Papua New Guinea is a short flight from Brisbane and a very different health environment from anywhere else Australians commonly travel. Most trips are for work: mining, resources, aid, government and church programs, often on a fly-in fly-out roster. Then there is the Kokoda Track, the diving at Kimbe Bay and Milne Bay, and the Sepik. Whatever takes you there, PNG is one of the few destinations where a pre-travel consultation is close to essential rather than a good idea.
This guide covers the vaccinations and precautions Australians should consider for PNG. 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 Papua New Guinea?
No vaccinations are required to enter PNG for Australians arriving from Australia. A yellow fever certificate is required only if you are arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission. Yellow fever is not present in PNG, so the vaccine is not recommended for your own protection. Some employers have their own vaccination requirements for staff deploying to PNG, so check your company's policy as well. The vaccines below are about protecting your health.
Recommended vaccinations for Papua New Guinea
For almost every traveller
- Hepatitis A. Spread through contaminated food and water. Recommended for essentially all travellers.
- Typhoid. Common in PNG and recommended for nearly all trips, including Port Moresby.
- Routine vaccines. Tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, MMR (measles) and seasonal influenza should all be up to date. Tetanus matters more than usual in PNG because cuts and wounds are common and medical care is limited.
Depending on your trip
- Japanese encephalitis. Present in PNG, especially in the lowlands. Considered for longer stays, rural postings and repeated trips.
- Hepatitis B. Recommended for longer stays and anyone who may need medical or dental treatment in PNG, which is a real possibility for FIFO workers.
- Chikungunya. Present in PNG. A vaccine exists and may be considered for some travellers.
- Rabies. PNG is currently considered free of rabies in dogs, so the vaccine is generally not recommended for PNG itself. It still comes up if your trip continues to Indonesia or elsewhere in Asia.
- Dengue. Widespread in PNG. 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.
- Polio. PNG has had polio detections in recent years. Depending on your trip, length of stay and vaccination history, a one-off adult booster may be recommended, so bring your records to your consult.
Malaria: assume you need tablets
Unlike most of Australians' favourite destinations, malaria prevention is recommended for most travellers to most of PNG, including Port Moresby and the coastal and island provinces. The only areas without risk are highland areas above about 2,000 metres. Both major types of malaria are present, and PNG has some of the highest malaria rates in the region. There are several tablet options with different dosing and side-effect profiles. For FIFO workers on repeated short rotations, the choice of tablet and how to manage it across rosters is a conversation worth having properly rather than picking whatever the last person used.
Medical care and evacuation
Medical facilities in PNG are limited outside Port Moresby and a handful of mining sites, and even there serious illness or injury usually means evacuation to Australia. Travel or employer insurance with full medical evacuation cover is not optional. Carry any regular medication for the whole trip plus a buffer, and take a good first-aid kit. Tuberculosis is common in PNG, which matters for longer-term workers and health staff. Talk to us about screening before and after long postings.
Kokoda, diving and the bush
The Kokoda Track is physically brutal and a long way from help. Malaria prevention, tetanus cover, blister and wound care and a plan for heat illness all matter. Diving at Kimbe Bay, Milne Bay and Tufi is superb but remote, so check where the nearest recompression chamber is and that your insurance covers diving. In the bush, keep cuts clean and covered. Skin infections are one of the commonest reasons travellers in PNG end up needing treatment.
Food, water and mosquitoes
Travellers' diarrhoea is a high risk throughout PNG, including in good accommodation. Drink only sealed bottled, boiled or properly treated water, and carry a treatment kit your travel doctor can prescribe. Mosquito bite prevention is essential day and night: malaria mosquitoes bite from dusk, dengue mosquitoes bite during the day. Use repellent with DEET or picaridin, wear long sleeves, and sleep under a treated net or in a screened room.
When to see a travel doctor
Book your pre-travel consultation 6 to 8 weeks before you fly so any multi-dose vaccines have time to work. Even last-minute travellers benefit, and for PNG the malaria conversation alone is worth the visit. If your organisation regularly sends staff to PNG, see our corporate travel health services.
At Travel Doctors Brisbane in Bulimba, we tailor recommendations to your exact PNG itinerary or roster, prescribe malaria prevention, and issue Yellow Fever certificates where required. See our Papua New Guinea 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.