Travelling to India

Pre-travel preparation will help keep you safe and healthy while you are away. Please consult the Travel Doctor-TMVC before you travel to India. We will provide specific recommendations tailored to your itinerary. Our doctors will assess and advise you on your risks, and recommend appropriate vaccination and medication to minimise your risk of becoming seriously unwell on your trip.

One of the great pleasures of India travel is sampling the local cuisine. However, contaminated food and beverages are a common cause of traveller’s diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal illnesses. Safe eating and drinking practices are essential in minimising your risk of contracting traveller’s diarrhoea.

Your routine vaccinations should be updated before you travel to India. If you do not have evidence of immunity, you may need to receive one or more of the following routine vaccines for India:

• Measles-Mumps-Rubella
  Your medical provider will check to ensure that you are up to date on your measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. If you have no evidence of prior vaccination you will likely receive an initial MMR vaccine or booster.
   
• Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis
  You may need a tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (TdapdTpa) vaccination or booster before you depart to India. You will receive the booster if it has been more than 10 years since your prior vaccination.
   
• Polio
  Up until 2014, polio was endemic in India. Now, to maintain a polio-free country, India sometimes requires evidence of polio immunity before travelling from a polio infected country. Anyone travelling to India should be up to date on their polio vaccinations. If you received the polio vaccine as a child but have never received the booster as an adult, you may be advised to receive a dose of the polio vaccination (IPV).

These are additional potential vaccinations for India that may be recommended by your medical provider depending on which regions you are travelling to, your prior vaccinations and other factors:

• Cholera
  A cholera vaccination is rarely recommended for travel to India. It may be recommended for some with underlying medical conditions as it has been shown to reduce the risk of travellers’ diarrhoea for a limited time after vaccination. Following safe food and water guidelines and hand washing will reduce risk of infection from this and other food and water borne diseases.
   
• Hepatitis A
  A Hepatitis A vaccination may be required as this viral illness can be transmitted through food and water and it is frequently recommended for most travellers to India.
   
• Hepatitis B
  This is another potentially serious viral illness that is transmitted through bodily fluids or blood and it is now considered routine for most travellers to India. A rapid schedule Hepatitis B vaccine is available in combination with Hepatitis A. Hepatitis B is considered a routine vaccination and many people under 30, in Australia, have had this as part of the standard vaccine schedule.
   
• Typhoid
  This vaccination is often recommended for those travelling to India, even those who are staying mostly in urban areas, as it is a potentially fatal illness. India is a high-risk part of the world for typhoid disease. Two forms of typhoid vaccine are available: an injection or oral form.
   
• Malaria
  Parts of India have an active risk of Malaria, especially low-altitude areas, and therefore you may be recommended to take an anti-malarial prescription before, during and after your trip. Speak to your doctor about your risk for malaria while traveling in India.
   
• Yellow Fever
  Proof of yellow fever vaccination is only required if you have visited a yellow fever affected area within 6 days of travelling to India. Otherwise, if you have not, you will not typically be required to get this vaccination before you travel to India unless you are travelling to an area with a yellow fever outbreak.
   
• Japanese Encephalitis
  The Japanese encephalitis vaccine may be required for those who will be staying longer than one month in India in rural areas or those who are participating in outdoor activities on shorter trips during the evening. This vaccine helps prevent this serious mosquito-borne illness.
   
• Rabies
  some animals within India transmit rabies including bats, dogs and others, so the rabies vaccination may be recommended depending on where you travel and your activities. Those who will encounter animals, children, and those who are traveling outdoors may be recommended to receive a rabies vaccine before travel.

Traveller’s diarrhoea is quite common for those travelling to India from Australia, with up to 70 percent of travellers being affected during their trip. To avoid this, make sure to eat only from well known, sanitary restaurants, wash your hands frequently and only drink treated water. Check the seals on bottles of water bought from stores.

The causes for this illness can be varied – from pathogens like viruses, bacteria and parasites to simple incompatibility with a particular meal.

It is a good idea to talk with your medical provider about potentially bringing a traveller’s diarrhoea kit with you that you can use to treat diarrhoea if you become unwell overseas.

Getting the required vaccinations for India from Australia before you travel and following some basic sanitary and hygiene practices will ensure that you can enjoy a culturally enriching experience and bring back nothing more than your souvenirs and great memories!