India does not require vaccines for most travelers from the United States, but typhoid, hepatitis A and rabies risks are among the highest anywhere in the world.
Typhoid is a bacterial infection spread through contaminated food and water, and South Asia has some of the highest rates in the world, including strains resistant to common antibiotics. We recommend typhoid vaccination for nearly every traveler to India, whether you are staying in hotels or with family.
Our certified specialists will recommend the right vaccines based on your specific destination and travel plans.
India is enormous, and risks change with region, season and altitude.
A first trip on the Golden Triangle, a month visiting family in Gujarat and a trek in Ladakh each call for a different plan. At your consultation we review every region on your itinerary, the season, where you will stay and eat, and your vaccination history, then recommend the vaccines for India travel that fit your trip.
Food and water cause most illness in travelers to India. We recommend typhoid and hepatitis A vaccination for nearly everyone, and we talk through how to prevent Delhi belly and what to carry if it hits. Read more about typhoid risk in India and your vaccine options.
India has the highest number of rabies deaths in the world, mostly from dog bites, and post-bite treatment can be hard to find in some areas. We often recommend pre-exposure rabies vaccination, a 2-dose series given on days 0 and 7, especially for children and longer stays. Japanese encephalitis is a rural risk, highest during and after the monsoon.
Malaria risk exists in much of India outside high-altitude areas, and it varies by region and season. We discuss prescription malaria prevention based on your exact route. Dengue is common in cities after the monsoon, so mosquito bite prevention with DEET or picaridin matters on every trip.
Many Arizona families travel to India to visit loved ones. These trips tend to be longer, more rural and include home-cooked meals, which raises the risk of typhoid, hepatitis A and malaria. See our page on travel health for visiting friends and relatives, and our India travel health guide.
We recommend booking 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Leaving sooner? Call (480) 435-2774, because many travel vaccines can still be given on short notice. Our Scottsdale travel clinic serves travelers from across the Phoenix metro, and you can book online any time.
Arizona’s only independent travel clinic with certified specialists
Don’t wait until the last minute. Yellow Fever and other vaccines require time to become effective.
Book at least 6-8 weeks before travel for optimal protection
