Indonesia health and vaccines: a practical preparation guide

Indonesia has no mandatory vaccination for ordinary tourists arriving from Europe, North America or Australia. The exception is yellow fever: a certificate is required if you arrive from a country where it is endemic, and it is worth carrying the yellow book if your route passes through one.

What you actually need depends on where you go. Bali and Java are well served by clinics and hospitals. Papua, Maluku, Sumba and parts of Kalimantan are not, and a serious illness there means a flight, not a taxi. That distance is the reason to think about health before booking rather than after arriving.

The vaccines worth having

Hepatitis A and typhoid are the two most commonly recommended for Indonesia, because both spread through food and water and both are unpleasant. Tetanus and diphtheria should be current, and hepatitis B is worth having if you might need medical treatment or a tattoo. Routine measles and chickenpox immunity matters more than most adults remember.

Japanese encephalitis is recommended for long stays in rural areas, especially in Bali, Java and Kalimantan during the wet season. Rabies pre-exposure vaccination is worth considering for longer trips, remote travel or work with animals, though it does not remove the need for post-exposure treatment.

• Hepatitis A and typhoid for everyone
• Tetanus, diphtheria and hepatitis B up to date
• Japanese encephalitis for rural stays over a month
• Rabies pre-exposure for remote travel or animal work
• Yellow fever certificate only if arriving from an endemic country

Malaria: where it actually is

Bali and Java are malaria-free, as are the main tourist areas of Lombok, Sulawesi and Sumatra. The risk is concentrated in Papua, parts of Maluku, Sumba, Flores and rural Kalimantan. If you are going to Raja Ampat, Komodo or the Banda Islands for diving and staying near the coast, the risk is low but not zero.

Prophylaxis is a decision for a travel doctor, not a blog. It depends on your itinerary, the season and your medical history; some drugs are not suitable for everyone. The other half of the answer is bite prevention: long sleeves at dusk, repellent with DEET or picaridin, and a room with air conditioning or a net.

Dengue, rabies and the other local risks

Dengue is present across Indonesia, including Bali, and the mosquito bites during the day. There is no widely used vaccine for short-term visitors, so repellent and long clothing are the main defence. Symptoms start as a sudden fever with headache and joint pain; seek a clinic the same day if the fever is high or you feel faint.

Rabies is present in Bali, and dog bites are common enough that clinics keep the vaccine stocked. Wash the wound for 15 minutes, go to a clinic immediately, and do not wait to see whether the dog was rabid. Monkey bites at temples and in Ubud's forest areas carry the same risk.

Food, water and the usual stomach trouble

Tap water is not drinkable. Bottled water is everywhere and cheap, and hotels provide refills. Ice in tourist restaurants is usually made from purified water; ice from a roadside cart is a gamble. Salads and cut fruit are washed in tap water more often than you would like, which is why many travellers avoid them for the first week.

Traveler's diarrhoea usually resolves in two to four days. Oral rehydration salts matter more than medication. Loperamide helps for a long bus or flight but should not be used with a fever or blood in the stool. See a doctor if it lasts more than three days or you cannot keep fluids down.

The local version, often called Bali belly, is not a single illness. It can be a virus, a bacteria or simply a change in diet and water. Most cases pass, but giardia and amoebic infections do not, and they need a stool test rather than another dose of antibiotics bought over the counter.

Hospitals, clinics and insurance

Bali and Jakarta have international-standard hospitals, including BIMC and Siloam, with English-speaking staff and direct billing with some insurers. Elsewhere, a district hospital can handle routine care but not complex surgery. Travel insurance with medical evacuation is not optional on a trip that includes remote islands.

Keep your policy number, the emergency line and a list of your medications in your phone. Pharmacies, called apotek, are common and can dispense antibiotics without a prescription, which is convenient and also a reason to be careful about what you take.

Check the evacuation clause before you buy. A policy that flies you from Bali to Singapore is not the same as one that flies you from Waisai to Sorong and then to Jakarta. For diving, trekking and scooter riding, confirm the activities are covered and that the motorcycle clause does not require a licence you do not have.

Heat, altitude and the practical kit

The lowlands are hot and humid all year; the highlands cool down at night, especially around Bromo and the Papuan interior. Carry water, use sunscreen, and plan physical activity for the early morning. Altitude sickness is rare below 2,500 metres, but the climb to some volcanoes and the Baliem Valley flights are worth taking slowly. On trekking days, carry more water than you think you need and start before the heat builds.

Pack a small kit: rehydration salts, paracetamol, an antiseptic, blister plasters, insect repellent, sunscreen, and any prescription medicine in its original packaging with the prescription. Bring more of a regular medicine than you think you need, because brand names differ and the same drug may not be available.

• Rehydration salts and paracetamol
• DEET or picaridin repellent
• Antiseptic and blister plasters
• Sunscreen and a hat
• Prescriptions with the generic name

Questions people actually ask

Do I need vaccines to enter Indonesia?

No, not for most travellers. A yellow fever certificate is required only if you arrive from a country where yellow fever is endemic.

Is malaria a risk in Bali?

No. Bali and Java are malaria-free. The risk is in Papua, parts of Maluku, Sumba, Flores and rural Kalimantan.

Should I get rabies shots before going to Bali?

Consider pre-exposure vaccination for long stays or remote travel. It simplifies treatment after a bite but does not replace it, so you still need to reach a clinic.

Is tap water safe in Indonesia?

No. Drink bottled or filtered water, and be careful with ice and raw vegetables outside tourist restaurants.