Mexico
Mexico in North America shares its borders with the United States in the north and Guatemala and Belize in the south.
Travel Vaccinations
Mexico in North America shares its borders with the United States in the north and Guatemala and Belize in the south.
Recommended Vaccinations for Mexico at a Glance
All Travellers: Routine Vaccinations: MMR, DTaP
Most Travellers: Typhoid, Hepatitis A
Some Travellers: Hepatitis B and Rabies
There is a risk of Malaria in Mexico. See advice below.
There is a No Risk of Yellow Fever in Mexico but there may be a certificate requirement. See advice below.
Please check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice before travelling to Mexico as travel updates on this country changes from time to time.
Mexico is known for its flavour-filled food, packed and vibrant cities, and friendly culture. However, you will need more than just your regular routine vaccinations for Mexico. Infectious diseases such as typhoid and hepatitis A exist in Mexico and travellers are more susceptible to these diseases than those already living there.
We follow the standards set out by national bodies, such as the NHS and the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) to provide the most up-to-date and credible information needed for anyone travelling outside the UK.
It’s necessary to see a travel health specialist about your personal requirements for Mexico vaccinations. Not everyone will need the same jabs for Mexico, although there are some exceptions to this. Your routine vaccinations will be needed by all travellers. These should be up to date for living in the UK but may need topping up.
Beyond this, your jabs needed for Mexico will vary depending on a number of factors:
These are the kinds of questions a travel health professional is going to ask you to figure out your injections for Mexico. It’s important to think about what kind of traveller you’ll be. Are you going to be sampling all different types of food, or sticking to meals in your resort? With the outbreak of Zika virus still a risk for pregnant women, even considering whether you may get pregnant while you’re away can help our travel specialists provide you with a safe course of action.
Here is a breakdown of some of the jabs for Mexico that you may need. Be sure to consult your travel specialist to have this tailored specifically to your trip.
MMR and DTaP are your routine vaccinations that all travellers need. We strongly recommend checking in with our travel specialists about this, rather than assuming that you’re covered for these Mexico vaccinations in the UK. There has been an outbreak of measles worldwide and all of these diseases are transferred from person-to-person. In a country of almost 130 million people, this creates a real risk.
These diseases are transferred through contaminated food and water and can lead to severe illness and even death. There is no cure for hepatitis A, once you have it, you need to manage it at home. We recommend these vaccinations for Mexico but talk to your travel specialist who can tailor this advice for your specific trip.
TIP While you’re in Mexico:
South America is a high risk area for hepatitis B and it is transmitted through body fluids, such as saliva and sexual fluids, as well as needles, for instance those used in tattooing or for administering drugs.
Twinrix is a combined vaccine against hepatitis A and B. This may be the best solution, depending on what your other Mexico travel vaccines are. We will offer this if it is appropriate.
While not strictly speaking one of your vaccinations for Mexico, it’s worth mentioning allergy medication, due to the climate and pollution there. Locals and travellers alike can experience allergy symptoms such as respiratory problems. Check out this pollen map if you think you might be at risk.
The table below provides a general guide as to the Travel Vaccinations that may be advised to you for travel to Mexico. All Travellers should ensure that they are up-to-date with Routine Vaccinations including Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio and Measles, Mumps and Rubella. Most travellers will also need to consider a course or booster of Hepatitis A and Typhoid as there is a risk of these diseases across most parts of the world. Some Travellers may also be advised additional vaccinations based on a risk assessment to include itinerary, current and past medical history and lifestyle.
Vaccination | All Travellers | Most Travellers | Some Travellers | Major Risk Factors | Course | Price Per Dose |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MMR | Yes | Person-to-Person | MMR, Course of Two | £60 | ||
DTaP | Yes | Person-to-Person | Revaxis, Single Dose | £50 | ||
Typhoid | Yes | Contaminated Food and Water | Typhim Vi, Single Dose | £50 | ||
Hepatitis A | Yes | Contaminated Food and Water | Avaxim/havrix, Single Dose | £86 | ||
Hepatitis B | Yes | Body Fluids, Medical Intervention | EnergixB, Course of Three | £65 | ||
Rabies | Yes | Infected Animals | Course of Three | £66 | ||
Rabies | Yes | Infected Animals | Rabipur, Course of Three, ID, in rabies clinincs | £45 |
The Vaccinations and Medications that are needed for travel vary from person-to-person. Everyone should have a personal risk assessment with a travel health professional to take into account a range of factors such as itinerary, medical condition, occupational and lifestyle risk factors and previous vaccination history.
All Travellers should ensure that they are are up-to-date with Routine Vaccinations including Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio and Measles, Mumps and Rubella.
Most travellers will also need to consider a course or booster of Hepatitis A and Typhoid as there is a risk of these diseases across most parts of the world.
Some Travellers may also be advised additional vaccinations such as Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis and Hepatitis B based on their individual risk assessment.
Malaria is a viral illness spread by mosquitoes that bite from dusk to dawn throughout the tropical world. It causes high fever and severe joint and muscle pains. In serious cases, malaria can be fatal.
Malaria is a risk in some parts of Mexico. There is a low risk in the areas of Chiapas and Ozxaca. There is also a very low risk in Chihuahua, Durango, Nayarit, Qunitana Roo and Sinaloa.
Do you need malaria tablets for Mexico?
All travellers to Mexico should get advice from one of our travel specialists regarding if you need malaria medication and what type. Rather than a vaccination, this medication is taken to help stop the illness from developing. The type of medication required depends on:
Yellow Fever is a serious viral illness spread by mosquitoes in the tropical regions of Africa and South America. For further information, please see Yellow Fever Vaccination.
Risk of yellow fever for Mexico
Yellow Fever is not a risk in Mexico however there may be a certificate requirement for some travellers.
Yellow Fever Certification Requirements for Mexico
Under International Health Regulations (2005), travellers who have been to an Area affected by Yellow Fever, or who have travelled via an airport of a country affected, are required to present an International Certificate of Vaccination (ICVP) before they are allowed to enter Mexico. For further information, please see Yellow Fever Certification Requirements.
Katy Peters, Founder and Director of the London Vaccination Clinic, is a fresh, balanced and experienced voice in the vaccination and travel health industry. Katy has a firm belief that every parent should have the unbiased information necessary to make an informed decision regarding the risk/benefit ratio of vaccination for their children. Katy is equally passionate about the power of vaccinations to save lives– especially in developing countries. This passion was born over a decade ago when she helped vaccinate over 2000 children and prevent a Measels outbreak in the Congolese Bush.