Travelling to St. Lucia? Need Vaccinations?
Luxuriant with forests, rolling green hills and picture postcard vistas of the Caribbean, St. Lucia is a haven for water sports enthusiasts, photographers, and honeymooners. The port of Castries is one of the Caribbean’s loveliest natural harbours, welcoming cruise ships every day. Most first-time visitors flock to the beach at Rodney Bay for wind surfing, sailing, and jet skiing, but there is so much of the island to discover.
Rent a jeep and head south to Soufrière to see the famous Pitons rising from the sea, then take a walking tour through banana and coconut plantations. Visit the bubbling sulphur springs and waterfalls at the world’s only drive in volcano, and don’t miss serenely beautiful Marigot Bay, the site where the original Dr. Doolittle was filmed. Your first stop on your way to St. Lucia should be a visit to our Travel Health Clinic, four to eight weeks before departure, so that you will be completely safe and up-to-date with the Vaccinations you need for St. Lucia.
What Vaccinations do I need for Travel to St. Lucia?
Travellers to St. Lucia are generally advised the following vaccinations:
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio Vaccination
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio area all serious and potentially life threatening diseases. Most travellers should have been vaccinated as part of the UK national vaccination schedule. A booster every ten years is recommended by the World Health Organisation. Vaccination is given as a single dose as part of the combined DTP Vaccination.
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio, Revaxis, Single Dose: £28
Measles, Mumps and Rubella
Measles, Mumps and Rubella are serious and potentially life threatening diseases. Most travellers should have been vaccinated as part of the UK national vaccination schedule. Vaccination is given as a course of two as part of the combined MMR Vaccination.
Measles Mumps and Rubella, MMR, Course of Two: £45 per dose
Typhoid Vaccination
Typhoid is a serious bacterial infection which causes acute inflammation of the liver. Left untreated, Typhoid can be fatal. It is found throughout the world in areas that have poor sanitation including Africa, Central and South America, South Asia and India, the Middle East. There are a number of options for vaccination including single, combined and oral vaccination.
Typhoid, Typhim Vi, Single Dose: £50
Hepatitis A and Typhoid, Viatim, Single Dose: £87
Typhoid Oral, Vivotiff, Course of Three, £50 for the course
Following a risk assessment based on your itinerary, length of stay, occupational and personal risks you may be advised additional travel vaccinations for St. Lucia, including:
Hepatitis B Vaccination
Hepatitis B affects the functioning of the liver and is spread by coming into contact with infected bodily fluids. High risk activities include sexual intercourse, sharing needles and through medical intervention using unsterile equipment. There are a number of options for vaccination including single and combined vaccinations.
Hepatitis B Adult, EnergixB, Course of Three, £35 per dose
Hepatitis B Child, EnergixB Junior, Course of Three, £35 per dose
Hepatitis A and B Adult, Twinrix, Course of Three: £60 per dose
Hepatitis A and B Child, Twinrix, Course of Three £40 per dose
Hepatitis A and B Child, Ambrix, Course of Three, £55 per dose
Further Travel Health Advice for St. Lucia
Heat and Humidity
St. Lucia is tropical and owes its lush green landscape to its rainforest climate. After a rainfall, the heat can become more oppressive, so remember to drink lots of bottled water, and use a good sun block lotion at the beach. Apply liberally and reapply often. At the beach and on tour, remember to wear head covering.
Drinking Water
The tap water in St. Lucia is chlorinated and considered safe to drink, but seasoned travellers seldom risk ruining their holiday by drinking water they are not accustomed to. Bottled or distilled water is cheap and readily available. Bring lots with you wherever you go in St. Lucia, and replenish fluids throughout the day, especially if you are taking the sun.
Food and Drink
Thanks to its rich, fertile soil, St. Lucia produces an enormous range of vegetables and fruits such as papaya, plum, avocado, coconut, and watermelon, to name just a few, and you will find these used in main dishes, including the National dish, green bananas, called figs, with dried salted cod. St. Lucia’s cuisine shows its French, Creole and Caribbean influences in spicy fish or meat stews, langouste (lobster) which is cooked in any number of ways, fried breadfruit, served as crisps, and fried or cracked conch, and Accra, deep fried fish cakes made with salted cod and spices. For a cool refreshing drink, try golden apples, made from unripened apples and sugar. Heineken beer and Piton beer are both brewed on St. Lucia, and the rum punch is a must as you watch the sun set over Marigot Bay.
Seeking Treatment Abroad
There is a hospital in Castries and another in Vieux Fort, as well as a clinic in Rodney Bay. For the most part, the standard of care is above average. It is, however, important that you arrange in advance to have enough money with you to pay for any health care you might need at private clinics.
Travel and Health Insurance
Protect yourself, and your family, with comprehensive travel health insurance which will cover your intended itinerary and any potentially risky activities, such as diving, and hiking through the rainforest.
Personal Safety
Aside from observing the normal precautions, visitors are mostly safe in St. Lucia, but there is the risk of petty crime from hotels, boats, and holiday homes. When hiking, stay on well trodden trails and avoid dense grassy areas, to avoid a deadly bite from a fer de lance pit viper. Approximately 76,000 British Nationals visited St. Lucia in 2012, mostly without incident.