What Vaccinations Do I Need for Sri Lanka?

Routine Vaccinations for Sri Lanka

As we mentioned, always chat to a GP about vaccinations for Sri Lanka. Before travelling, you may want to ask your GP if you are up to date with routine UK immunisations, including:

• Tetanus
• Diphtheria
• Polio
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella MMR

These vaccinations provide protection against infections that occur worldwide. Please chat to your GP.

Travel Vaccinations for Sri Lanka

The following vaccines may be recommended depending on individual risk, and you may want to ask your GP or travel clinic about them for additional protection when travelling. As we are not health professionals, please ask your GP for more information:

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis B
• Rabies
• Japanese Encephalitis

There is no known current risk of yellow fever in Sri Lanka itself, although proof of vaccination may be required if arriving from a country where yellow fever transmission occurs. Again, please clarify this with your GP.

The final decision on which vaccines you need should always be made with your GP or travel clinic, using the most up to date TravelHealthPro guidance if you’re in the UK.

Do I Need Malaria Tablets for Sri Lanka

The good news I that Sri Lanka is currently classified as having no malaria transmission, so antimalarial tablets are not required. However, protection against mosquito bites remains important.

Mosquito Borne Diseases in Sri Lanka

Like most of Asia, Sri Lanka has mosquito borne infections such as dengue, chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis though these remain very rare. Chikungunya is transmitted by mosquitoes that bite during the daytime, particularly in the early morning and late afternoon. Protection is therefore needed throughout the day as well as in the evening. Preventative measures include using insect repellent on exposed skin, wearing long sleeved clothing and long trousers where possible and sleeping under insecticide treated mosquito nets if accommodation is not well screened or air conditioned.

A repellent containing 50% DEET is often recommended as the first choice for protection against insect bites. If DEET is not easily tolerated on your skin, you could use a repellent with the highest available concentration of one of the following active ingredients: 

• Icaridin (20%)
• Eucalyptus citriodora oil, hydrated, cyclised
• 3-ethylaminopropionate

Some advice on avoiding bites

• Always apply insect repellent according to the instructions on the label. Rub it thoroughly into the skin, ensuring all exposed areas are covered.
• Keep ankles covered
• Ask for an extra fan in your room and avoid leaving windows and doors open, particularly at dusk
• Take additional plug in repellent and ask hotels for additional plug in repellent if you are worried
• Consider mosquito repellent bracelets
• Reapply DEET frequently, particularly in hot climates and after swimming.
• Apply repellent after sunscreen. Use SPF 30–50 sunscreen, as DEET can reduce sunscreen effectiveness.
• 50% DEET is considered safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and for babies older than 2 months, but always follow the advice of your doctor
• If your baby is under 2 months old, seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist before travel.
• Take your insect repellent with you when travelling

For travellers on a tailor made itinerary with Red Dot Tours, longer journeys are usually taken in air conditioned vehicles, which helps reduce mosquito exposure during transfers. We also work with carefully selected luxury hotels that maintain high standards of cleanliness, and many properties take huge steps to manage mosquito presence within their grounds. Please let us know if you have any concerns.

Comprehensive Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance should always be arranged at the time of booking your trip and really there should be no exception to this. At Red Dot we always require you to have travel insurance at the time you book your private holiday to Sri Lanka. Your policy should include emergency medical treatment, hospital care, medical evacuation or repatriation and cover for any pre-existing medical conditions. Medical treatment overseas can be costly and payment may sometimes be required before care is provided. Travelling without adequate insurance exposes you to financial risk.

Final Reminder

None of the above should in any way put you off travelling to Sri Lanka, this would be the same in most Asian destinations, but preparing and avoiding bites is always recommended. Health advice changes and individual circumstances vary. You should always follow the advice of your GP or travel clinic and consult the official TravelHealthPro Sri Lanka page for the most current recommendations as we are not medical professionals and advice can change. The above guide is not formal advice. Preparing properly, both medically and financially, helps ensure a safe and confident trip to Sri Lanka.

More links and additional reading:

Travel Health Pro

Superdrug

Foreign Travel Advice - UK

NHS

Lloyds Pharmacy