There are no compulsory inoculation requirements* for visitors to Thailand coming from the West. While not compulsory, I would recommend vaccinations for:
- Covid-19
- Hepatitis A (and possibly Hepatitis B)
- Polio and Tetanus
- Typhoid
*Covid-19 vaccinations
If you are travelling to Thailand at any time during 2021, it’s advisable to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Without being fully vaccinated, you will be required to undergo a 2-week quarantine period (at your own expense) on arrival in Thailand. Although it isn’t yet clear what will happen from 2022 onwards, it’s likely that being fully vaccinated will make entry to Thailand and domestic travel easier.
For many people it may just be a case of checking to see if you need a booster jab. Check with your doctor or health care practitioner before you go. Some health care professionals may suggest malaria tablets and rabies inoculation. Naturally, the choice is yours, but if you are visiting the main tourist areas malaria is not an issue. If you’re planning on doing some serious jungle trekking it may be a consideration, but even then a course of tablets will be far cheaper in Thailand. The local pharmacies are invariably excellent with English speaking staff. The British pharmacy group, Boots the Chemist, has branches in places like Bangkok, Ko Samui, Chiang Mai and Pattaya.
Should you have the misfortune to be bitten by a dog or monkey, rabies vaccinations can be administered at the nearest hospital. The cost is cheap and the service good. Most tourists and visitors to Thailand won’t need to be vaccinated for Japanese encephalitis, but it may be a consideration for some people. Your doctor, local surgery or medical practitioner will be able to advise you.
Arriving at Bangkok Airport (Suvarnabhumi)