Illustration of a globe, passport and aeroplane, representing travel vaccinations

What vaccinations do I need for Mexico?

ByZain Rajabali

Most UK trips to Mexico are to the Caribbean coast, Mexico City or a mix of both, and the health advice is mostly about what you eat and drink and avoiding mosquito bites. Malaria risk is very low, and you don’t need a yellow fever certificate. But a couple of vaccines are recommended for almost everyone.

This guide is based on the UK’s official travel health advice from TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC). It’s general information: which vaccines are right for you is decided at a travel consultation, based on your plans and health.

The short answer

  • Recommended for most travellers: hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid.
  • Some travellers, depending on your plans: rabies, chikungunya, measles.
  • Malaria: There’s a very low risk of malaria in Mexico. TravelHealthPro recommends being aware of the risk and avoiding mosquito bites, not malaria tablets.
  • Yellow fever: There are no yellow fever certificate requirements for Mexico.
  • Book 6 to 8 weeks before you travel if you can. Some vaccines need more than one dose. If you’re short of time, it’s still worth coming in.
  • Get them in Oxford: our Oxford travel clinic runs at all four MediPill branches. Book a travel consultation ahead with no extra fee, or walk in on the day (£25 same-day express fee).

Vaccines recommended for most travellers to Mexico

TravelHealthPro recommends these for most travellers:

Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated food and water, or close contact with someone who has it. TravelHealthPro recommends it for all previously unvaccinated travellers, because it’s well tolerated and gives long-lasting protection. £80 per dose with us, or free from your GP surgery.

Typhoid spreads through contaminated food and water. For Mexico, TravelHealthPro recommends it for most travellers, and particularly if you’re visiting friends and relatives, travelling with young children, staying a long time or travelling often, or going where food hygiene may be poor. £55 with us, or free from your GP surgery.

Tetanus bacteria live in soil and manure and get in through wounds, burns and scratches. You should have completed the UK course. TravelHealthPro advises a booster if your last dose was more than 10 years ago and you’re going somewhere medical care may be limited. It’s given as a combined tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster: £50 with us, or free from your GP surgery.

All travellers should also be up to date with their routine UK vaccines.

Vaccines some travellers need

These depend on what you’ll be doing, where you’ll stay and for how long:

  • Rabies (£90 per dose, £270 for the course) – rabies has been reported in domestic animals in Mexico, and bats can carry rabies-like viruses. The vaccine is recommended if you’ll be far from medical care, doing higher-risk activities like running or cycling, working with animals, or staying more than a month.
  • Chikungunya (£185) – a virus spread by daytime-biting mosquitoes, and there’s a risk in Mexico. TravelHealthPro says the vaccine may be considered if there’s a current outbreak where you’re going, or if you’re a long-term or frequent traveller.
  • Measles – TravelHealthPro reported more than 10,000 measles cases in Mexico in the first months of 2026. Make sure you’ve had two doses of the MMR vaccine. If you’ve missed doses, or you’re travelling with a baby or young child, ask your GP surgery, as children’s doses can sometimes be brought forward before travel.

Do I need malaria tablets for Mexico?

Usually not. TravelHealthPro says there’s a very low risk of malaria in Mexico, and recommends being aware of the risk and avoiding mosquito bites rather than taking tablets.

Malaria mosquitoes mainly bite between dusk and dawn, so cover up in the evenings, use insect repellent, and sleep under a net or in screened rooms where needed. If Mexico is part of a longer trip through Central or South America, the advice for your other countries may be different, so bring your full route to your consultation. If you do need tablets for somewhere else, a pharmacist can supply them. See our malaria tablets page.

Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Mexico?

No. TravelHealthPro says there are no certificate requirements for Mexico under International Health Regulations, and there’s no yellow fever risk listed for the country. If you’re continuing to somewhere like South America, check the rules for each country on your route.

Other health risks in Mexico

Dengue and other mosquito-borne infections. Dengue is common in Mexico: TravelHealthPro reported more than 140,000 cases in 2025. It’s spread by mosquitoes that bite mainly during the day, and they’re more common in towns and cities. The protection is avoiding bites, all day: cover up, use insect repellent, and follow TravelHealthPro’s insect and tick bite avoidance advice. The same steps help protect you from chikungunya, Zika and insect-borne infections such as Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and West Nile virus.

Zika and pregnancy. There’s a risk of Zika virus in Mexico. If you’re pregnant, TravelHealthPro advises discussing whether to travel with your doctor or midwife. If you could become pregnant, it advises avoiding pregnancy while you’re there and for 2 months afterwards, or 3 months if a male partner travelled. There’s no vaccine or tablet to prevent Zika.

Stomach bugs and Cyclospora. Between April and July 2026, 67 cases of Cyclospora, a gut parasite, were reported in the UK. Of the 51 with travel details, 48 had been to Mexico. The FCDO advises drinking only boiled or bottled water and avoiding ice in drinks. Read TravelHealthPro’s food and water hygiene advice before you go.

