Travel vaccines for Indonesia
Whether it's the rice terraces of Bali, the temples of Yogyakarta or a boat through the islands, Indonesia is the trip of a lifetime. Call into Davyhulme Pharmacy in Urmston and we'll get the health bits ready before you fly from Manchester.
2 current health alerts for Indonesia
Indonesia is enormous — more than seventeen thousand islands stretched across the equator — so no two trips look quite the same. You might be after a fortnight in Bali and the Gili Islands, the dragons and diving around Komodo, sunrise over Borobudur near Yogyakarta, the buzz of Jakarta, or something more off-grid out in Sumatra, Sulawesi or Papua. Because the country is so spread out, the right vaccines really do hinge on which islands you're visiting.
We're a friendly community pharmacy on Davyhulme Road in Urmston, just up the road from Manchester Airport, so you can sort everything close to home rather than heading into the city. Bring along your dates, a rough island-by-island itinerary and any record of jabs you've already had, and our pharmacist will put together a plan that fits your trip — no more, no less. Aim to come in around four to six weeks before you fly if you can, though it's always worth a call even when time is tight.
Recommended vaccines for Indonesia
This is a general starting point — what you actually need depends on which islands you're visiting, how long you're away and what you'll be doing, so the pharmacist confirms the final list in your consultation.
Most travellers
Hepatitis A
Spread through contaminated food and water, which is easily done across Indonesia. Recommended for almost everyone.
Most travellers
Typhoid
Another food-and-water infection — worth having, especially for warung meals, longer stays and travel beyond the main resorts.
Most travellers
Tetanus, diphtheria & polio
A handy moment to top up your combined UK booster if it's been ten years or more since the last one.
Some travellers
Rabies
Rabies is present in Indonesia, including Bali, and is carried by dogs, monkeys and bats. Worth considering for longer trips, cyclists, runners and rural travel.
Some travellers
Hepatitis B
Considered for longer stays, healthcare or volunteer work, adventure sports, tattoos or new relationships abroad.
For some trips
Japanese encephalitis
A mosquito-borne risk in rural and rice-growing areas, including Bali — mainly for longer or repeated rural stays, particularly in the wetter months.
Tablets for some areas
Malaria tablets
Not needed for Bali, Java or Jakarta, but tablets are advised for eastern Indonesia such as Papua. See the malaria section below.
Bali and the popular islands versus the wider trip
For a fairly typical Indonesia holiday — Bali, the Gilis, Lombok and maybe Yogyakarta or Komodo — most travellers are looking at hepatitis A, typhoid, and a tetanus, diphtheria and polio top-up if theirs has lapsed. Rabies is well worth a thought too, given it's present on Bali itself. The extra ones, like hepatitis B and Japanese encephalitis, tend to come in for longer stays, rural and adventurous travel, or work and volunteering placements. The honest answer is that it depends on the detail of your route, which is exactly what the consultation is for — so we tailor it to you rather than jab for the sake of it.
Rabies on Bali and beyond
One thing that surprises people is that rabies is found in Indonesia, including Bali, and it's carried by dogs, monkeys and bats — so the cheeky monkeys at temples and forest sites are worth being wary of. The disease is almost always fatal once symptoms start, but it's very preventable. If you're bitten, scratched or even licked on broken skin by any animal, wash the wound well with soap and water for several minutes and seek medical care straight away, whether or not you've had the vaccine. Having the pre-travel rabies course makes that emergency treatment simpler and buys you time, which is why we often suggest it for longer trips, rural travel, cyclists and runners — just ask us and we'll talk it through.
Malaria — it really depends which islands
Malaria risk in Indonesia varies enormously from island to island, so there's no one-size answer. There's little to no risk in Bali, Java, the Gili Islands and the city of Jakarta, so most holidaymakers on the classic route won't need antimalarial tablets. The picture is very different in the east. Papua and West Papua carry a high, year-round malaria risk where tablets are strongly recommended, and there's variable risk across parts of Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Sulawesi, Kalimantan and rural Sumatra. Because it hinges so much on your exact islands, tell our pharmacist precisely where you're heading and we'll give you a clear recommendation.
Dengue, Zika and keeping the bites off
Dengue is common across Indonesia, including Bali, and is present all year round. It's spread by mosquitoes that bite during the daytime, and there's no routine vaccine we'd give for it, so bite avoidance is your main protection — a DEET-based repellent, loose long sleeves and trousers, and using nets or air conditioning where you can. Zika has also been reported in Indonesia. It's usually mild, but because it can affect a pregnancy, anyone who is pregnant or trying to conceive should have a chat with us before booking, as current advice may be to reconsider travel. The good news is the same daytime precautions guard against dengue, Zika and the mosquitoes that spread malaria, so they're well worth the effort.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Indonesia?
Yellow fever doesn't occur in Indonesia, so there's no risk from it there and you don't need the vaccine to protect yourself. A certificate is only asked for if you're arriving from — or have recently travelled through — a country where yellow fever is a risk, such as parts of Africa or South America. If you're flying straight from Manchester or anywhere in the UK, you won't need one. If Indonesia is a stop on a bigger multi-country trip, just bring your full itinerary and we'll check the entry rules for you.
Frequently asked questions
Almost certainly not. Bali is considered very low to no risk for malaria, so antimalarial tablets generally aren't recommended for a Bali-only trip. We'd still suggest good daytime bite avoidance because of dengue, and the pharmacist will confirm based on your exact plans.
It's worth taking seriously. Rabies is present on Bali and is carried by dogs and monkeys, so be wary around the temple monkeys and any strays. If you're bitten or scratched, wash the wound thoroughly and get medical help right away. We can talk through whether the pre-travel rabies vaccine is sensible for your trip.
Four to six weeks before you fly is ideal, as some vaccines work best with a little lead time and a few, like rabies, are given as a short course. Even so, don't write it off if your trip is sooner — there's usually still plenty we can do, so just ring the Urmston clinic on 0161 748 3016.
Yes, quite a bit. Papua and West Papua carry a high, year-round malaria risk, and parts of Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Sulawesi vary too, so antimalarial tablets and careful bite avoidance become much more important than for a Bali trip. Bring your route and we'll tailor the advice to where you're actually going.
Yes — your whole travel consultation and the vaccines are done here at Davyhulme Pharmacy by our pharmacist, so there's no need to head into Manchester city centre. Bring your itinerary and any record of past jabs and we'll sort the rest.
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.
Heading to Indonesia?
Book a travel consultation at our Urmston clinic, or give us a call and we'll talk through exactly what you need for your islands.