One region, many different risks
Why an individual assessment matters
Recommendations can vary between neighbouring countries and within the same country. Your pharmacist will consider your exact itinerary, length of stay, accommodation, planned activities, age, medical history and previous vaccination record.
Official country-by-country guidance is published on TravelHealthPro and in the GOV.UK foreign travel advice.
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.
Existing country guides
Compare travel-health considerations
These are vaccines commonly considered during an individual travel-health assessment, not a definitive prescription.
| Country | Vaccines commonly discussed | Other key considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Typhoid, Hepatitis A&B Combined, Rabies, DTP | Mosquito bite prevention in the Amazon; antimalarial tablets are rarely needed |
| Peru | Typhoid, Hepatitis A&B Combined, Rabies, DTP | Altitude sickness prevention around Cusco and the Inca Trail |
| Mexico | Hepatitis A&B Combined, Typhoid, DTP | Food and water hygiene outside resort settings |
| Costa Rica | Hepatitis A&B Combined, Typhoid, Rabies, DTP | Mosquito bite prevention for dengue and Zika |
| Dominican Republic | Hepatitis A&B Combined, Typhoid, DTP | Mosquito bite prevention for dengue |
| Jamaica | Hepatitis A&B Combined, Typhoid, DTP | Mosquito bite prevention for dengue |
| Barbados | Hepatitis A&B Combined, Typhoid, DTP | Mosquito bite prevention for dengue |
Recommendations depend on your exact itinerary, length of stay, accommodation, planned activities, age, medical history and previous vaccination record.
Route-specific assessment
Malaria and mosquito-borne illness
Malaria risk is not uniform across South America & the Caribbean. Whether antimalarial medicine is considered depends on the countries, regions, season and style of travel in your itinerary.
Bite precautions remain important because mosquitoes can transmit illnesses for which tablets or vaccines may not be available.
Read our malaria prevention guidePractical protection
Food, water, mosquitoes and animal bites
- Take care with food and drinking water where hygiene standards are uncertain.
- Use an appropriate insect repellent and follow local bite-prevention advice.
- Avoid contact with animals and seek urgent medical advice after a bite or scratch.
- Arrange suitable travel insurance and carry regular medicines correctly.
Allow time where possible
When to arrange an appointment
Travellers should ideally seek travel-health advice around four to six weeks before departure, as some vaccinations require more than one dose.
If your departure is sooner, contact the clinic anyway. Useful vaccination, advice or accelerated options may sometimes remain available, although accelerated schedules are not suitable or available for every vaccine.
Common questions
South America & the Caribbean travel health FAQs
No. Recommendations depend on the countries and regions you visit, your accommodation, activities, length of stay, medical history and previous vaccination record.
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.
Yes. Bring your full route and travel dates so the pharmacist can assess each destination as part of one personalised consultation.