Singapore is an increasingly popular tourist destination in Asia. The country is renowned for its cleanliness, efficiency, and safety. You can tour many impressive temples, palaces, and other landmarks. Singapore offers a great variety of sights and activities for tourists, is a paradise for food-savvy travellers, and has excellent infrastructure.
However, if you are planning to travel to Singapore, it is vital to be aware of the mandatory vaccinations for travellers:
Required vaccines for travelers
Whether you’re planning a holiday or business trip, it’s essential to be up-to-date with the latest travel health advice and information on vaccines and other preventive measures. Many countries require that all travellers have proof of yellow fever vaccination. This vaccine may be necessary regardless of your age, country of origin, or itinerary. You may need to show proof of vaccination when you enter Singapore. Some countries may also require you to take other travel medicine vaccines like cholera, meningococcal disease, and polio jabs.
Recommended vaccines for travelers
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that all travelers should be vaccinated against diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), pertussis (whooping cough), pneumococcal disease, polio, rotavirus, tetanus and varicella (chickenpox).
Some of these vaccines are routine childhood vaccinations in Singapore, while others may need to be given before travel.
See your doctor at least 4–6 weeks before you depart to ensure you have time to get any recommended vaccines or medicines. Please consult a health care professional if you have any questions about vaccines or other preventive measures.
Selective travel vaccines
Vaccines and other preventive measures are recommended for some travelers depending on their itinerary and activities. These include:
Typhoid Fever
For travelers going to areas where there is an increased risk of exposure, such as Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, vaccination against Typhoid Fever is recommended. The vaccine is given as an injection or in pill form.
Japanese Encephalitis
Japanese Encephalitis is a risk for travellers to certain areas of Asia, such as Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The best way to reduce the risk of Japanese Encephalitis is to avoid mosquito bites. The vaccine against Japanese Encephalitis is given as a series of two injections and is recommended for travellers who will be in risk areas for more than a month.
Rabies
Rabies is a risk for travellers to certain areas of the continent. The best way to reduce the risk of rabies is to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, cats, and monkeys. If you are going to be in an area where rabies is a risk for more than a month, you should consider getting vaccinated against rabies. The vaccine is given as a series of three injections.
Meningococcal Meningitis
Meningococcal Meningitis is a risk for travellers to certain areas of Africa, such as Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal. Avoiding close contact with sick people is the best way to reduce the risk of contracting this disease. The vaccine is given as a single injection.
The Takeaway
Before you travel to or from Singapore, take the time to research the mandatory and recommended vaccinations for your trip. You can consult with a healthcare professional to ensure that you are up-to-date on all the necessary vaccinations. Taking these precautions can help protect yourself and others from potentially deadly diseases.
