Travel Vaccines for Brazil
Brazil is a popular destination for holidays, family visits, business travel, backpacking, eco-tourism, and longer stays. Before you travel, it is sensible to review the health risks relevant to your itinerary and make sure you have the right vaccines and travel advice in place.
At Edinburgh Vaccination Clinic, we provide personalised travel health advice for Brazil based on your destination, trip duration, planned activities, and medical history.
Travellers to Brazil should consider a range of health issues, including food and water-borne illness, mosquito-borne infections, rabies, tuberculosis in some circumstances, yellow fever in parts of the country, and an ongoing Oropouche virus disease outbreak.
Do I Need Vaccines for Brazil?
There is no single vaccine list that applies to every traveller to Brazil. The right advice depends on where you are going, how long you are staying, the type of accommodation you are using, and what you plan to do while you are there. A pre-travel consultation is ideally arranged 4 to 6 weeks before departure, although later advice can still be beneficial.
For Brazil, vaccines are best considered in two groups.
Commonly Considered for Many Travellers
- Hepatitis A
- Tetanus
- Typhoid
Considered for Some Travellers
- Chikungunya
- Dengue
- Hepatitis B
- Rabies
- Tuberculosis (BCG)
- Yellow Fever
Travellers should also ensure that their routine UK vaccinations are fully up to date before travel, including routine protection such as MMR and diphtheria, tetanus and polio where appropriate.
Brazil Vaccine Guide
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is commonly considered for Brazil because it is spread through contaminated food and water or through direct contact with an infectious person. Vaccination is recommended for previously unvaccinated travellers and provides long-lasting protection.
Tetanus
Tetanus protection should be reviewed before travel. If your routine course is incomplete, or if you are travelling in circumstances where medical facilities may be limited after an injury, a booster may be recommended if your last dose was more than 10 years ago.
Typhoid
Typhoid is commonly considered for Brazil, particularly for travellers visiting areas where sanitation and food hygiene may be poor, including frequent and long-stay travellers and those visiting friends and relatives.
Chikungunya
There is a risk of chikungunya in Brazil. Vaccination may be considered for travellers aged 12 and over who are travelling to regions with a current outbreak, who are long-term or frequent travellers to higher-risk areas, or who may be exposed through their work.
Dengue
There is a risk of dengue in Brazil. Vaccination may be considered for travellers aged 4 and over who have had dengue infection in the past and who are travelling to areas with dengue risk or ongoing outbreaks, or who may be exposed through their work. In selected cases, vaccination may also be considered after specialist risk assessment in travellers without previous dengue.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B may be relevant for longer trips, work-related travel, possible medical treatment abroad, contact sports, or any situation where exposure to blood or body fluids may occur. Brazil is considered to have an intermediate or high prevalence of hepatitis B.
Rabies
Rabies is an important consideration for Brazil. It is considered a risk in domestic animals, and bats may also carry rabies-like viruses. Vaccination may be particularly relevant for longer stays, outdoor activity, animal contact, rural travel, and travel to areas where access to post-exposure treatment may be limited.
Tuberculosis (BCG)
Tuberculosis vaccination may be relevant for selected travellers. BCG vaccination is mainly considered for unvaccinated children under 16 who are going to live in Brazil for more than 3 months, and for some people at increased risk of exposure or severe disease.
Yellow Fever
There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in parts of Brazil, so yellow fever vaccination is an important consideration for some travellers. Whether it is recommended depends on the exact areas you are visiting and your overall route through the country.
Is There Malaria in Brazil?
Yes, malaria is present in parts of Brazil
Malaria is a travel health consideration for some travellers to Brazil. Whether antimalarial tablets are needed depends on your exact itinerary, especially if you are travelling to higher-risk regions.
Do I Need Malaria Tablets?
Some travellers may need antimalarial medication, while others may not. This depends on:
- the regions you are visiting
- whether you are spending time in rural, forested, or higher-risk areas
- trip duration
- season of travel
- access to medical care
- your medical history
A personalised travel consultation is the best way to decide whether malaria tablets are appropriate for your trip.
Mosquito-Borne Risks in Brazil
Brazil has several important mosquito-borne infections to be aware of.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya is a recognised risk in Brazil and is spread by mosquitoes that mainly bite during daytime hours.
Dengue
Dengue is also a recognised risk in Brazil. The mosquitoes that spread dengue are more common in towns, cities, and surrounding areas.
