Vaccinations and Malaria Prophylaxis for travellers to South & Central America

Please select the country.

Argentina
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica

Ecuador
El Salvador
French Guiana
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Marguerita Island
Mexico

Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Surinam
Uruguay
Venezuela
A key to the abbreviations used and information on the different
anti-malarial drug regimens can be found below the main tables
YEL

Yellow Fever
HEP A

Hepatitis A
TYP

Typhoid
TET

Tetanus
POL

Polio
MEN

Meningitis
ENC

Jap. B Encephalitis
DIP
 Diphtheria
RAB

Rabies
HEP B

Hepatitis B
 
M

Vaccination is mandatory and a certificate of vaccination is required for entry.
C
 A certificate of vaccination may be required if entering from an endemic country, (except for children <1 year old).
R

Vaccination is recommended for the country but no evidence is required for entry.
L

Long Term. Vaccination recommended for travellers staying in endemic areas for 3 months or more. Except Japanese B Encephalitis <1 month.
 
COUNTRY
MALARIA
REGIMEN
YEL
HEP
A
TYP
TET
POL
MEN
ENC
DIP
RAB
HEP
B
Argentina
malaria risk only in rural areas in the north west of the country along the border with Bolivia and Paraguay
 3 - R R R R - - - L -

Belize
malaria risk in rural areas only and is highest in western and southern regions. The risk in urban parts of Belize City is small.

 3/4 C R R R R - - - L L
Bolivia
malaria risk in rural areas below 2500m regimen 2 or 1,
the Amazon Basin regimen 1 or 2		 1/2 RC R R R R R - L L L

Brazil
the Amazon Basin region, Mato Grosso and Maranhao regimen 1. All other areas regimen 4.

See Map
1/4 RC R R R R - - L L L
Chile
No malaria risk 		- - R R R R - - L L -
Colombia
malaria risk in areas below 800 metres, regimen 1. All other areas regimen 4. 		1/4 R R R R R - - L L L
Costa Rica
malaria risk in rural areas below 500 metres. Risk is highest around central northern border areas with Nicaragua and on the east coast around Puerto Limon - regimen 3. Chloroquine resistance reported in recent years in tourist areas in Puntarenas costal province. No risk in Central Valley and San Jose but anti mosquito measures recommended.		 3/4 C R R R R - - - L L
 
COUNTRY
MALARIA
REGIMEN
YEL
HEP
A
TYP
TET
POL
MEN
ENC
DIP
RAB
HEP
B
Ecuador
Esmeraldas Province regimen 1,
all other areas below 1500 metres 2.
No risk in Galapagos or Guayaquil.		 1/2 RC R R R R - - R L L
El Salvador
malaria risk in the northern Santa Ana Province and in in rural areas along the borders with Guatemala and Honduras - regimen 3. All other areas are very low risk, adopt bite avoidance measures.

3/4 C R R R R - - - L L
French Guiana
malaria risk in the whole country all year round.		 1 M R R R R - - L L L
Guatemala
malaria risk in areas below 1500 metres. There is a higher risk in the northern and western regions of Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Peten and San Marcos.		 3 C R R R R - - L L L
Guyana
malaria risk in all interior regions and there have also been sporadic cases on the coast.		 1 RC R R R R - - L L L
Honduras
Risk is present throughout the year in most of the country including major cities - regimen 3. Chloroquine resistance in the Islas de la Bahia - regimen 1.		 3/1 C R R R R - - - L L
Margarita Island
No risk on Margarita Island.
Those staying on Margarita Island may take day-trips inland to the Angel Falls in Venezuela - the risk will be small for trips confined to daylight hours. Adopt bite avoidance measures.		 4 - R R R R - - - - L
Mexico
malaria risk throughout the year in rural areas along the west coast and in the south of the country not regularly visited by tourists. The risk in Cancun is very small but malaria is present in nearby rural areas. No risk in major tourist resorts eg. Mexico City, Acapulco, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta & Veracruz.		 3/4 - R R R R - - - L L
 
COUNTRY
MALARIA
REGIMEN
YEL
HEP
A
TYP
TET
POL
MEN
ENC
DIP
RAB
HEP
B
Nicaragua
malaria risk throughout the whole country all year round, although the risk is less in Madriz, Carazo and Masaya,
3 C R R R R - - - L L

Panama
very low malaria risk for cruises along the Panama canal - regimen 4. Areas west of the Canal e.g. Bocas de Toro if visited - regimen 3. Areas east of the Canal e.g. Darien and San Blas - regimen 2.

 2/3/4 R R R R R - - - L L
Paraguay
malaria risk in areas along the south eastern border with Brazil e.g. the Alto Parana, Caaguazu and Canendiyu departments. The risk is greater in rural and jungle areas.		 3 C R R R R - - L L L
Peru
malaria risk in rural areas East of the Andes and West of the Amazon Basin below 1500 metres - regimen 2, Amazon Basin area - regimen 1.		 1/2 RC R R R R - - L L L
Suriname
Risk is present and high throughout the year in southern and central parts of the country - regimen 1. In the city of Paramaribo and all coastal districts risk is low - regimen 4.		 1/4 RC R R R R - - L L L
Uruguay
No malaria risk		 - - R R R R - - - L -
Venezuela
malaria risk high in inland rainforest areas of Amazonia, Apure, Bolivar, and delta Amacuro states, including Angel Falls and areas south of and including Orinoco river and also along the Guyana border regimen 1. Risk is low in Caracas, neighbouring coastal regions and on Margarita island- regimen 4.		 1/4 R R R R R - - L L L
   
Childrens' Dosages:
Calculate the dose by weight rather than by age if possible
Age/Weight
Chloroquine
(once weekly)
Proguanil
(once daily)
Mefloquine
(once weekly)
Doxycycline
(once daily)
Malarone
(once daily)
0 - 12 weeks
under 6kg
1/4 tablet
1/4 tablet
-
-
-
3 - 12 months
6 - 10kg
1/2 tablet
1/2 tablet
1/4 tablet
-
-
1 - 3 years
10 - 16kg
3/4 tablet
3/4 tablet
1/4 tablet
-
1 child's
tablet
4 - 7 years
16 - 25kg
1 tablet
1 tablet
1/2 tablet
-
1 child's
tablet
8 - 12 years
25 - 45 Kg
11/2 tablets
11/2 tablets
3/4 tablet
-
2 child's
tablets
13 years and over
45kg and over
2 tablets
2 tablets
1 tablet
1 capsule
1 adult
tablet
The above dosages are based upon the guidelines issued by
the Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention.
 
Adult Dosages
Regimen
 Dose for
Chemoprophylaxis
Usual amount
per tablet (mg)
Areas without drug resistance:
Chloroquine Proguanil 2 tablets weekly 2 tablets daily 150mg (base) 100mg
Areas of little chloroquine resistance (poorly effective where marked resistance):
Chloroquine plus
Proguanil		 2 tablets weekly
2 tablets daily		 150mg (base)
100mg
Areas of chloroquine resistant P. falciparum:
Mefloquine Doxycycline Malarone
(atovaquone & proguanil) 		1 tablet weekly 1 tablet/capsule daily 1 tablet daily 250mg (228 in USA) 100mg 250mg atovaquone &
100mg proguanil
 

Be Wise - Immunize!

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