overview
When planning your trip to Bali, it is important to consider what vaccinations are required or recommended for your stay. This Guide will give you an overview of vaccinations you should consider before traveling to Bali, including vaccinations for diseases such as typhoid fever and hepatitis A and B. In addition, the Guide covers other precautions you can take during your trip to protect yourself from viruses and bacteria. Whether you're an experienced traveler or a first-time visitor to Bali, this Guide will help you enjoy your stay in Bali safely.
This Guide is divided into the following sections:
General Info
The island of Bali is located in the equatorial belt, and thus the diseases that occur here differ from those commonly known in the USA or Europe. In addition, Indonesia is still considered a developing country with significantly lower hygiene standards than developed countries.
List of required and recommended vaccinations for arrival in Bali (Indonesia):
Mandatory
-
Yellow Fever (in special cases)
Recommended
Covid-19
As of 10 June 2023, vaccination against Covid-19 disease is not mandatory and required. Vaccination has been included as a recommended for all travelers.
More information about Covid-19 in Bali and actual measures can be found in Covid-19 Guide.
More information about travel requirements when entering Indonesia can be found in Travel Regulations Guide.
Yellow Fever
Although yellow fever does not occur in Bali and Indonesia, vaccination is mandatory for travelers arriving from countries where yellow fever occurs. This includes Africa and Central America. It is, therefore, a measure to prevent prevent introducing of the disease into Indonesia. Vaccination is not compulsory if you come from other countries, such as the USA or the EU.
Hepatitis A & B
Hepatitis A and B vaccination is recommended when traveling to Bali due to the lower hygiene standards. The Hepatitis B vaccine has long been mandatory in many countries. The Hepatitis A vaccine, known as the "disease of dirty hands," is recommended. The vaccine is usually given in two doses a year apart and is effective for life. So it will be helpful for your future travels worldwide in the long term.
Precautions: wash your hands frequently with soap, and drink only filtered/bottled water.
Typhoid Fever
Typhoid fever is an infectious disease that can be potentially life-threatening. Salmonella typhi bacteria enter the human body through infected food or water. The typhoid vaccination is among the recommended vaccinations when traveling to Bali, as the disease is found here. The vaccine protects for three years, after which you need to be re-vaccinated to maintain protection. Its disadvantage is that it does not always work 100 %. If the dose of bacteria is high, you can get typhoid even if you get vaccinated. Typhoid is treatable with antibiotics.
Precautions: eat only at reputable restaurants, avoid street stalls, and drink only filtered/bottled water.
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that is almost always fatal without treatment. Rabies in Bali is relatively common in the ubiquitous dogs but can also be transmitted by monkeys and bats. Although individual villages vaccinate dogs on the streets, it is impossible to vaccinate them all. Preventive vaccination is especially recommended for people who come into contact with animals, such as veterinarians and others. If necessary, travelers can get vaccinated immediately after a dog bite or monkey scratch. Rabies has a long incubation period ranging from 3 weeks to several months, so it is possible to vaccinate only after an event that could transmit rabies to humans.
Precautions: avoid contact with street dogs and monkeys.
Bali dogs are everywhere in the streets
Malaria
Malaria vaccination is not necessary when traveling to Bali. It is one of the few areas in Indonesia where it has been 100 % eradicated. Although more than 230,000 people get malaria in Indonesia yearly, you won't encounter it in Bali. Indonesia's main malaria risk areas are the Maluku Archipelago, Papua Island, and West Papua. So if you plan to travel to these areas, we recommend you consult your doctor about malaria prevention. We have been to West Papua several times without taking malaria-preventive medications.
Dengue
Dengue fever, caused by the dengue virus, is transmitted by a mosquito bite. In 95 % of cases, the illness is mild and resembles influenza with fever. Rest and plenty of fluids are usually sufficient for treatment. In a small number of cases, Dengue can progress to a life-threatening form where medical attention is needed. Since 2023, you can also be vaccinated against dengue with a two-dose vaccine, with the second dose given three months after the first.
Precautions: Limiting mosquito bites as much as possible is the best protection. Use repellents, ideally containing DEET, to cover your skin and sleep under a mosquito net at night.
💡 Tip: you can buy repellents with DEET in almost any local store in Bali.
Tiger Mosquitoes in Bali are very common
Zika
The Zika virus that causes Zika fever, like Dengue, is transmitted by mosquito bites coming even from the same species, and there is no vaccine or cure for it. The disease manifests itself in fevers, fatigue, and joint pain. However, most people (about 80 %) remain asymptomatic and are merely carriers of the virus. Pregnant women, or their unborn children, are particularly at risk of Zika, as the virus causes severe developmental disorders. There is no recorded case of the virus in Bali and no imminent threat—the last reports of infection in Bali date back to 2016.
Precautions: they are the same as for Dengue. Try to eliminate mosquito bites as much as possible with repellents.
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