The only vaccination requirement for entering India is for yellow fever if you are entering from an infected area. The Government of India regards any country that reports an incident of yellow fever as infected. Below is a list of countries considered to be infected regions:
Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.
For travel to India, the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT) also recommends vaccinations for viral hepatitis A, typhoid fever and cholera but only for medical and rescue workers. Polio vaccination is recommended for those not previously or only partially vaccinated. Adults who have been fully vaccinated as children should receive a polio booster only once, according to IAMAT.
Malaria is a serious disease transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. If you plan on taking antimalarial drugs, see your doctor at least 4 – 6 weeks in advance of your departure, as you will need to start taking the drugs before travel. To help avoid being bitten, try to be indoors in a screened area during the peak biting period between dusk and dawn. Use a mosquito net over your bed if your windows are not screened. When outdoors, apply insect repellent to exposed skin and wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
Personally, I didn’t get any vaccinations before I went to Mysore but it’s really up to the individual. Whenever traveling abroad, it’s best to check with the World Health Organization and Center for Disease Control and Prevention for up-to-date information. Also check with your health insurance provider to inquire about coverage while traveling internationally. If you are not covered, you may want to consider temporary traveler’s insurance such as World Nomads.
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