It is important to consider the vaccines required for safe travel to Bali to ensure a healthy and enjoyable trip. When searching for a vacation destination, many people look for warm and lush places; Bali certainly fits that criteria and more. Bali, Indonesia consistently ranks as one of the world’s top holiday destinations, thanks to its stunning beaches, exquisite culture, and mouthwatering cuisine.
However, there are a few precautions you’ll want to take to ensure you have a healthy and enjoyable vacation. Fortunately, we have all the information you’ll need about the vaccinations required for Bali.
Vaccinations Required for Safe Travel to Bali
There are no vaccines required for Bali, and government officials won’t be asking to see your yellow fever card, but there are a few important vaccines that everyone should receive before traveling to this tropical paradise. Be sure to plan ahead, most vaccines won’t provide full protection for at least two weeks, and some require multiple doses spaced over several months.
Tdap
Children receive several doses of the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine, but to retain lifelong immunity, adults require a booster shot every 5 to 10 years. If you’re not sure when your last dose was, err on the side of safety and schedule yourself for a booster.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is less common in the United States because it’s usually transmitted through contaminated water and food. However, it is the second most common vaccine-preventable illness in the world. We recommend vaccination anytime you’re traveling abroad. A complete hepatitis A vaccine series includes two doses, spaced six months apart. The vaccine is so effective however, that even a single dose before your trip offers excellent immune protection.
COVID-19
The worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is hopefully behind us, but the virus is still circulating around the world. The CDC currently recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months receive the latest formulation of the COVID-19 vaccine. The different formulations are essentially equal in their effectiveness and the current vaccine protects you against the current strains of the virus circulating around the world.
Influenza
Many people discount the flu, but it can still make you very ill and the risk of getting the flu is higher when you are traveling. No one wants to be laid up in their hotel room when they could be sightseeing or lounging on a beach. If you’re traveling during flu season, it’s a good idea to get vaccinated at least two weeks before your departure.
In the Northern hemisphere, flu season is usually between October and April and between April and September in the southern hemisphere. Near the equator, where Bali is located, the flu circulates year-round.
MMR (Mumps, Measles and Rubella)
Most Americans complete their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine series in early childhood. These diseases are much more prevalent in parts of the world where vaccination rates are lower. If you were born in 1957 or later and have no record of receiving two doses in your lifetime, you’ll want to complete the series before any international travel. The doses are administered four weeks apart, so plan to get them several weeks before your departure.
Other Recommended Vaccinations for Bali
Beyond making sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date when traveling to Bali, consider a few other vaccines required for safe travel depending on the nature of your trip.
Typhoid
Typhoid is a serious bacterial infection, acquired from contaminated food and water and is prevalent throughout Southeast Asia. All travelers to Bali should get a typhoid vaccination at least 2 weeks prior to departure and take careful food and water precautions.
Rabies
Many travelers to Bali visit the monkey forest sanctuary in Ubud. Humans have habituated the macaques living there, so the monkeys do not fear them; they bite nearly every day as they aggressively attempt to steal food from anyone passing by. These animals can carry rabies, as can the stray dogs wandering throughout Bali’s urban centers. Rabies can be fatal if left untreated, and travelers in Bali have reported cases in recent years. We Recommend getting a pre-exposure rabies vaccine series before embarking on an extended stay, adventure travel, or activities involving wild animals. Never approach animals, monitor your children carefully and seek immediate medical attention if you are bit or scratched. Post exposure rabies treatment is not always readily available in Bali and could necessitate emergency evacuation off the island.
Japanese Encephalitis
For most travelers to Asia, the risk of getting Japanese Encephalitis is fairly low, affecting around one in every million travelers. Japanese Encephalitis spread through mosquito bites, and most of those infected will only have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. However, a small percentage of infections can involve the brain and 1 in 4 of those is fatal. The risk for this disease is year-round in Bali and travelers with an extended stay, or who spend a lot of time in rural agricultural areas are at increased risk. Your travel medicine specialist is the best person to determine whether you should consider a Japanese Encephalitis vaccine series based on your itinerary and activities.
Other Health Precautions for Bali
Receiving all the vaccinations required for Bali will go a long way towards keeping you healthy, but there are some additional basic precautions you should take to avoid having an illness ruin your trip.
Avoid Contaminated Water
Despite an abundance of rainfall and soaring mountains to catch it, Bali’s drinking water is some of the most polluted in Southeast Asia. Tap water needs extensive filtering or boiling before it’s safe to drink, so most visitors will be drinking bottled water. Fortunately for those worried about plastic waste, many shops and hotels will refill your bottle from a large jug of filtered water for free or a nominal fee.
Avoid Unsafe Food
Watching what you eat is critical to avoiding illness while traveling to Bali. Restaurants catering to tourists usually commit to sanitary food prep, but the same can’t always be said for street food. Only eat food that is piping hot and never consume unwashed produce unless it has a peel or rind that you can remove. Also, avoid consuming wild game or bushmeat when visiting a remote homestay or browsing a local market, as these are more likely to contain parasites that cooking cannot easily kill.
Avoid Insect Bites (Especially Mosquitos!)
Travelers can take comfort knowing that malaria is not endemic to Bali, though it is present on other Indonesian islands. Bug bites can still pose a threat, though, especially since Bali’s mosquitoes can carry diseases like dengue fever, chikungunya, and the Zika virus, none of which have an effective treatment or vaccine available. Wear long sleeves when you can, apply DEET-containing insect repellent to any exposed skin, and close your windows at night unless you’re sleeping under a mosquito net.
Stay Protected With TravelBug Health
To keep yourself safe and healthy while traveling to Bali, prioritize receiving all necessary vaccines. Some vaccines require multiple doses or shouldn’t be given simultaneously with others. If so, schedule your appointments well in advance of your travels.
However, to learn more about the specific risks of your destination and how you can stay safe, consider scheduling a pre-travel health consultation. The travel medicine specialists at TravelBug Health can provide an individualized assessment, examining your medical history, including your vaccine record and any prescriptions you might be taking, and discussing precautions related to your specific itinerary.
Contact TravelBug Health today for more information about how we can make your next trip a safe trip.