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is relevant in parts of Brazil and should be reviewed carefully as part of your itinerary-based risk assessment.
Oropouche Virus Disease
An ongoing Oropouche virus disease outbreak is currently noted, which reinforces the importance of insect bite prevention.
How to Reduce Mosquito Risk in Brazil
Mosquito bite prevention is an important part of travel health advice for Brazil.
Practical Steps
- use an effective insect repellent regularly
- wear long sleeves and long trousers where practical
- stay in screened or air-conditioned accommodation where possible
- use mosquito nets if appropriate
- take extra care with daytime mosquito exposure for dengue and chikungunya
These measures remain important whether or not you are advised to have vaccines or malaria tablets.
Rabies Risk in Brazil
Rabies is one of the important travel health considerations for some travellers to Brazil.
How to Reduce Your Risk
- avoid contact with all animals
- do not handle stray or unfamiliar animals
- supervise children carefully around animals
- wash any bite or scratch immediately
- seek urgent medical help after any bite, scratch, or saliva exposure to broken skin
Even travellers who have received pre-travel rabies vaccination still require urgent medical assessment after a possible exposure.
Food and Water Safety in Brazil
Food and water-borne illness remains an important issue for travellers to Brazil. This is one reason why Hepatitis A and Typhoid are so commonly considered.
Practical Advice
- drink bottled or properly treated water
- avoid ice where water safety is uncertain
- eat food that is freshly cooked and served hot
- be cautious with raw foods
- maintain good hand hygiene
These measures complement vaccine protection and remain an important part of staying well while travelling.
Yellow Fever and Brazil
Is there yellow fever in Brazil?
Yes. There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in parts of Brazil, and this should be reviewed carefully according to your exact itinerary.
Are there certificate requirements?
There are no certificate requirements under the International Health Regulations for Brazil. However, yellow fever remains an important vaccine consideration because of the transmission risk in parts of the country.
Other Health Risks to Consider
Travel health planning for Brazil is not limited to vaccines.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is present in Brazil, and BCG vaccination may be relevant for selected travellers, especially some children staying for longer periods.
Oropouche Virus Disease
There is an ongoing Oropouche virus disease outbreak, so bite prevention and awareness of current health updates are especially important.
Outdoor and Adventure Travel
Longer trips, outdoor activity, rural travel, and more independent itineraries can change the relevance of vaccines such as Rabies, Yellow Fever, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid.
Who Should Book a Brazil Travel Health Appointment?
A pre-travel consultation is useful for all travellers but particularly if you are:
Travelling for Longer
Longer stays often increase the relevance of vaccines such as Hepatitis B, Rabies, Yellow Fever, and in some cases Tuberculosis (BCG).
Visiting Rural or Higher-Risk Areas
This may increase the need to consider yellow fever, malaria prevention, and careful bite-avoidance measures.
Planning Outdoor Activity
Travellers planning activities such as running, cycling, trekking, or wildlife exposure may have greater relevance for rabies and mosquito-related risk assessment.
Travelling With Children
Children may have different vaccine considerations, including review of routine vaccines and, in some cases, BCG for longer stays.
Unsure If Your Vaccines Are Up to Date
A travel consultation can review both routine UK vaccines and Brazil-specific travel vaccine considerations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What vaccines are usually considered for Brazil?
For many travellers, the most commonly considered vaccines are Hepatitis A, Tetanus, and Typhoid, with Chikungunya, Dengue, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Tuberculosis (BCG), and Yellow Fever considered for some travellers.
Do I need yellow fever vaccine for Brazil?
Possibly. Yellow fever is a risk in parts of Brazil, so whether vaccination is recommended depends on the specific areas you are visiting.
Do I need rabies vaccine for Brazil?
Possibly. Rabies may be relevant depending on your itinerary, activities, and access to prompt medical care.
Is dengue a risk in Brazil?
Yes. There is a recognised dengue risk in Brazil and vaccination may be considered for some travellers after an individual assessment.
Is chikungunya a risk in Brazil?
Yes. Chikungunya is also a recognised mosquito-borne risk in Brazil and vaccination may be considered for some travellers.
When should I book my travel vaccines for Brazil?
Ideally 4 to 6 weeks before departure, although later advice can still be very useful.
Book Your Brazil Travel Vaccine Appointment
If you are travelling to Brazil, book an appointment with Edinburgh Vaccination Clinic for tailored travel health advice.
We will review your itinerary, assess which vaccines and precautions are appropriate, and help you travel with confidence.
