What vaccinations do I need before traveling to India?

Some travelers advise getting vaccinated without panic but not ignoring it either — there are genuinely unpleasant diseases like hepatitis that are better to avoid.

The standard set is vaccines against hepatitis and typhoid fever. Before the trip it's recommended to get a blood test, since some childhood vaccinations may still be effective.

Skeptics joke that no vaccine can cover every local disease — even leprosy is mentioned as an example of something vaccination can't fully prevent.

Travelers ask what the full list of recommended vaccines for India is — there's no single universal answer, so it's best to check with your own doctor or travel vaccination clinic at home.

A tetanus shot can be done locally in India, for example in Chennai — just bring your vaccination schedule from your home doctor (a photo translated via Google Translate is enough).

The rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) for children can be hard to find in India, so some parents ask other travelers to bring it with them from home.