Travel vaccines for Kenya
Safari, the Rift Valley and the coast all carry different risks, so plan vaccines and malaria tablets well ahead.
Vaccines commonly advised for Kenya
A guide based on typical trips — we tailor it to your exact plans at your consultation.
Present in most areas below 2,500m, including Lake Victoria, the coast and many safari parks. Nairobi city and the high central highlands are generally low risk. Antimalarial tablets are usually advised.
A certificate is required if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Vaccination is also generally recommended for most travellers given the risk in parts of the country.
Where you are going changes what you need
Kenya packs a remarkable range of environments into one trip. A morning game drive in the Maasai Mara, an afternoon by Lake Naivasha and a few days unwinding in Mombasa each carry slightly different health considerations. Most visitors are advised to be covered for hepatitis A and typhoid, since both can be picked up through contaminated food and water, and to make sure routine tetanus, diphtheria and polio protection is current. If you will be working closely with communities, handling animals or staying for a longer stretch, hepatitis B and rabies are worth discussing too.
Malaria and yellow fever
Malaria is the headline concern across much of Kenya. The parasite is widespread below roughly 2,500 metres, so the coastal strip, the lake regions and the lower-lying reserves are all considered risk areas, while Nairobi and the cooler highlands sit at the lower end. Alongside antimalarial tablets, bite avoidance matters: cover up at dusk, use repellent containing DEET and sleep under a treated net. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for most travellers and a certificate may be required at the border depending on your route, particularly if you have recently been in another yellow-fever country.
Plan ahead and book early
Some courses, such as rabies and hepatitis B, need more than one appointment over several weeks, and antimalarials should be started before you arrive. We would suggest coming in around six to eight weeks before departure so there is time to complete anything that runs over multiple doses. Book your travel health appointment at Crewe Pharmacy by calling 01270 215837 or visiting us at 139-141 Nantwich Road, and we will tailor the advice to your exact itinerary.
Travelling to Kenya?
Book a travel health consultation at Crewe Pharmacy and we'll confirm exactly what you need, in good time before you fly.
Book an appointment