Heading to the Philippines soon? Then you might be wondering if you need vaccines to travel to the Philippines. Although, as you’ll see below, Spaniards are not required to get any mandatory shots, our advice is not to take risks: get informed and travel safely. In addition, we’ll talk about other common diseases in the Philippines and how to prevent them.
Keep reading and learn all about the vaccines needed to travel to the Philippines in 2025.
Is it necessary to get vaccinated to go to the Philippines? Updated recommendations
Health isn’t something to play with, so we’re not going to debate here whether you should get vaccines to travel to the Philippines. The key is to make an appointment with a travel medicine doctor (they usually work at so‑called international vaccination centers or at Sanidad Exterior) and let them advise you. Look up the list of international vaccination centers in Spain and book a date as soon as possible, especially if you plan to travel in summer, since they’re often overwhelmed then, even months in advance. In Madrid, you can go directly to request an appointment here; and if you’re in Barcelona city proper, here.
If you’re traveling with children, some cities have specific units for them such as the Child Traveler Unit at Hospital Universitario La Paz in Madrid, which may be worth checking.
Also, since some vaccines for the Philippines require 2 doses with a certain interval between them, it’s important to visit an international vaccination center at least 1 month before your trip.
From our experience and what many travelers have told us over the years, the cost of the consultation and administration of the relevant vaccines depends on the autonomous community and sometimes even on the hospital or center itself, so we recommend asking in advance.
On the other hand, if you’re a bit late and can’t get an appointment for your vaccines for the Philippines, we recommend using your “last resort” and going to your family doctor. They can look up which vaccines are recommended for the Philippines and, if necessary, prescribe them. It’s not always the case, but it’s worth a try.
We’re going to give you up‑to‑date information on vaccines for the Philippines based on our multiple visits and drawn from official pages such as the website of Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC) so you can decide for yourself whether you need to get vaccinated.
We’ve been around here for 15 years and we’re a bit “accident‑prone”, so we’ve got plenty of experience
Vaccines for the Philippines
MAEC clearly states that no vaccine is required to travel to the Philippines, but vaccines are recommended against Hepatitis A and B, tetanus, typhoid fever and, in certain cases, Japanese encephalitis.
The ministry also highlights that rabies occurs throughout the archipelago, so it’s not advisable to touch stray animals and you should be careful with domestic animals, since they’re often unvaccinated. If you are bitten, go to the nearest medical center. In this regard, doctors often recommend having some doses of the rabies vaccine for the Philippines.
What do you need to enter the Philippines? No vaccine. If you’re coming from a country where yellow fever exists, it’s mandatory to have that vaccine to travel to the Philippines. In fact, immigration may ask to see your vaccination card with the yellow fever stamp. That’s not the case if you’re coming from Spain, but keep it in mind if you’re arriving from other places where this disease does occur, as is common in some Latin American countries.
So, in summary, the most recommended vaccines for the Philippines are:
- Hepatitis A (several doses for lifelong validity)
- Tetanus (lifelong validity)
- Typhoid fever (valid for 3 years, according to doctors)
- Yellow fever, if you’re coming from an endemic country (only 1 dose for life)
Other vaccines that doctors often recommend for traveling to the Philippines:
- Japanese encephalitis (many doctors recommend it only for long stays in the Philippines and when visiting very rural areas; valid for 2 years)
- Rabies (in the same cases as the above)
- Cholera (protection against severe diarrhea usually lasts about 6 months)
At our last visit to the international vaccination center, these last 3 were recommended to us, since we take long trips.
Most travelers heading to the Philippines are already vaccinated against other diseases from childhood, but it doesn’t hurt to check with your doctor whether you have the following vaccines for the Philippines:
- Hepatitis B
- MMR (measles, rubella and mumps)
- Polio
With regard to the measles vaccine, it’s advisable to check as soon as possible whether you’re vaccinated. This is especially important if you’re traveling with small children, since a measles epidemic was declared in the Philippines at the beginning of 2019. Children are the most affected.
As we said above, keep in mind that the price of vaccines for the Philippines depends on the country where you get them and, in Spain’s case, even on the autonomous community where you do it. In fact, some centers (such as the one in Girona or in Barcelona) even charge €35 for the visit.
Finally, being vaccinated against covid‑19 is no longer mandatory to travel to the Philippines. See our article Requirements for traveling to the Philippines for more information.
Dengue vaccine for the Philippines
Since 2023–2024, some Spanish vaccination centers have already included among their recommended vaccines for the Philippines the vaccines for dengue. This vaccine is relatively new and consists of 2 doses separated by 3 months, so you need to start the process well in advance. For now, it’s thought to last 54 months, although, since it’s still being studied, it may eventually be shown to last longer.
