Vanuatu
Travel Destination – Vanuatu
An archipelago of over eighty islands in the South Pacific, with its colourful Melanesia culture, active volcanoes and tropical weather year-round, Vanuatu is the ideal destination for beach holidays. Vanuatu is also renowned for its diving and natural springs. Filtered through underground limestones caverns, these springs are vibrant blue in colour thanks to their depth, purity and mineral content.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Before travelling to Vanuatu, it’s a good idea to speak with a travel doctor about your plans. Whether you're heading to a resort, visiting remote villages, or spending time in the water, your doctor can prepare a personalised health plan based on your activities and itinerary. They’ll review your vaccination history, recommend any additional immunisations, and ensure you have prescriptions for any preventive or standby medications you might need. Aim to book your consultation at least six to eight weeks before departure, especially if multiple vaccine doses are required. Even if you're leaving soon, it’s still worth arranging an appointment - some vaccines can be given on an accelerated schedule, and essential advice and medications can still be provided.
Insect avoidance
In Vanuatu, mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and Zika virus are present in some areas. While the risk varies depending on location and season, avoiding mosquito bites remains the most effective way to prevent these infections. Stay in air-conditioned accommodation or rooms with intact fly screens. If these aren't available, use a permethrin-treated mosquito net while sleeping. When outdoors, wear long sleeves and pants, and apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) to exposed skin.
Food and water hygiene
Vanuatu offers plenty of opportunities to sample fresh, local food, seafood in particular. However, it’s worth taking a few precautions to avoid gastroenteritis. Before eating, make sure to wash your hands or use hand sanitiser, especially when travelling in areas with limited facilities. Opt for meals that are cooked to order and served hot, and be cautious with anything raw or reheated. If you’re buying from food stalls or roadside vendors, look for busy spots where the food turnover is high. Stick to fruits you can peel yourself, like pawpaw or bananas, and avoid salads that may have been washed in tap water. To stay safe, drink bottled or boiled water and skip the ice unless you’re sure it’s from a treated source.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have a special interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Vanuatu?
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver, typically spread through contaminated food or water. While it often causes a short-term illness, in some cases it can be severe and even life-threatening. Although hepatitis A is rare in Australia, it remains more common in many Pacific nations, including Vanuatu. Travellers who haven’t completed a two-dose course of the hepatitis A vaccine are generally advised to get immunised before their trip, and the vaccine offers long-lasting protection against this preventable illness.
Typhoid
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Typhoid is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi or Paratyphi, usually spread through contaminated food or water. It can cause high fevers, fatigue, abdominal pain, headaches, and digestive symptoms. While the risk is lower in resort areas, travellers spending extended time in Vanuatu or visiting rural villages may be more exposed. A typhoid vaccine is available and provides protection for three years. Your travel doctor may recommend it depending on your itinerary and planned activities.
Hepatitis B
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Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can lead to long-term liver damage and is spread through contact with blood or bodily fluids -for example, through unprotected sex, tattooing, or sharing personal items like razors. The severity of infection can vary, and some cases may require long-term antiviral treatment. While hepatitis B vaccine is now part of the routine immunisation schedule for babies, this wasn't always the case. Adults who didn’t receive it growing up should consider vaccination before travelling to Vanuatu if they plan to stay for an extended period or will be making frequent visits in the future.
Rabies
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The rabies virus is carried by dogs, cats, monkeys and other mammals in most parts of the world, and transmitted mainly through their bites and scratches. Australia is one of the few countries where rabies transmission does not occur. Once symptoms have started, the illness is almost universally fatal. Prevention involves avoiding animals, particularly dogs. A vaccine is available for use prior to travel. It is recommended for those who will be working with or spending considerable time with animals and those who will be travelling to areas with limited health care. A travel doctor can advise whether immunisation is appropriate for you. After animal bites, further treatment is required to protect against the development of symptoms, even if the person has received earlier immunisation. This needs to be started as soon as possible, so those suffering an animal bite in Vanuatu should seek immediate medical attention.
Routine vaccinations
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In Australia, widespread routine immunisation has kept many common infections - like measles, varicella, and polio - at very low levels. However, in countries such as Vanuatu, these diseases can be more common, and outbreaks still occur. Before travelling, it’s a good opportunity to review your routine vaccinations and update any that may be due. This may include boosters for influenza, COVID-19, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus, varicella, and polio. Staying up to date helps protect both you and the community you come home to.
Vanuatu
Other health risks in Vanuatu
Gastroenteritis
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Gastroenteritis or traveller's diarrhoea is usually caused by bacteria ingested in contaminated food or water. Bacteria commonly responsible include campylobacter, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and salmonella. In cases of bacterial infection, symptoms typically begin within 24 to 72 hours and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
The most important aspect of treatment is maintenance of adequate hydration. This can be achieved with oral rehydration solutions which replaces fluid and salts. Antibiotics are usually reserved for severe or pronged infections or instances where someone is at risk of complications.
The illness usually resolves on its own in one to three days. Medical attention is required when symptoms are not typical, when they are prolonged or severe, or at any time when it is not possible to replace fluids faster than they are being lost. Prevention revolves around good hand hygiene before eating and avoidance of high-risk foods and drinks.
Dengue
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Dengue fever is one of the most frequently reported mosquito-borne illnesses among Australians travelling to tropical destinations. It is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which are most active during daylight hours and are commonly found in urban and semi-urban areas. Symptoms typically include high fever, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, and rash. Most people recover fully within one to two weeks, especially during a first infection. However, repeat infections can lead to more serious forms of the illness, which may involve internal bleeding and dangerously low blood pressure - potentially life-threatening without proper care. As there is no specific antiviral treatment or widely available vaccine for travellers, preventing mosquito bites remains the most effective way to protect yourself.
Non-infectious conditions
Deep vein thrombosis
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Prolonged air and road travel, particularly journeys over four hours, carry with them the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT occurs when blood flow slows due to prolonged immobility, allowing a clot to form in a deep vein - usually in the leg. To help reduce the risk, it’s important to stay well hydrated, avoid sitting still for long periods, and get up to stretch or walk regularly during your journey. For those with additional risk factors, such as a history of clotting or recent surgery, wearing below-knee compression stockings may also be recommended. If DVT does occur, treatment typically involves the use of blood-thinning medications to prevent complications.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
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Trying new activities is one of the best parts of travelling to Vanuatu, but it’s important to understand the risks and take sensible precautions. If you're considering riding a motorbike, make sure you have the right skills and licence, understand local road rules, and always wear a properly fitted helmet. When using other road transport, choose vehicles with functioning seatbelts.
Vanuatu offers plenty of opportunities for diving, boating, and fishing. If you're new to any of these, choose a reputable provider with trained staff and a strong focus on safety. Follow local advice when it comes to finding safe places for swimming and water sports. For hiking or exploring inland areas, wear well-fitted boots that are already broken in, apply sunscreen and insect repellent, carry water, and don’t push beyond your physical limits - especially in hot or humid conditions.
Whatever your plans, comprehensive travel insurance that includes medical evacuation is strongly recommended in case of unexpected illness or injury.