Vaccinations for bali: 
What you need and when

Vaccinations you might want to consider for bali

These are some of the vaccinations you and your doctor may discuss when you’re heading to Bali. This is by no means an exhaustive list and your doctor will know best, so make sure you listen to the experts. 

• Typhoid: this is linked to salmonella, meaning this is something you may contract from contaminated food or water 
• Hepatitis A: this viral infection of the liver is one of the most common travel-related diseases worldwide. 
• Hepatitis B: is also something you need to be prepared for, but this might have been included in your childhood inoculations. 
• Rabies: This is spread by animals, and there have been significant outbreaks in Bali, caused mainly by dog bites, with cats and monkeys being a close second. The best precaution to avoid rabies is stay away from animals. The Balinese government has been working on regulations to reduce the rates and risk of rabies, however it is still present and this vaccination may be suggested depending on your health needs and travel plans. 
• Yellow Fever: This won’t be required if you’re going directly from Australia, but if you have travelled to a high risk yellow fever country recently you may be required to get a vaccination before entering Bali. 
• Japanese Encephalitis: This is a mosquito borne illness, and the vaccination may be a requirement if you’re planning on being in Bali for over a month. What area of Bali, and what type of accommodation you’re staying in as well as what types of activities you’re planning on doing will be considered when discussing this vaccination. 
• Influenza: getting your yearly flu vaccination will help make sure you don’t catch the years prevalent strain during your stay in Bali. While you’re no more likely to catch the flu in Bali than Australia, catching a flu in Bali is a surefire way to ruin your trip so it's worth keeping on top of.

Check out 1Cover's full guide to vaccinations

What other diseases should i look out for in bali?

Aside from the above, there are other diseases that you need to be mindful of during your trip. While not all of these are covered by medical vaccinations, there are still some precautions you can take to make sure you’re minimising health risks.

Malaria is not a big risk in Bali or the touristy areas of Lombok, but there is a risk of contraction when you’re in the rural areas of Indonesia. BIMC Hospital Bali provides a detailed overview of malaria in Indonesia, and advises tourists to stay covered up and to use mosquito repellent, especially in more remote/less touristy places. Sleeping with a mosquito net is also advisable.

If you’re concerned about malaria before you head to Bali, you might want to talk to your doctor about anti-malaria tablets, but remember, no anti-malarial is 100% effective so use these in conjunction with other bite prevention methods.

Dengue Fever is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. People who contract dengue fever can start showing symptoms three to fourteen days after they get bitten. These symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, muscle pain and a rash. Dengue fever is common in Bali, and there are more instances of the disease during the rainy season. There's no prevention or vaccine for dengue fever, so you need to look into tried and tested insect repellents with high percentages of DEET. Dengue fever is usually not severe, but if you’re one of the unlucky few it can lead to serious illness and hospitalisation, so it's worth taking whatever precautions you can. BIMC Hospital in Bali provides an excellent overview of Dengue Fever, which is recommended reading before you leave.

Avoiding Insect Bites

Insects, like mosquitoes, carry a whole host of diseases like malaria and dengue fever. While there’s no way to completely avoid mosquito bites, these tips should help you avoid them.

• Sleep in a secure, sealed up room, with a mosquito net, ideally one impregnated with permethrin. This provides a physical and chemical barrier from mosquitos while you’re most vulnerable.
• Wear long sleeved pants and shirts, and closed toe shoes when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk as this is when mosquitoes are most active. 
• Wear light coloured clothes as mosquitoes are attracted to heat, and light clothes reflect heat outwards, away from you.
• Treat clothes with permethrin, this insecticide will kill and repel mosquitoes and remains effective on clothes after multiple washes. Just make sure you read the instructions if you’re treating clothes yourself. 
• Use insect repellent which is high in DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin. Always apply repellents after your sun cream to prevent the cream masking the repellent.
• Avoid strong scents like perfumes and strong deodorants as these will likely attract mosquitoes. 

How long before travelling do i need vaccinations?

Generally, you need to get vaccinated 6-12 weeks before you leave for Bali. 

This gives your immune system enough time for vaccinations to take effect and provide maximum protection during your stay in Bali. 

If you don’t know what vaccines you’ve already had you’ll need to book your appointment a bit sooner so you can come up with a plan for how to approach your vaccinations with your doctor. 

Booking your appointment early will give your doctor more time to complete your vaccination schedule in the most effective manner so make sure you give yourself enough time. 

General health and safety tips

Aside from your Bali vaccinations, there are some other essential tips and things you can bring to make your trip to Bali a little safer.

• Watch out for contaminated water and food. There’s a reason ‘Bali Belly’ is a common phrase. Be wary of street foods that aren’t freshly prepared, and only drink bottled water. Even when brushing your teeth, always use bottled water and avoid drinking from taps.
• Bring medication such as Gastro-Stop or Imodium for diarrhoea and Bali Belly relief.
• Pack hand sanitiser and use it regularly.
• Get a local sim card to make sure you can contact home and the local authorities if you’re in an emergency. 
• Be wary of alcohol and only buy it from trusted sources. Local spirit arak is generally home brewed and therefore can contain methanol which is dangerous so be very selective about when and if you drink this. 
• Keep emergency contacts with you just in case. These are some of the contacts you may need during your time in Bali:
  • Emergency Call Number: 112
  • Police 110 or (0361) 751598
  • Tourist Police (0361) 155 4
  • Ambulance 118 or (0361) 257550
  • Fire Brigade 113
  • Bali Taxi (0361) 701111
  • Bali Government Tourism Office (0361) 222387