Do I Need Vaccinations for Cambodia?

Many travellers to Cambodia should check whether their routine UK vaccinations are up to date and whether additional travel vaccines are suitable.

A clinician will usually consider:

• whether you are visiting Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, coastal regions, rural areas or border areas
• how long you will stay
• whether you are backpacking or travelling independently
• whether you will visit rice fields, farms, rural communities or forested areas
• whether you are visiting friends or relatives
• whether you may have contact with animals
• whether you may need medical or dental treatment abroad
• your previous vaccine history
• your age and medical background
• whether you are pregnant or immunocompromised
• whether you are travelling with children
• whether Cambodia is part of a wider Southeast Asia itinerary

Hepatitis A Vaccine

Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all previously unvaccinated travellers to Cambodia according to TravelHealthPro. Hepatitis A can spread through contaminated food and water or direct contact with an infectious person. (Travel Health Pro)

It may be especially relevant if you are:

• eating local food regularly
• visiting rural areas
• staying in basic accommodation
• travelling for a long period
• backpacking
• visiting friends or relatives
• continuing onward to other Southeast Asian countries

Typhoid Vaccine

Typhoid vaccine is recommended for most travellers to Cambodia, particularly travellers visiting friends and relatives, young children, frequent travellers, long-stay travellers, and those visiting areas where sanitation and food hygiene may be poor. (Travel Health Pro)

Typhoid is spread through contaminated food and water. It may be more relevant for travellers who are:

• eating street food or local food frequently
• staying outside higher-standard hotels
• travelling independently
• staying longer than a short package holiday
• visiting rural areas or smaller towns
• travelling with children

Tetanus Vaccine

Travellers to Cambodia should check they have completed a tetanus vaccination course according to the UK schedule. TravelHealthPro notes that a booster dose of tetanus-containing vaccine is recommended when travelling to countries or areas where medical facilities may be limited if the last dose was more than 10 years ago, even if five previous doses have been given. (Travel Health Pro)

A tetanus vaccine or diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccine may be discussed if your booster status is not current.

Tetanus protection may be especially relevant if you plan to:

• cycle, trek or travel by motorbike
• visit rural areas
• take part in outdoor activities
• work outdoors
• travel where wound care may be delayed

Hepatitis B Vaccine

Hepatitis B vaccine may be considered for Cambodia. TravelHealthPro states that Cambodia is considered to have intermediate or high prevalence of hepatitis B, and vaccination may be considered for all travellers and is recommended for people whose activities or medical history increase risk. (Travel Health Pro)

This may include:

• long-stay travellers
• healthcare or aid workers
• people who may need medical or dental procedures abroad
• travellers with higher-risk sexual exposure
• people considering tattoos, piercings, public shaving or acupuncture
• people involved in contact sports
• families adopting children from Cambodia

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine

Japanese encephalitis vaccine may be considered for some travellers to Cambodia. TravelHealthPro states that Japanese encephalitis occurs countrywide, with year-round risk and seasonal peaks considered between May and October. (Travel Health Pro)

Japanese encephalitis is spread by mosquitoes that usually bite between dusk and dawn, mainly in rural areas, especially around rice fields, swamps and marshes. (Travel Health Pro)

Vaccination may be more relevant if you are:

• staying for one month or more during transmission season
• travelling frequently to affected areas
• uncertain about your itinerary, location or duration
• visiting rural areas, rice fields or pig farms
• working outdoors
• staying in basic accommodation
• travelling widely through Cambodia or neighbouring countries

Rabies Vaccine

Rabies vaccine may be considered for Cambodia. TravelHealthPro says rabies is considered a risk in Cambodia and has been reported in domestic animals; bats may also carry rabies-like viruses. (Travel Health Pro)

Rabies can spread through bites, scratches or licks on broken skin from infected mammals. Children are at increased risk because they may be less likely to avoid animal contact or report a bite, scratch or lick. (Travel Health Pro)

Pre-travel rabies vaccination may be especially relevant for:

• long-stay travellers
• children
• people visiting rural areas
• runners, cyclists or outdoor travellers
• people working with animals
• travellers going where medical care or post-exposure treatment may be limited

Dengue Vaccine

Dengue risk is present in Cambodia. TravelHealthPro notes that dengue is spread by mosquitoes that mainly feed during daytime hours and that dengue can occasionally develop into a more serious illness. (Travel Health Pro)

A dengue fever vaccine is not suitable for everyone. TravelHealthPro states that vaccination can be considered for individuals aged 4 years and older who have had dengue infection in the past and are travelling to areas where dengue risk or an ongoing outbreak exists, with exceptional use in those without previous dengue only after further expert advice. (Travel Health Pro)

Tuberculosis / BCG Vaccine

Tuberculosis vaccination may be discussed for some travellers, especially children or those staying for longer periods in higher-risk settings.

TravelHealthPro states that Cambodia has reported an annual TB incidence of at least 40 cases per 100,000 population at least once in the last five years. (Travel Health Pro)

BCG is not usually a routine vaccine for every adult traveller, but it may be relevant depending on:

• age
• previous BCG status
• length of stay
• close contact with local communities
• healthcare or humanitarian work
• accommodation type
• immune status

Malaria Advice for Cambodia

Malaria advice for Cambodia depends strongly on the exact itinerary.

