Argentina travel vaccines, sorted in Urmston
Steak and tango in Buenos Aires, the thundering falls at Iguazú, Mendoza vineyards or the wilds of Patagonia — tell us your plans at Davyhulme Pharmacy and we'll have your jabs and bite advice ready before you fly out of Manchester.
6 current health alerts for Argentina
Argentina is a big, beautifully varied country, and a trip here can mean very different things for your health depending on where you actually go. A long weekend of city sights, parrillas and museums in Buenos Aires is a world away from the subtropical jungle around Iguazú in the north-east, or the high Andean passes of Salta and Jujuy in the north-west — so it really is worth planning around your own route rather than a generic checklist.
We're your local community pharmacy on Davyhulme Road in Urmston, an easy run from Manchester Airport, so you can get everything seen to without heading into the city. Bring your dates, a rough itinerary and any record of vaccines you've already had, and our pharmacist will talk you through what's genuinely worth having for your trip. Four to six weeks ahead gives the most flexibility, but a closer departure is rarely a problem — there's almost always something useful we can do.
Recommended vaccines for Argentina
Take this as a starting point rather than a fixed list — your exact recommendations depend on your route, how long you're away and what you'll be doing, and the pharmacist confirms the plan with you.
Most travellers
Hepatitis A
Spread through contaminated food and water and recommended for the great majority of trips to Argentina.
Most travellers
Typhoid
Another food- and water-borne infection — worth having for most travellers, especially away from the main cities and resorts.
Most travellers
Tetanus, diphtheria & polio
A good moment to top up your routine UK booster if it's been more than ten years.
Some travellers
Hepatitis B
Considered for longer stays, healthcare or volunteer work, adventure sports, tattoos, piercings or new partners abroad.
Some travellers
Rabies
Present in animals including bats. Sensible for rural or longer trips, cyclists and runners, and anyone far from prompt medical care.
For some trips
Yellow fever
Only for travellers heading into the far north-east forests around Iguazú and Misiones — not needed for most Argentina holidays. See below.
Malaria: good news for Argentina
For practical purposes, Argentina is treated as a no-malaria destination, and antimalarial tablets are not recommended for the trips most people make here. Buenos Aires, Iguazú, Mendoza and the wine country, the Lake District, Bariloche and all of Patagonia carry no malaria risk. What little historical risk there was sat in a few low-lying rural pockets along the far northern borders with Bolivia and Paraguay, and even there tablets aren't generally advised. If your route takes you well off the beaten track in the far north, mention it and we'll check the current guidance with you — but for the overwhelming majority of Argentina trips, this is simply one less thing to worry about.
Dengue and avoiding mosquito bites
The mosquito-borne illness that genuinely matters in Argentina is dengue. The country has seen large dengue outbreaks in recent years, particularly in the warmer months and across the north, the central provinces and in and around Buenos Aires, so it's worth taking seriously even on a fairly urban trip. There's no routine vaccine or tablet we'd give for dengue here, so bite avoidance is your main protection — and it guards against other mosquito-borne infections at the same time. Use a DEET-based repellent on exposed skin, cover up where you can, and use air conditioning or a net at night. Zika has been reported in the warmer northern areas too; if you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, have a word with us before you book, as the advice is more cautious.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccine or certificate?
Two separate questions, and the answer is reassuring for most people. There's a low-risk yellow fever transmission area in the far north-east of Argentina — the forested parts of Misiones and Corrientes provinces, which includes the Argentine side of Iguazú Falls — and the vaccine is recommended if your trip takes you into those areas. For a typical itinerary of Buenos Aires, Mendoza, the Lakes and Patagonia, it isn't needed. On the certificate side: Argentina does not require a yellow fever certificate to enter if you're flying straight from the UK. It can be asked for if you arrive after spending time in certain yellow-fever countries on a multi-stop trip — Brazil, Bolivia and Peru can come into it. If you're combining Argentina with Iguazú on the Brazilian side or with other South American countries, tell us your full route and we'll check what applies and arrange the vaccine and certificate if you need them.
Altitude in the north-west and the Andes
If you're heading up to Salta and Jujuy, the Quebrada de Humahuaca, the high-altitude salt flats, or crossing the Andes, you may reach heights where altitude sickness becomes a real consideration. It's nothing to be alarmed about, but it pays to ascend gradually, take it easy on your first day or two, stay well hydrated and go easy on the alcohol. Have a chat with the pharmacist if your route climbs high or quickly, or if you have a heart or lung condition — we can talk you through the warning signs and what to do, and discuss whether medication to help with altitude is appropriate for you.
Food, water and the holiday tummy
Tap water in Buenos Aires and the main cities is generally treated and considered safe to drink, which puts Argentina ahead of many long-haul spots. Even so, an upset stomach is one of the more common souvenirs travellers bring home, especially in rural areas or where the water supply is less reliable, so a little care with untreated water, ice and salads off the beaten track goes a long way. Hepatitis A and typhoid cover the more serious food- and water-borne infections, and we can suggest a simple travel kit with rehydration sachets so a dodgy meal stays a minor blip rather than wrecking a few days of an otherwise brilliant trip.
Frequently asked questions
For a typical trip, hepatitis A and typhoid are the ones most travellers consider, alongside making sure your tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster is up to date. Depending on your plans, hepatitis B, rabies and — if you're visiting the far north-east near Iguazú — yellow fever may be worth adding. We'll tailor the list to your route at your appointment rather than give a blanket answer.
No — Argentina is effectively a no-malaria destination for the trips most people make, so the popular spots like Buenos Aires, Iguazú, Mendoza, the Lakes and Patagonia don't need tablets. The mosquito risk that does matter here is dengue, which is about bite avoidance rather than a tablet. If you're heading deep into the far north, mention it and we'll check the latest guidance.
It can be. There's a low-risk yellow fever area in the far north-east forests of Argentina, which takes in the Argentine side of Iguazú in Misiones, and the vaccine is recommended if you'll be spending time in those areas — and it's also worth sorting if you're crossing to the Brazilian side. It isn't needed for a Buenos Aires, Mendoza or Patagonia trip. Tell us your route and we'll advise honestly.
Yes, the north-west and Andean crossings can reach altitudes where some people feel the effects of thin air. Ascend gradually, take your first day or two gently, keep hydrated and ease up on the alcohol. If your route goes high or quickly, or you have a heart or lung condition, come and have a chat and we'll talk through the warning signs and whether altitude medication suits you.
Four to six weeks before you travel is ideal, as some vaccines like rabies are given as a short course over a couple of weeks. If your trip is sooner, don't let that stop you — call us on 0161 748 3016 and there's nearly always something worthwhile we can sort before you go.
This information is grounded in NHS and TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) guidance and is for general information — not a substitute for a personal consultation. Your travel consultation is carried out by our pharmacist.
Planning a trip to Argentina?
Bring your itinerary to Davyhulme Pharmacy in Urmston and we'll sort the right vaccines and advice — book online or call us on 0161 748 3016.