Even if you don’t have time to get both doses, some doctors recommend it anyway, administering one before the trip and another upon return. That said, to recommend it, the doctor considers the length of the trip (most advise it for trips of a month or a month and a half or more), the time of year, age (children are usually vaccinated from age 6, up to people of 60) and whether you’ve had the disease before or not (it seems to be more effective if you’ve had dengue). Note that it’s not usually financed, so each dose is around €125–€150.
Dengue is one of the most common diseases in the Philippines; it occurs on all the islands and throughout the year. In fact, we’ve had it here, so we suggest you ask your doctor.
Malaria in the Philippines—does it exist? How to prevent it?
If you consult about vaccines for traveling to the Philippines at an international vaccination center, the doctor will probably talk to you about malaria in the Philippines. As MAEC notes, there’s a risk of malaria in certain areas of the country, specifically Palawan and the Mindanao region.
Don’t panic: most travelers going to the Philippines don’t visit areas with malaria risk. Many malaria cases occur in the south of Palawan, the islands of the Sulu archipelago and the southwest of the island of Mindanao, and the figures have been very low for quite a few years.
To cross‑check a bit more, according to Fundación IO, the malaria risk areas in the Philippines are:
- Moderate Risk: Palawan, with the highest number of cases in the south of the island, in places such as Rizal, Bataraza, Balabac, Quezon or Brooke’s Point. It notes that Palawan contributes almost 90% of the country’s total number of cases.
- Low Risk: rural areas of Mindanao, Mindoro, the Sulu Archipelago and Luzon.
- No risk: plains of the islands of Negros and Panay, Boracay, cities (including Manila), the provinces of Aklan, Bilaran, Bohol, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cebu, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, Masbate, Northern Samar and Siquijor.
Although it’s transmitted year‑round, the months of greatest transmission are June to November, which coincides with the rainy season, as there are more mosquitoes.
There is still no effective vaccine for malaria, although there is medication to prevent it or “shock” treatment once you have it. Symptoms usually appear 7–14 days after a mosquito bite, and the most common symptoms are high fever, vomiting, headache and chills.
Even so, in most cases, doctors prescribe malaria prophylaxis if you’re going to visit northern Palawan (Puerto Princesa, Port Barton and El Nido). Always follow your doctor’s instructions and, if you think it’s necessary, it doesn’t hurt to carry malarone (or similar) just in case, even if you don’t take it as preventive treatment. Still, bear in mind that, although partially covered by Spain’s Social Security, the boxes aren’t cheap.
The issue of prescribing malaria treatment is quite controversial, as we’ve seen in our travelers’ Facebook group. The truth is that each doctor has a different protocol. For example, in our most recent experiences at Sanidad Exterior in Huelva and in Tenerife, no doctor considered it necessary, but they did prescribe malarone to carry in the backpack just in case.
Is it necessary to take malaria pills in the Philippines? Medical recommendations come into play here, and then it’s each person’s decision. We’ve never taken malarone for traveling to the Philippines, but we have for other countries.
Of course, one of the keys to preventing malaria (and other diseases transmitted by mosquito bites, such as dengue) is to use insect repellent and take other measures to avoid being bitten, such as wearing long clothing at dawn and dusk.
If you want to delve a little deeper into the subject, we recommend checking this page by Fundación IO, which sets out figures for malaria infections and deaths in the Philippines. You also have this WHO report.
Source: WHO, malaria in the Philippines by the parasite that causes it (Pf and Pv)
Other diseases in the Philippines: dengue
In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that cases of dengue, chikungunya and Zika have been detected in the Philippines. Therefore, it’s essential to protect yourself against mosquito bites, especially during the rainy season (from July to November, approximately).
More important than malaria and the other two in terms of frequency is dengue. For this reason (and because both of us have had it in the Philippines as well as in Myanmar), it’s the disease in the Philippines we’re going to focus on the most.
Don’t panic either: dengue is a dangerous disease, but it isn’t fatal in most cases if you take the right steps to treat it. In some cases, you can even go through it without realizing what it is. However, we’ve met many travelers who have had to be hospitalized for several days (including the two of us) because their symptoms were more severe or as a precaution, since in a hospital you’re more closely monitored with blood tests. Even so, the populations at highest risk are the elderly and children. If you’re traveling with people who belong to these groups, we recommend being even more alert to mosquito bites.
Where is there dengue in the Philippines? Really across the whole country. Outbreaks come and go, so you can’t say there’s a particular place where you’ll get infected—and the opposite. The key is to avoid mosquito bites wherever you are.
Some tips to prevent mosquito bites in the Philippines:
- Use mosquito repellent: in the Philippines it’s hard to find repellents with a high percentage of DEET (N‑Diethyl‑meta‑toluamide). If you’re coming from Spain, the 2 best‑known brands are Goibi and Relec. Even so, you’ll find repellents in any shop in the Philippines that usually have about 15% DEET (OFF! Overtime, with a green and orange sticker, is the best and it usually works well for us). In this case, try to apply it frequently at dawn and dusk. In our article about the backpack for the Philippines we recommend the best ones.
