Keith Crockford
The Maldives is one of the most idyllic places on earth but one question you may have is ‘What vaccinations do I need for the Maldives from the UK?’
As with all our trips, we advise you to go and see your GP or visit a travel clinic 3-4 months before your trip. Tell them where you’re going and what you’re doing and they’ll give you the most up to date advice.
Not all GPs offer a full range of travel vaccinations so check with yours well before your trip. You may be better off visiting a local travel clinic or pharmacy that offers a travel vaccination service.
You can also check on the government’s ‘Know Before You Go’ website for the most up to date advice.
Now let’s dive in – what vaccinations DO you need for the Maldives?
Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transited more than 12 hours through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
Despite the conditions in the Maldives being suitable for malaria epidemics, malaria is not present in the country (unless it was contracted abroad).
There is a risk of dengue fever in the Maldives. It is spread by a species of mosquito known as the ‘tiger mosquito’ which mainly bites during the day. The illness is widespread throughout the tropics and subtropics, affecting over 100 countries with approximately 50 million cases globally a year. Currently most infections occur in SE Asia, South and Central America, Mexico, Africa, Indian sub-continent, Hawaii and the Pacific.
There isn’t a vaccination available unless you’ve had dengue in the past or you’re part of an at-risk group (always talk to your doctor about whether this applies to you), so the best course of action to prevent getting ill is:
The same goes for preventing chikungunya and Zika virus.
Other vaccinations you can get before visiting the Maldives are for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, rabies, and typhoid. Have a read through the latest Travel Health Pro advice here, and discuss what’s best with your doctor.
You should also make sure you’re keeping up to date with the routine UK vaccinations like MMR, diphtheria-tetanus-polio, and tetanus. The full list can be found here.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that the Maldives’ island layout means, while there are doctors at most resorts, full hospital healthcare and emergency treatment can take several hours to get to, and you need to make sure you’ve got full travel health insurance.
For more info about everything health-related in the Maldives, click here.
And when you’re ready to book your Maldives trip of a lifetime – authentic style – check out our ‘Real Maldives’ itinerary here. Or for a true diving adventure, where you’ll get to grips with the pristine azure Maldivian waters and all that swims within, click here to find out more about our ‘Ultimate Maldives liveaboard’ itinerary.
We offer manageable monthly payment options for both trips, meaning you can pay for your unforgettable adventure without having to kiss goodbye to a big chunk of cash in one go.
Have a look at the itineraries, chuck any questions you have in our direction, secure your place and we’ll see you at the airport. If you don’t book it now… Will you ever?
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