I’m heading overseas, do I really need travel vaccines?
Published: December 12, 2025 2.24pm AEDT in The Conversation.
Authors
Archana Koirala Paediatrician and Infectious Diseases Specialist; Clinical Researcher, University of Sydney
Anthea Katelaris Public Health Physician and Conjoint Senior Lecturer in the School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney
Phoebe Williams Paediatrician & Infectious Diseases Physician; Senior Lecturer & NHMRC Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, University of SydneyAustralia is in its busiest month for short-term overseas travel. And there are so many things to consider when planning your trip. Unfortunately, it’s easy to overlook the importance of pre-travel vaccinations.
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Australia is in its busiest month for short-term overseas travel. And there are so many things to consider when planning your trip. Unfortunately, it’s easy to overlook the importance of pre-travel vaccinations.
That’s particularly the case for those visiting friends and relatives, who are less likely to get vaccinated before leaving the country. Unfortunately, this is also the group at greater risk compared to other travellers.
That’s because they generally stay longer, are more likely to travel to rural areas, eat or drink local or untreated food and water, and have closer contact with the local population.
Why are travel vaccines important?
Although infectious diseases exist everywhere, in some destinations there is a higher risk of becoming sick.
This can be due to tropical climates, the quality of water and sanitation, and insects or animals that carry diseases. This is alongside declining vaccination rates in children and low vaccine uptake in adults (for instance, for the flu vaccine) globally.
Getting sick overseas can at best, interrupt your holiday plans, or at worst, lead to serious illness and having to navigate foreign health systems.