TravelHealthPro states:

• Cambodia has a low risk of malaria overall
• there is a very low risk in the temple complexes of Angkor Wat and around Lake Tonle Sap, including Siem Reap
• there is no risk in Phnom Penh
• mefloquine resistance is widespread in western provinces bordering Thailand (Travel Health Pro)

Many travellers may only need awareness of malaria risk and strong bite avoidance. However, malaria tablets may be considered in exceptional circumstances for higher-risk travellers, including some long-stay travellers visiting friends and relatives, pregnant travellers, infants, young children, older travellers, immunosuppressed travellers and people with complex medical conditions. (Travel Health Pro)

A malaria risk assessment should consider:

• exact provinces visited
• border-area travel
• time of year
• urban versus rural travel
• length of stay
• accommodation type
• pregnancy status
• age and medical history
• access to urgent medical care

Malaria prevention may include:

• using insect repellent
• wearing long sleeves and trousers where practical
• sleeping in screened or air-conditioned accommodation
• using mosquito nets where needed
• taking malaria tablets if recommended
• seeking urgent medical advice for fever during or after travel

Dengue, Chikungunya and Other Mosquito-Borne Illnesses

Cambodia has mosquito-borne disease risks. TravelHealthPro notes risk of both dengue and chikungunya in Cambodia, and the FCDO also highlights malaria, dengue and Zika virus among health risks to check before travel. (Travel Health Pro)

Mosquito-bite prevention is important because not every mosquito-borne illness can be prevented by vaccination or tablets.

Travellers should consider:

• using insect repellent regularly
• wearing long sleeves and trousers where practical
• staying in screened or air-conditioned accommodation
• sleeping under a mosquito net where needed
• avoiding areas with standing water
• taking extra care during rainy seasons or local outbreaks
• protecting against daytime bites as well as evening bites

Schistosomiasis and Freshwater Exposure in Cambodia

Schistosomiasis risk is present in Cambodia. TravelHealthPro states that travellers may be exposed when wading, swimming, bathing or washing clothes in contaminated freshwater streams, rivers or lakes. There is no vaccine or tablet to prevent schistosomiasis, and travellers should avoid wading, swimming or bathing in freshwater where risk may exist. (Travel Health Pro)

To reduce risk:

• avoid swimming or wading in freshwater rivers, lakes or streams
• use properly chlorinated pools or sea water instead
• drink water that is boiled, filtered or bottled
• seek advice after possible exposure

Food and Water Safety in Cambodia

Food and water precautions are important in Cambodia. Hepatitis A and typhoid are both linked to contaminated food and water, and both are recommended for many or most travellers according to TravelHealthPro guidance. (Travel Health Pro)

To reduce risk:

• drink bottled, boiled or properly treated water
• avoid ice unless you are confident it is safe
• eat food that is freshly cooked and served hot
• be cautious with raw or undercooked food
• peel fruit yourself where possible
• wash or sanitise hands regularly
• avoid unpasteurised dairy products
• carry oral rehydration salts for diarrhoea

Yellow Fever Certificate Advice for Cambodia

Cambodia has no risk of yellow fever, but it does have a certificate requirement for some travellers. TravelHealthPro states that a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission, and for travellers who have transited for more than 12 hours through an airport in a country with yellow fever transmission risk. (Travel Health Pro)

A yellow fever vaccine is therefore not normally needed for direct travel from the UK to Cambodia, but it may be required if your route includes certain countries in Africa or South America.

Routine Vaccines to Check Before Cambodia Travel

Before travelling, check whether your routine UK vaccinations are up to date. TravelHealthPro advises all travellers to be up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters recommended in the UK, including checking MMR/MMRV and diphtheria-tetanus-polio status during the travel-health consultation. (Travel Health Pro)

Routine checks may include:

• measles, mumps and rubella
• diphtheria, tetanus and polio
• chickenpox, if not immune
• seasonal flu, depending on risk and timing
• COVID-19, depending on current guidance

Healthcare and Travel Insurance in Cambodia

The FCDO advises travellers to check that their destination can provide the healthcare they may need and to have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation. This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant. (GOV.UK)

Before travelling, consider:

• travel insurance validity
• cover for emergency treatment and evacuation
• whether your policy covers motorbike or adventure activities
• prescription medication supply
• documentation for medicines
• access to reliable medical care outside major cities
• plans for children, pregnancy or existing health conditions

Special Advice for Higher-Risk Travellers

When Should I Book Travel Vaccinations for Cambodia?

Ideally, book your Cambodia travel vaccination appointment 6–8 weeks before travel. The NHS recommends seeing a GP or private travel clinic at least 6–8 weeks before travel where possible. (nhs.uk)

This allows time to:

• review your vaccine history
• complete vaccine courses where needed
• assess malaria risk by itinerary
• discuss Japanese encephalitis risk
• review rabies vaccination
• check yellow fever certificate rules for multi-country trips
• prepare advice for children, pregnancy or medical conditions

If travelling sooner, still seek advice. Some vaccines and travel-health guidance may still be possible at short notice.

Book Travel Vaccinations for Cambodia with TravelJabs4U

TravelJabs4U can help you review your Cambodia itinerary and discuss suitable travel-health precautions.

During your appointment, you can discuss:

• your travel dates
• Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, rural or border-area travel
• previous vaccinations
• hepatitis A, typhoid and tetanus status
• Japanese encephalitis risk
• rabies and animal exposure risk
• malaria prevention
• dengue and mosquito-bite precautions
• food and water safety
• freshwater exposure and schistosomiasis risk
• travel with children
• pregnancy or immune system concerns

FAQs About Cambodia Travel Vaccinations

Medical Disclaimer

This page is for general information only and does not replace professional medical advice. Travel-health recommendations can change and may vary depending on your itinerary, length of stay, age, medical history, pregnancy status, immune status, previous vaccinations, planned activities and current disease outbreaks. Always speak to a qualified travel-health professional before travelling. TravelJabs4U does not guarantee that every vaccine listed is required or suitable for every traveller. Current guidance should be checked before publication and before travel.