeaway
Consult an international vaccination center 4 to 6 weeks before departure for personalized advice according to your itinerary and travel season.