Animals. Avoid touching any animals, including stray dogs and bats. If you’re bitten, scratched or licked on broken skin, clean the wound thoroughly and get urgent local medical help the same day, even if it looks minor.

Altitude. Mexico City sits at about 2,350m, and volcanoes like Popocatepetl go far higher. Altitude illness is a risk at 2,500m and above. If you’re heading into the mountains, read TravelHealthPro’s altitude illness advice before you go.

Your usual medicines. The FCDO says prescriptions issued outside Mexico must be translated into Spanish, and local pharmacies may still refuse a foreign prescription. Take enough of your regular medicine for the whole trip.

Healthcare. The emergency number in Mexico is 911. Outside state capitals and larger urban areas, medical and emergency services may be limited. The FCDO also warns that not all hospitals will deal directly with insurers, so be ready to pay up front and claim the money back. Good travel insurance is essential.

Who needs extra advice before vaccination

Some vaccines are not suitable for everyone. Tell the pharmacist if you’re pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, have a weakened immune system, have a long-term condition, or have had a serious allergic reaction to a vaccine before. Bring a list of any medicines you take. If you’re unwell with a high temperature on the day, the NHS advises waiting until you feel better.

When to get medical help

  • Bitten or scratched by an animal – clean the wound and get urgent medical help locally, the same day.
  • A high temperature while you’re away, or after you get home – get medical advice promptly and say where you’ve been. Dengue causes a flu-like illness, and TravelHealthPro advises anyone who develops a fever of 38°C or more, a week or more after being in an area with any malaria risk, to get medical care straight away.
  • Bloody diarrhoea, diarrhoea lasting more than 7 days, or vomiting for more than 2 days – get medical advice, wherever you are (in the UK, call 111).
  • Severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or confusion – call 999 or go to A&E.

How far ahead should I book?

The NHS and TravelHealthPro both advise seeing a travel health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks before you travel, and the FCDO suggests checking vaccine advice at least 8 weeks ahead. Our guide to how long travel vaccines last explains how far ahead each vaccine needs, and how long it protects you for.

What’s free on the NHS, and what you pay for

The NHS says hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera and polio (as part of the tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster) are free from your GP surgery after a risk assessment. Rabies isn’t routinely available on the NHS, and nor is chikungunya, so you pay for them wherever you go.

Prices at MediPill:

  • Travel consultation: £10
  • Hepatitis A: £80 per dose
  • Typhoid: £55
  • Tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster: £50
  • Rabies: £90 per dose (£270 for the course)
  • Chikungunya: £185

Common questions

Do I need vaccinations for Cancun or the Riviera Maya? TravelHealthPro’s advice covers the whole of Mexico, so hepatitis A, typhoid and an up-to-date tetanus booster are recommended for most travellers wherever you stay. Whether you need anything else depends on what you’ll be doing, not just which resort you’re in.

Can I drink the tap water in Mexico? The FCDO advises drinking only boiled or bottled water and avoiding ice in drinks. Take care with salads and uncooked food too, and wash your hands before eating.

What if I’m travelling in less than 2 weeks? Come in anyway. Several vaccines can still be given, and some have faster schedules.

Where can I check the latest advice? Outbreaks and advice change, so check the TravelHealthPro page for Mexico and the FCDO’s Mexico health advice before you travel.

Travel vaccinations in Oxford

All four MediPill branches run a full travel clinic. Book a £10 consultation, or walk in same day (£25 express fee):

See every vaccine and price on our Oxford travel clinic, or book a travel health consultation.

More destination guides

Sources

  1. Mexico – TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC). https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries/mexico (no page-level update date shown; latest dated item: news update 18 August 2026; accessed 24 September 2026)
  2. Health – Mexico travel advice – GOV.UK (FCDO). https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mexico/health (updated 24 September 2026; accessed 24 September 2026)
  3. Travel vaccinations – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/travel-vaccinations/ (page last reviewed 30 April 2026; accessed 24 September 2026)
  4. Insect and tick bite avoidance – TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC). https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheets/insect-and-tick-bite-avoidance (last updated 13 August 2026; accessed 24 September 2026)
  5. Food and water hygiene – TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC). https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheets/food-and-water-hygiene (last updated 23 October 2025; accessed 24 September 2026)
  6. Altitude illness – TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC). https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheets/altitude-illness (last updated 9 February 2023; accessed 24 September 2026)
  7. Diarrhoea and vomiting – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/ (page last reviewed 21 December 2023; accessed 24 September 2026)

Written by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist – GPhC #2219769
Medically reviewed by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist, Independent Prescriber – GPhC #2219769
Last reviewed: 24 September 2026 · Next review due: May 2027

This article is general health information based on UK travel health guidance and is not a substitute for a travel consultation. It does not recommend any specific vaccine or medicine for you. What you need is decided at an individual assessment with a pharmacist.

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