Brazil is a long way from Brisbane and most Australians who go make it count: Rio and Carnival, Iguaçu Falls, the Amazon, the Pantanal, the beaches of the north-east, or a football or work trip to São Paulo. It is also the one South American destination where yellow fever vaccination is recommended for most travellers, not just the ones going into the jungle, which surprises a lot of people.
This guide covers the vaccinations and precautions Australians should consider for Brazil. It is general information only. Your personal plan depends on where you are going, how long for, and your health history.
Do you need vaccinations to travel to Brazil?
Brazil does not require any vaccination certificate for Australians entering from Australia. But yellow fever is present across most of the country, including areas around Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo states, and the vaccine is recommended for most travellers for their own protection. There is a second reason to have it: many countries in South America and elsewhere require a yellow fever certificate from anyone arriving from Brazil. If Brazil is one stop on a longer trip, the certificate can decide whether you get on the next flight. Travel Doctors Brisbane is a yellow fever accredited clinic, and the certificate is valid for life.
Recommended vaccinations for Brazil
For almost every traveller
- Yellow fever. Recommended for most travellers to Brazil. It needs to be given at least 10 days before you arrive for the certificate to be valid, and there are age and health conditions where it needs careful discussion, so do not leave it to the last week.
- Hepatitis A. Spread through contaminated food and water. Recommended for essentially all travellers.
- Typhoid. Recommended for most travellers, particularly for longer stays, the north-east and anywhere outside the big cities.
- Chikungunya. Also widespread in Brazil, spread by the same day-biting mosquitoes as dengue. A vaccine exists and is considered for some travellers, with suitability depending on age.
- Routine vaccines. Tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, MMR (measles) and seasonal influenza should all be up to date. Brazil currently has increased measles circulation, so check you have had two doses of a measles vaccine.
Depending on your trip
- Rabies. Present in Brazil, including in bats, which matters for caving, the Amazon and remote lodges. Worth discussing for longer stays, rural travel and anyone travelling with children.
- Hepatitis B. For longer stays, or if tattoos, piercings, medical or dental treatment, or new sexual partners are possible.
- Dengue. Brazil has had record dengue years recently, with the biggest outbreaks in the south-east including Rio and São Paulo. A dengue vaccine (Qdenga) is now available at our Bulimba clinic (see our guide to the dengue vaccine). Whether it suits you depends on your age, your trip and whether you have had dengue before, and for Brazil it is well worth the conversation.
Malaria: the Amazon only
Malaria tablets are not needed for Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasília, Iguaçu Falls, the north-east coast or the Pantanal. They are generally recommended for the interior Amazon states, including Manaus and Amazon river cruises, and the rural areas of Roraima, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Acre and Rondônia. If your trip includes a jungle lodge or a boat on the Amazon, tell us, and we will sort out which tablet suits you. Bite prevention matters everywhere in Brazil regardless, because of dengue, chikungunya and Zika.
Zika, pregnancy and planning a family
Zika virus is present in Brazil. For most people it is a mild illness, but infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or your partner is, talk to us before you book. The advice about timing, protection and how long to wait after travel is specific and worth getting right.
Carnival, crowds and the Amazon
Carnival brings heat, crowds, alcohol and long days, which is a recipe for dehydration, injuries and sexually transmitted infections. Pack condoms, drink water between everything else, and keep your routine vaccines current. In the Amazon, medical care is a long boat ride away: carry a comprehensive first-aid kit, make sure your travel insurance covers medical evacuation, and treat every insect bite and cut seriously. Altitude is not an issue in Brazil, unlike its Andean neighbours.
Food, water and mosquitoes
Travellers' diarrhoea is a moderate risk throughout Brazil, including in good hotels. Drink bottled or filtered water, be careful with ice, salads and street food, and carry a treatment kit your travel doctor can prescribe. Mosquito bite prevention is your main defence against dengue, chikungunya and Zika: repellent with DEET or picaridin during the day, long sleeves at dawn and dusk, and screened or air-conditioned rooms. In the Amazon add a treated net and cover up from dusk for malaria.
When to see a travel doctor
Book your pre-travel consultation 6 to 8 weeks before you fly. For Brazil that matters more than usual, because yellow fever needs 10 days to take effect and any multi-dose vaccines need time. Even last-minute travellers benefit, but do not leave yellow fever to the last minute.
At Travel Doctors Brisbane in Bulimba, we tailor recommendations to your exact Brazilian itinerary, prescribe malaria prevention for the Amazon, and issue Yellow Fever certificates on the day. See our Brazil destination health advice, browse our travel health services, and book your consultation.
This article is general information only and was reviewed against our subscription travel health database in October 2026. It does not replace personalised medical advice. Vaccination needs and disease risks change and depend on your itinerary, season, length of stay and health history. Always confirm with a travel health professional and Smartraveller before you travel.