Traveling overseas? What vaccinations do you need before you go?
Are you heading overseas to see family, friends, or holiday? Make sure you are protected against infections that we don’t have here in Australia.
In 2025, Queensland Health has seen a number of travellers returning from overseas with vaccine preventable infections such as measles, typhoid fever, and hepatitis A.
“Getting vaccinated is the best thing you can do to prevent these very nasty infections” said Dr Bhakti Vasant public health doctor from Queensland Health.
“Many people heading home to see family or friends don’t know that they might not be protected or don’t see a doctor before they go” Dr Vasant said.
Measles
Measles is an extremely infectious disease that is spread through coughing, sneezing, or breathing.
Fever, rash, sore and watering eyes are other symptoms. In some cases, measles can cause inflammation of the brain, blindness, pneumonia, and even death.
As there is no specific treatment for measles, vaccination is the best line of defence. If you are unsure if you are immune to measles, check with your doctor to see if you are eligible for a free measles vaccine.
Measles | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
Typhoid
Another vaccine preventable disease is the gut infection, typhoid fever.
Typhoid causes fevers, headaches, belly pains, constipation, or diarrhoea, but can occasionally cause severe disease and death if left untreated.
Antibiotics can treat typhoid but there has been an increase in the numbers of antibiotic resistant cases around the world – particularly in the Indian Subcontinent.
You can prevent typhoid when travelling overseas by getting vaccinated every 3 years, regularly washing your hands and making sure the water and food you consume is safe and clean.
Typhoid and paratyphoid fever | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
Hepatitis A
Like typhoid, hepatitis A is also spread by unsafe water, food or not washing hands, and it can be prevented through vaccination.
The hepatitis A infection commonly causes body aches, pains, stomach upset and inflammation of the liver.
Liver inflammation can lead to yellow skin, eyes and dark urine which is known as jaundice.
Two doses of a hepatitis A vaccine will give you lifelong protection.
Hepatitis A | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
Before you go
If you are planning on travelling overseas, make sure you see your doctor 6-8 weeks before and ask which vaccines you need. If you’re looking for more information visit the Smart traveller website.
Vaccinations and preventative health | Smartraveller
