Before you travel
Health preparation for Brazil
Brazil covers an enormous range of environments, so the precautions that suit a Rio city break differ a lot from those needed for an Amazon rainforest extension.
The vaccine that most surprises people is yellow fever: UK guidance recommends it for Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo cities as well as the Amazon, so many Brazil trips need a visit to an authorised yellow fever centre alongside your consultation with us.
Final vaccine and medicine recommendations always depend on your medical history, previous vaccinations, current travel health guidance, trip duration and planned activities. This page is general information, not a personal clinical recommendation — book a consultation so our pharmacist can assess your individual trip.
Personalised recommendations
Vaccines commonly discussed
Yellow fever vaccination recommended for parts of this trip
No single list applies to everyone. Recommendations depend on your route, trip length, activities, health and previous vaccinations.
View the South America & the Caribbean regional travel-health guide
TyphoidMost travellers
Recommended for most travellers, particularly those visiting friends and relatives
£38 per dose
Hepatitis A&B CombinedMost travellers
Widely recommended
£85 per dose (adult & junior)
RabiesSome travellers
Considered for Amazon or rural travel
£74 per dose / £222 for a full course
DTPAll travellers
Booster if it's been over 10 years
£38 per dose
Mosquito-borne illness
Malaria risk and bite prevention
Low risk in the Amazon basin, including Manaus, and very low risk in the rest of Brazil, with bite avoidance advised in both. No risk at Iguazu Falls. Antimalarial tablets are only considered in exceptional circumstances for higher-risk travellers.
Risk can differ within a country and can change over time. A consultation assesses your exact itinerary and whether antimalarial medicine should be considered.
Read the malaria prevention guideBeyond vaccination
Practical advice for your trip
- Mosquito bite prevention in the Amazon; antimalarial tablets are rarely needed
- Mosquito bite prevention for dengue and Zika
- Food and water hygiene
- Sun protection
Food, water and traveller's diarrhoea
Follow careful food and water hygiene where standards are uncertain. Vaccination does not replace these everyday precautions.
Climate planning
Varies by region; the dry season in the Amazon runs roughly June to November.
Entry requirements
Check current visa requirements for UK travellers before booking, as rules have changed in recent years.
Yellow fever
There is no certificate requirement for entry to Brazil. Vaccination is recommended for travellers aged 9 months and older visiting most of the country, including Rio de Janeiro city, São Paulo city, Brasília, Iguazu Falls and the whole Amazon region. It is not recommended for trips limited to Fortaleza, Recife and other areas outside the listed states.
Entry and certificate rules can change. Check the latest official foreign travel advice on GOV.UK before departure, and see TravelHealthPro for country-specific health guidance. Yellow Fever vaccination is not currently administered at this clinic; where a requirement is relevant, the pharmacist can discuss your itinerary and explain that an authorised Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre may be needed.
Common questions
Brazil travel health FAQs
Less than people expect. Malaria is low risk even in the Amazon and absent in Rio, so tablets are rarely needed for either. Yellow fever vaccination, on the other hand, is recommended for Rio de Janeiro city as well as the Amazon, São Paulo, Brasília and Iguazu Falls, and that needs an authorised yellow fever centre. Bring your full route to your consultation.
If you feel seriously unwell
- If you are seriously unwell abroad, seek local emergency medical care immediately.
- If you are seriously unwell after returning to the UK, call 999 or go to A&E — always mention any recent travel.
- For urgent but non-emergency advice in the UK, call NHS 111 or contact your GP.