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China is a land of contrasts. It’s home to the Gobi desert in the North, the coldest desert on earth, whereas Southern China has a tropical balmy climate. It has more than 130 cities with a population of more than one million and yet it’s also home to the flat, grassy plains of the Steppes. This diversity means that the vaccines needed for China are mainly dependent on the type of journey you make. Your childhood vaccinations, hepatitis A and typhoid are central to the planning of your China vaccine requirements. Next, you’ll need to consider your itinerary; if you’re going to rural areas near rice paddies then you’ll need to consider the Japanese encephalitis vaccination. Hepatitis B is very common in the Far East and so if you feel you might be at risk of hepatitis B then this would also be recommended. If you’re planning on trekking through North-Eastern China or Inner Mongolia then tick borne encephalitis is another vaccine needed for China. We would also recommend the rabies vaccination if you’re going to remote areas where access to healthcare may be limited. Evaluating your vaccine requirements for China can be a daunting task but during one of our expert travel health consultations, we can guide you through this process, making sure you feel safe before your trip to China. The table below outlines some of the vaccines needed for China, so you can use this as an initial guide.
What travel vaccinations do I need for China?
Dr Ravi Gowda, Consultant in Infectious Diseases or one of his highly trained clinical colleagues will be looking after your China vaccine requirements. Find out more about the Health Klinix team.
Who will be providing your travel injections for China?
"You should be aware that China has a zero tolerance for illegal drugs. Local police have raided nightclubs, bars and even private homes without warning.
Air pollution is also a major problem in the big cities, particularly Beijing. You’re most vulnerable if you’re very young, elderly or are a traveller with an existing medical condition, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. If you're at risk, you should avoid outdoor activity during busy periods or at least wear an FFP2 or FFP3 mask. Find out more about the Air Quality Index of major cities here."
Dr Gowda's top tip for travel to China
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Frequently asked questions
The total cost is likely to vary depending on which vaccinations you need for your trip. You can see the recommended vaccinations and the price per dose in the table above.
Please note; you will need to book a travel consultation before we can administer travel vaccinations and this costs £30 (1 person).
This varies with each vaccination. A primary course of Hepatitis B will last you a lifetime but tick borne encephalitis will require a booster vaccination within 5 months of the primary course. We can talk through this in more detail during your consultation.
You’ll need to give yourself 4-6 weeks to start your immunisations, but if you’re travelling at the last minute, it’s still worth having the vaccinations as they can still protect you. Have a chat with us to discuss things further.
Most travel vaccinations to China are well tolerated. Common side effects include pain, swelling and redness at the site of the injection.
Most travel vaccinations for China can be given in pregnancy as long as there has been a thorough risk assessment by a travel health specialist, like us.
Yes, though some will need to be lower doses and some are age restricted. Our individual disease pages will have more details on age restrictions.
Yes, vaccinations are even more important in those with underlying health problems as vaccine preventable diseases can be more severe in those other health problems.
You're generally at no risk of malaria in China and low risk in the provinces of Yunnan and Hainan. So as general guidance, we would advise bite avoidance.
You'll be glad to know that you don’t need the yellow fever vaccine for China. You’re not at risk of yellow fever in China as transmission only occurs in two continents; ie Central and South America, and parts of Africa. Take a look at these yellow fever risk areas for more details.
China is an incredibly diverse and vast country. An ancient society which for thousands of years stood as a leading civilisation, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences. Despite some recession in the 19th century, huge economic growth in the last 50 years has seen China transform as a country. At the same time, China’s rich cultural heritage attracts tourists to incredible historical sites, such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China, one of the seven wonders of the world. The bustling cities of Bejing and Hong Kong also create new, urban attractions in the rapidly changing, dynamic landscape of China. One thing is for sure, particularly in China; whatever you do, it is important that you travel safely and so we recommend you contact us for advice on the travel vaccines needed for China.
All about China
Additional health advice and risks for China
You may also be at risk of the following diseases:
We sometimes have travellers asking for the yellow fever vaccine for China and although there’s no risk of yellow fever, there is a yellow fever vaccine certificate requirement. This usually applies if you’re travelling to China from another country where there’s yellow fever transmission. For specific yellow fever vaccine certificate requirements for we recommend visiting the World Health Organization.
China vaccine certificate requirements
Authors:
Dr Ravi Gowda, Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine
MBBS, MRCP (UK), DTM &H, MRCGP, DCH, DRCOG, DFFP
Caitlin Lancaster, BSc
Resources: