Medical Shots Needed to Travel to South Africa

Routine

Vaccination against measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), diptheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) and polio should be current. Travelers are advised to discuss a travel itinerary and personal medical records with a physician; they should acquire any necessary boosters one month or more in advance of arrival in South Africa.

Hepatitis A

Visitors should be immunized against hepatitis A regardless of agenda due to risk of infection in South Africa. Hepatitis A is spread through contaminated food and water, and it has been contracted by travelers in quality lodging conditions with treated food and water sources.

Hepatitis B

Travelers should acquire the hepatitis B vaccination well in advance of arrival in South Africa. Visitors who will be at high risk of infection--through sexual activity with native people, by giving or receiving medical attention, or any transfer of potentially contaminated body fluids--are strongly advised to acquire this vaccination.

Typhoid

Visitors spending time in rural South Africa and those who will take lodging in private residences are recommended to acquire the typhoid vaccination to prevent infection from food and water sources.

Rabies

The CDC recommends the rabies vaccination for visitors who will spend time in rural South Africa or who will have contact with local animals. Children are strongly advised to acquire this immunization because the likelihood of contact with infected animals is higher, and the extent of injury is commonly more severe.

Yellow Fever

Visitors are required to show proof of vaccination again yellow fever when entering South Africa from a country with known cases of the illness. Travelers reaching South Africa as part of a larger travel itinerary should take this into consideration.