What vaccinations do I need for Bangkok? For most visitors, Thailand requires none at the border: the only vaccine certificate it asks for is yellow fever, and only from travelers arriving from, or transiting for more than 12 hours through, a country with yellow fever risk. Health agencies do recommend several vaccines, though. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the UK's National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) both advise being up to date on routine vaccines and list hepatitis A for most travelers, with others depending on your trip.
This page summarizes what those agencies and the World Health Organization (WHO) publish for Thailand. It is not medical advice. Your own needs depend on your age, health, vaccination history, length of stay and plans, so book a travel health appointment with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist before you go.
When to see a clinician
The CDC suggests visiting your doctor at least a month before your trip. NaTHNaC recommends an appointment ideally four to six weeks before travel, earlier if you have existing health conditions, and says an appointment is still worthwhile even if time is short. Some vaccines need more than one dose, which is why the lead time matters.
Entry requirement: yellow fever only
There is no yellow fever risk in Thailand, but there is a certificate requirement. Travelers aged 9 months or older need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if they arrive from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission, including after an airport transit of more than 12 hours in such a country. The CDC notes that direct travel from the United States does not trigger the requirement, and neither agency recommends the vaccine for Thailand itself.
NaTHNaC, citing WHO, notes that since July 11, 2016 a yellow fever certificate is valid for the life of the person vaccinated. The WHO's yellow fever fact sheet says a single dose gives lifelong protection and that countries may require proof of vaccination under the International Health Regulations. The countries with yellow fever risk are in Africa and the Americas, so if your trip to Bangkok starts or connects there, check the rules well ahead.
What the CDC and NaTHNaC recommend for Thailand
| Vaccine | CDC (US) | NaTHNaC (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Routine vaccines (such as MMR, diphtheria-tetanus-polio, chickenpox, flu) | Up to date before every trip | Up to date with the UK schedule |
| Hepatitis A | Recommended for unvaccinated travelers aged 1 and over | Recommended for most travelers |
| Typhoid | Recommended for most travelers | For some travelers at higher risk |
| Tetanus | Part of routine vaccines | Most travelers; a booster may be advised if the last dose was over ten years ago |
| Hepatitis B | Recommended for unvaccinated travelers under 60 | Could be considered for all; recommended for those at higher risk, including long-stay travelers |
| Japanese encephalitis | Not recommended for short trips to urban areas; for longer stays or rural activities | For some travelers, such as stays of a month or more in risk areas |
| Rabies (before travel) | Discuss with a healthcare provider | For higher-risk travelers, including stays of more than a month |
| Chikungunya | May be considered for stays of six months or more | For some travelers, such as long-term or frequent visitors |
| Cholera | Not recommended | Not listed |
A table flattens a lot of detail, so read each agency's full Thailand page with your clinician. A few points stand out for a Bangkok trip.
Food and water: hepatitis A and typhoid
Both diseases spread through contaminated food and water. The CDC notes that the typhoid vaccine is not 100 percent effective, so safe food and water habits and hand-washing still matter. NaTHNaC says travelers with access to safe food and water are likely to be at low risk of typhoid, and names those visiting friends and relatives and frequent or long-stay travelers as being at higher risk. For the stomach upsets many visitors worry about, see our guide to Bangkok belly.
Measles
The CDC has a Level 1 global measles notice and says all international travelers should be fully vaccinated with MMR, including an early dose for infants aged 6 to 11 months. NaTHNaC also advises all travelers to be up to date and suggests MMR for infants from six months who are likely to be mixing with local people.
Rabies and animals
Both agencies report rabies in animals in Thailand, including dogs. NaTHNaC advises avoiding contact with all animals and, after any bite, scratch or lick on broken skin, cleaning the wound thoroughly and getting an urgent medical assessment. The CDC says rabies vaccines for use after an exposure are typically available throughout most of the country.
Mosquitoes: dengue, chikungunya and malaria
Dengue and chikungunya are both present in Thailand, and NaTHNaC notes that the mosquitoes that spread dengue are more common in towns and cities and bite mainly in the daytime. There is no routine vaccine for most travelers: NaTHNaC says dengue vaccination can be considered from age 4 for people who have had dengue before, while the CDC's advice is to avoid bug bites.
On malaria, NaTHNaC states there is no risk in the city of Bangkok and recommends bite avoidance, and the CDC lists Bangkok among places with rare to few cases, where it advises insect bite precautions rather than preventive medicine. Risk is concentrated in rural and forested border provinces. If you are traveling in the wet months, our guide to Bangkok's rainy season helps with planning.
Before you go: a short checklist
- Book a travel health appointment four to six weeks before departure, or as soon as you can.
- Bring your vaccination records, including any yellow fever certificate if your route requires one.
- Tell the clinician how long you will stay and whether you will leave Bangkok for rural areas, since that changes the advice on Japanese encephalitis, rabies and malaria.
- Pack insect repellent and plan to cover up, especially if you will be outdoors in the daytime.
- Check entry rules, including how long you can stay, in our guide to how long you can stay in Bangkok.
Travel health advice changes. The CDC posts travel health notices on its destination pages, and NaTHNaC reports current outbreaks on its own site, so check both again shortly before you fly.
Sources: CDC Travelers' Health, Thailand (page last reviewed August 25, 2026), NaTHNaC TravelHealthPro, Thailand, WHO, Yellow fever fact sheet (October 20, 2025). Checked September 26, 2026.
Only a yellow fever certificate, and only for travelers aged 9 months or older arriving from a country with yellow fever risk, including after an airport transit of more than 12 hours there. According to the CDC, direct travel from the United States does not trigger the requirement.
Both advise being up to date on routine vaccines and recommend hepatitis A for most travelers. The CDC also recommends typhoid for most travelers and hepatitis B for unvaccinated travelers under 60. Others, such as Japanese encephalitis and rabies, depend on your stay and activities. A clinician can tell you which apply to you.
NaTHNaC suggests an appointment ideally four to six weeks before travel; the CDC says at least a month. If you are leaving sooner, both say it is still worth seeing a clinician.
NaTHNaC says there is no malaria risk in the city of Bangkok and recommends mosquito bite avoidance. The CDC lists Bangkok among places with rare to few cases and advises bite precautions rather than preventive medicine there. Ask a clinician if your trip includes rural border areas.
NaTHNaC says dengue vaccination can be considered for people aged 4 and over who have had dengue before, and only exceptionally for others after expert advice. For most visitors, the main protection is avoiding mosquito bites, especially in the daytime.
It depends on your plans. NaTHNaC recommends pre-exposure rabies vaccine for higher-risk travelers, including those staying more than a month or doing activities such as running or cycling. The CDC advises discussing it with a healthcare provider. Whatever you decide, avoid contact with animals and seek urgent care after any bite or scratch.
