Recommended Immunizations for Travel to India: What You Need to Know

When planning a trip to India, recommended immunizations, vaccines advised by health experts to protect travelers from diseases common in specific regions. Also known as travel vaccines, they’re not optional extras—they’re your first line of defense against illnesses you won’t find at home. India’s diverse climate, crowded cities, and rural areas mean you’re exposed to risks most travelers don’t expect. You might not catch malaria in Delhi, but you could pick up typhoid from street food in Varanasi or hepatitis A from contaminated water in Rajasthan. These aren’t rare cases—they happen every day to people who skipped the basics.

Typhoid, a bacterial infection spread through contaminated food and water, common in areas with poor sanitation. Also known as enteric fever, it’s one of the top reasons travelers end up in clinics across India. The vaccine isn’t 100% foolproof, but it cuts your risk by 50–80%. Hepatitis A, a liver infection caused by eating or drinking something contaminated with the virus. Also known as infectious hepatitis, it’s the most common vaccine-preventable illness among travelers to India. You don’t need to drink tap water to get it—ice in your drink, unpeeled fruit, or even a poorly washed salad can carry it. Then there’s hepatitis B, a bloodborne virus spread through medical procedures, tattoos, or unprotected sex. Also known as serum hepatitis, it’s less common for casual travelers but worth considering if you plan to get a tattoo, visit a clinic, or stay longer than a month. Most people don’t realize India has one of the highest rates of hepatitis B in the world. Tetanus and diphtheria boosters? Yes. If you’re hiking in the Himalayas or biking through rural villages, a cut from a rusty gate or a thorn can turn dangerous without a recent shot.

You won’t need every vaccine on every list. Yellow fever? Only if you’re coming from a country where it’s present. Rabies? Only if you’re planning to handle animals or spend weeks in remote areas. But the core four—typhoid, hepatitis A, tetanus-diphtheria, and measles-mumps-rubella—are non-negotiable for almost everyone. Even if you’re staying in luxury hotels, you’re still eating local food, using public restrooms, and breathing the same air. The CDC and WHO agree: these shots save trips, not just lives. Skip them, and you might spend your vacation in a hospital instead of at the Taj Mahal.

What you’ll find below are real stories and facts from travelers who got sick—and those who didn’t. We cover which vaccines are most often missed, how much they actually cost in India, how long they last, and what to do if you’re last-minute. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what works.