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Vaccines for Thailand: what you actually need (2026)
Flying from Portugal to Thailand? No required vaccine on entry. Malaria is the border provinces, not Phuket or Koh Samui. Japanese encephalitis is two doses.
General information — it does not replace a medical consultation. Vaccination centre hours may change.
Bangkok, the northern hills, the southern islands — in Thailand the route changes everything. A beach-and-city trip needs little. A month of backpacking in the north, or jungle trails near the border, needs a good deal more. That is true whether you are visiting from abroad or you live in Portugal and fly out from here.
A travel consultation (€39, in English) matches the day-by-day itinerary to your record and says what you need — and what you do not.
Quick summary
- Required on entry (flight from Portugal): no vaccine. Yellow fever is required only if you arrive from a risk country (for example after time in Brazil or in Africa).
- Malaria: risk mainly in border provinces (Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia). In Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket, cases are rare and tablets are not recommended.
- Japanese encephalitis: recommended for stays of a month or more, or short trips with a lot of time in rural areas.
- Other vaccines: hepatitis A and hepatitis B for most people; typhoid and rabies depending on the trip.
- When to book: 6 to 8 weeks ahead, especially if you need Japanese encephalitis (two doses).
Malaria: it depends where you go
According to the CDC:
- Main risk: provinces bordering Myanmar, Cambodia (except Buri Ram) and Malaysia, especially rural and forest areas. Preventive tablets are recommended here (atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline or tafenoquine). The prescription comes from the consultation: malaria prophylaxis.
- Rare cases: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and Phuket. Bite prevention only, no tablets.
- No transmission: Pattaya and the islands of Krabi province (Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Yao Noi, Koh Yao Yai).
In short: for the classic Bangkok–Chiang Mai–islands circuit, you usually do not need malaria tablets. If you are trekking or staying near the borders, you need a medical assessment.
Japanese encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne brain infection, present across much of Thailand outside the capital. Outbreaks are more frequent in the north (Chiang Mai valley) between May and October, but there have been cases in travellers on the southern coast.
The CDC recommends the vaccine if you:
- stay a month or more in areas with Japanese encephalitis;
- are moving to live in Thailand;
- travel often to these areas.
It suggests considering it on shorter trips with higher-risk activities: rural areas, trekking, camping, or lodging without air conditioning or a net. It is not recommended for short city-only trips.
The vaccine is two doses, so you need time — the main reason to book the consultation early. It is given at an International Vaccination Centre in Portugal, with a prescription.
Dengue
Dengue circulates throughout Thailand, including cities and islands. Protect yourself from bites during the day: that is when the dengue mosquito bites most. Ask in the consultation whether dengue vaccine makes sense in your case.
Travel consultation · video
Prepare your trip with a personal vaccine plan
- €39 · video consultation
- Prescriptions and vaccine plan the same day, when indicated
- Vaccines paid separately, at an International Vaccination Centre
Yellow fever: only if you come from another country
Flying from Portugal, you do not need a certificate. If you arrive from a risk country — for example Brazil or an African country with transmission — the certificate can be required. Vaccine guide: yellow fever. It is not given at CUF.
Other vaccines to consider
- Hepatitis A: strongly recommended.
- Hepatitis B: strongly recommended, especially on long stays, with tattoos, or with medical or dental treatment on the ground.
- Typhoid: if you eat well outside tourist circuits or go to rural areas.
- Rabies: dogs and monkeys are common; consider it for long stays, trails, or contact with animals.
- Routine vaccines: measles and flu in particular. If your record is from outside Portugal, bring it.
More context: malaria and hepatitis A/B.
How far ahead to book
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 6–8 weeks before | Travel consultation; start Japanese encephalitis if indicated |
| 2–4 weeks before | Finish multi-dose vaccines |
| 1–2 weeks before | Collect malaria tablets, if the route needs them |
| Last minute | Still useful: hepatitis A and advice for the route |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need malaria tablets for Phuket or Koh Samui?
Usually no. The CDC recommends bite prevention only on these islands.
Do I need Japanese encephalitis vaccine for a two-week holiday?
In most cases, no — it depends on what you will do. If you spend a lot of time in rural areas or go trekking, decide in the consultation.
Do I need any required vaccine?
No, if you travel from Portugal. Only if you arrive from a yellow fever risk country.
Book the travel consultation
Other destinations
- Vaccines for Brazil
- Vaccines for Angola
- Vaccines for Mozambique
- Vaccines for Cape Verde
- Vaccines for India
- Safari in Kenya and Tanzania
- All destinations
Sources
- CDC Yellow Book 2026 — Thailand
- CDC Yellow Book — Yellow Fever Vaccine and Malaria Prevention Information, by Country
- CDC Yellow Book — Japanese Encephalitis
This article is information. It does not replace a medical consultation. Recommendations can change; check them before you travel.
