Table of Contents
If you have plans to visit Nepal, it’s important to receive vaccinations before you go. Public health organizations like CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) advise travelers to protect against common travel and routine illnesses.
Travel Vaccines for Nepal
Travel vaccines refer to immunizations specifically recommended or required for visitors to certain countries. These vaccines protect travelers from illnesses that are not found or many be uncommon in their home country but are common for their destination.
Hepatitis A
Nepal is considered a high risk country for hepatitis A, so all travelers are recommended to be up-to-date before travel. Because the illness is spread from contaminated food and water (or other beverages), even visitors to urban areas like Kathmandu need this vaccine.
Typhoid Fever
Because Nepal has one of the highest risks for typhoid fever in the world, it’s important for all travelers to receive the typhoid vaccine.
While the risk of typhoid infection is higher for people visiting rural areas and smaller cities of Nepal, an antibiotic resistant strain of typhoid fever is found in Nepal making vaccination more important than ever.
Japanese Encephalitis
Some travelers to Nepal should consider the Japanese encephalitis vaccine especially those visiting the lowland Terai region of Nepal. Risk of infection is increased for visitors between June – October, and for stays lasting several weeks or months. While risk is lower in hill and mountain districts of Nepal including the Kathmandu Valley, the JE vaccine may still be recommended.
Keep in mind, 12.5 million people in Nepal are considered high risk for Japanese encephalitis (JE) infection. That’s why the Nepali government has included JE in the national immunization program for their citizens to prevent the serious neurological health problems that can occur after an infection.
Rabies
While the rabies vaccine may not be recommended for all travelers to Nepal, it’s especially important if:
- You’re planning to spend a lot of time outdoors
- You’ll be in rural areas where access to rabies vaccine and immune globulin is unlikely
- You plan to visit Nepal for several weeks or months
Stray dogs can be a common site in Nepal and are the main risk for rabies infection. Avoid feeding and petting dogs, especially if you travel to Nepal without the rabies vaccine.
Yellow Fever
There is no risk of contracting yellow fever in Nepal, so the vaccine is not necessary. However, the yellow fever vaccine can be required if you traveled to Africa or South America just before visiting Nepal. If you are traveling to Nepal from the United States, the vaccine is not required.
Routine Vaccines
In addition to travel-specific vaccines for Nepal, it’s important to check vaccine records and make sure you are up-to-date on everyday immunizations like; COVID, hepatitis B, influenza, MMR (measles), polio, and Tdap (tetanus). While some routine vaccines protect for a lifetime after a full series, others need regular booster doses.
Keep in mind, travelers 60 years and older may also need additional protection against shingles, pneumonia, and RSV before leaving for Nepal.
Visit Destination Health Clinic Before Traveling to Nepal
We welcome you to schedule a pre-travel consultation for vaccinations and health advice before you visit Nepal. Call or schedule an appointment online at any of our three Massachusetts offices; Braintree – South Shore, Springfield – Longmeadow, or Natick – Framingham office.