- Wear long‑sleeved shirts and long trousers at dawn and dusk, which are the hours with the most mosquitoes.
- Look for accommodation with window screens. If they have a fan, even better, as it usually means you get bitten less.
- Cover containers where water is stored and avoid places near stagnant water.
If you have a fever at any time, avoid taking ibuprofen or aspirin and opt for paracetamol. These are non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs with anticoagulant properties that can worsen the disease. As always, it’s best to go to a medical center and check what’s going on. In the Philippines they’re very used to this and do blood tests quickly to rule out dengue. Results arrive in just 20 minutes, so you’ll know for sure.
The usual symptoms of dengue are: fever, weakness, nausea and vomiting, joint pain, pain behind the eyes and a rash. Symptoms appear about 2–3 days after the mosquito bite, and the disease is most dangerous when the fever subsides, since that’s when platelet counts can drop the most.
Don’t get paranoid either. If you have diarrhea, fever or vomiting, in many cases it’s more likely due to food poisoning than dengue and, to a much lesser extent, malaria. Even so, it never hurts to go to the nearest hospital.
As we mentioned above, there is now a vaccine for dengue. So if you’re going to ask about vaccines for the Philippines, consult your doctor. They’ll assess whether to prescribe it or not.
More diseases in the Philippines
It’s also advisable not to drink tap water, since there are diseases in the Philippines that can be contracted from contaminated water. Don’t go overboard: be careful, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fruit, smoothies or juices. Just try to do so in places where you see minimum hygienic conditions.
This is particularly important in El Nido, where for years (if not decades) we’ve been hearing about severe diarrhea and bad food poisoning that can even cause a fever. Therefore, take extra care here, pay close attention to the water used on island‑hopping tours and try to brush your teeth with bottled water.
On the other hand, rabies also exists in the Philippines. It’s therefore advisable to avoid contact with stray animals, since they’re likely unvaccinated. In case of a bite, don’t hesitate to go quickly to a medical center to get the vaccine. As we mentioned in the vaccines for the Philippines section, some doctors advise having the rabies vaccine already, since in case of a bite you’ll be better protected and the vaccination cycle you’ll need will be shorter.
Travel insurance for the Philippines
From our own experience and by express recommendation of the Ministry, it’s essential to take out medical insurance to travel to the Philippines. MAEC points out that the purchase of travel medical insurance, including medical repatriation, is STRONGLY recommended for travel to the Philippines, given the difficulties that may arise in the event of serious problems.
Although healthcare isn’t very expensive, infrastructure in the Philippines often isn’t the best in rural areas, and if you need emergency care you may need to be transferred to Cebu or Manila. Treatments at hospitals with good professionals and facilities in those cities are really expensive and can ruin your trip. You can read our case in this detailed article about travel insurance for the Philippines, but we’ll tell you here that between February and March 2019 we saved more than €22,000 after Jairo had to be hospitalized for 3 weeks in a Manila hospital for pneumonia, which also “gifted” him 2 surgeries. It’s not a story we want to repeat, but fortunately our insurance worked wonderfully and provided both logistical and moral support.
We also saved a nice little bill of €900 when Claudia had to be hospitalized for 5 days in Bohol for dengue in July 2022, or when we fell off the motorbike that same month and had to go to the dermatologist 5 times… Having insurance also means medications are covered by the policy, so you’ll save a lot of money if you need them. Vaccines for the Philippines matter, but insurance no less so.
Today, after more than 15 years roaming around the Philippines (and many of its hospitals), we believe it’s essential to travel with good travel insurance. Knowing that you’ll be well cared for and can be transferred to a quality hospital really is priceless. Tests for detecting diseases are covered by the policy, as well as medication, hospitalization costs, or if you had to extend your stay due to illness.
In addition, if you buy through this link, you’ll get a 5% discount on your IATI medical insurance for traveling to the Philippines, which is the one we always use and which, fortunately, has never let us down.
Believe us, we’ve been many years here and we don’t say it lightly. We’ve tried many hospitals and clinics in the Philippines (in silly situations and in very serious ones) using IATI insurance, and we travel with the peace of mind that we’ll be attended to quickly and in good hospitals. We don’t take chances with other insurers and we recommend you don’t either. Also, as snorkeling and diving lovers, the IATI Mochilero policy offers the highest coverage on the market for this kind of adventure and seems ideal to us for a trip to the Philippines.
What’s more, IATI insurance offers coverage far beyond the purely medical, and you’ll also be protected in cases of baggage theft, delays or cancellations in transport (flights/ferries), if you have to return early due to the death or hospitalization of a family member, repatriation or other mishaps.
All that said, and with the pertinent precautions, we can tell you from deep experience that IT IS SAFE TO TRAVEL TO THE PHILIPPINES. So take what we’ve said into account and follow your doctor’s recommendations, but don’t lose your mind over it.
Any questions left about vaccines for the Philippines? Ask us in the comments and we’ll be happy to answer!
