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Do You Need Vaccines to Travel to Fiji? 💉 [2024]

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Travel Vaccination Advice for Fiji

Let’s cut straight to the chase. No, you do not need vaccinations for Fiji with the exception that a vaccine for yellow fever is required if you are coming from a yellow fever area. However, this guide to the vaccines recommended for entering Fiji goes through the current suggested vaccinations. In addition, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that travellers be covered with up-to-date vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio when travelling anywhere in the world, including Fiji. We go through the whole list of mandatory and recommended vaccinations for Fiji in this guide.

What Vaccinations Do You Need to Enter Fiji?

If you are coming from an area infected with yellow fever, where you stayed overnight or longer, within 10 days before arrival in Fiji, then you are required to provide evidence of a yellow fever vaccination. Otherwise, there are no other current vaccination mandates to enter Fiji. We list all the recommended vaccines for a visit to Fiji in the below guide.

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Required Vaccinations for Fiji

There is currently one vaccination required for travel to Fiji:

  • Yellow fever vaccination – If you are coming from a yellow fever area, you will need an International Health Certificate to show that you have been immunised within the last 10 years.

Do You Need a COVID-19 Vaccination to Enter Fiji?

“Effective 14 February 2023, international travellers arriving into Fiji by air or sea will no longer be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and travel insurance to enter Fiji.” – Fiji Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport.

In the event of any policy change, we will update this page as well as our full guide on What Documents Do I Need to Travel to Fiji? LINK#TT001

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Recommended Vaccinations for Fiji

Despite the list of recommended vaccinations, the likelihood of visitors to Fiji getting an infectious disease is very slim, except for dengue fever (see in the “Health Issues to Be Aware of in Fiji” section below), which there is no vaccine for.

Regardless, it’s always a good idea to make sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date (adults require boosters for some vaccines) and get the travel vaccinations that we list below to stay on the safe side.

Visit your travel clinic or GP 4-6 weeks before your trip to get up-to-date information on which vaccines are best to have for Fiji. When you get vaccines for you or your children, make sure to keep a record of them – many practices offer a “Travel Vaccination Passport”.

Travel Vaccinations for Fiji

Typhoid Vaccine

Typhoid is a disease spread through food and water. There have been isolated outbreaks of typhoid in Fiji on Vanua Levu in recent years during the wet season (NovemberApril). The typhoid vaccine typically lasts two years.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

Hepatitis A spreads through food and water. While most people recover completely from hepatitis A, the vaccine is close to 100% protective.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

Hepatitis B spreads through blood and body fluids and is much more serious than hepatitis A. While treatment is complex, the prevention vaccine is highly effective.

COVID-19 Vaccine

Although most of the population in Fiji is vaccinated against COVID-19, it can still be prevalent in travellers to and from the country. It’s best to be vaccinated to prevent/decrease symptoms.

Routine Vaccinations

Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

The MMR vaccine is given to children as routine in many countries. The vaccine is recommended to anyone unvaccinated. An adult booster is also recommended.

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (TDAP) Vaccine

These airborne diseases are also spread through wounds. While this is a routine vaccination in children in many countries, an adult booster is recommended, particularly for pertussis.

Polio Vaccine

Polio spreads through food and water. The polio vaccine is considered routine for children in many countries. A single adult booster vaccine is recommended.

Meningitis Vaccine

Meningococcal disease, which causes meningitis, is an airborne disease that has been an issue in local communities in Fiji in the past. The vaccine is recommended to anyone unvaccinated or at an increased risk.

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Health Issues to Be Aware of in Fiji

While Fiji is safe for most travellers, there are a few slightly more common medical issues experienced in Fiji. Take a look at the list below of some that you need to be aware of. For more information on symptoms, see How to Keep Safe in Fiji.

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is a mosquito-transmitted disease that has had a few outbreaks in Fiji in the past. While there is no vaccine for dengue fever, the best way to prevent it is to prevent day-biting mosquitos by staying in resorts that control mosquitos, wearing long-sleeved clothing and using insect repellent. See the 12 Ways to Avoid Mosquito Bites in Fiji for more prevention methods.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke is caused by long periods of sun exposure. It can be prevented by applying high-factor sunscreen every three hours, covering up exposed skin, staying in the shade at midday, and drinking plenty of water. Check out our recommended sunscreens in the 10 Best Environmentally-Friendly Sunscreens and 5 Best Sunscreens for Kids and Babies in Fiji.

E-coli (Traveller’s Diarrhoea)

E-coli is a virus resulting from contaminated food and water. Precautions to take include boiling water for at least 10 minutes if the water is not from a safe source and washing hands regularly. See more tips for making sure you have access to safe drinking water in the 6 Ways to Make Sure the Water is Safe to Drink in Fiji.

Ciguatera

Ciguatera is fish poisoning caused by eating reef fish that have eaten particular types of seaweed. Ways to prevent it include only eating the fish that the locals eat or avoiding eating reef fish altogether.

Get more tips for staying healthy in Fiji using our guide, How to Keep Safe in Fiji.

Do You Need Vaccines to Travel to Fiji? 💉 [2024]© FijiPocketGuide.com

FAQ About Vaccines for Fiji

Still haven’t had your question about vaccines for Fiji answered yet? Perhaps these frequently asked questions about vaccines for Fiji will help!

Do you need any vaccines to go to Fiji?

Yes, certain vaccines are recommended or required for travelling to Fiji. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend vaccinations such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, and Yellow Fever, depending on your travel plans. It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider for the most current advice.

Do you need malaria tablets for Fiji?

Malaria is not a major concern in Fiji, so malaria tablets are generally not required for travellers. However, it’s advisable to take precautions against mosquito bites, as other mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever are present. Use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants for protection, and follow more precautions outlined in the 10 Ways to Avoid Mosquito Bites in Fiji + How to Treat Bites.

Do I need a COVID test to enter Fiji?

Fiji has relaxed some of its COVID-19 travel restrictions, so you do not need a COVID test to enter Fiji.

What vaccinations are recommended for travel to Fiji?

For travel to Fiji, the following vaccinations are typically recommended: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Yellow Fever (if coming from a country with a risk of Yellow Fever), and routine vaccinations like measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella (chickenpox), polio, and your yearly flu shot. Always consult with a healthcare professional for personalised advice based on your health history and travel itinerary.

More About Vaccines to Travel to Fiji and Other Health Tips

That’s it for our complete guide to the travel vaccinations for Fiji. Get more essential tips for your Fiji getaway in the following articles:

Finally, check out The Complete Travel Guide to Fiji – the only travel guide to Fiji you’ll ever need.

Author

Robin C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Fiji Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

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