Travel

Vaccines and Medicines

You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Some vaccines may also be required for travel.

Get travel vaccines and medicines because there is a risk of these diseases in the country you are visiting.

You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in Laos. CDC recommends this vaccine for most travelers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater.

You may need a polio vaccine before your trip to Laos.

When traveling in Laos, you should avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. You may need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria, depending on your travel plans, such as where you are going, when you are traveling, and if you are spending a lot of time outdoors or sleeping outside. Talk to your doctor about how you can prevent malaria while traveling. For more information on malaria in Laos, see malaria in Laos.

Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in Laos, so CDC recommends this vaccine for the following groups:

• Travelers involved in outdoor and other activities (such as camping, hiking, biking, adventure travel, and caving) that put them at risk for animal bites.
• People who will be working with or around animals (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, and researchers).
• People who are taking long trips or moving to Laos
• Children, because they tend to play with animals, might not report bites, and are more likely to have animal bites on their head and neck.

There is no risk of yellow fever in Laos. The government of Laos requires proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever. This does not include the US. If you are traveling from a country other than the US, check this list to see if you may be required to get the yellow fever vaccine: Countries with risk of yellow fever virus (YFV) transmission .

For more information on recommendations and requirements, see yellow fever recommendations and requirements for Laos. Your doctor can help you decide if this vaccine is right for you based on your travel plans.