Vaccinations for Costa Rica: Everything you need to know

Costa Rica is a dream destination, whether you’re looking to laze on the beach, hike in the mountains, spot exotic wildlife, or soak up the culture. Don’t let your trip to Costa Rica get ruined unnecessarily by sickness - think about your travel health and vaccination requirements well before you head to the airport. This guide covers the basics you need to know.

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Do I need vaccinations for Costa Rica?

Sorting out your travel health makes good sense - but it’s important to note that in many cases, vaccination requirements and recommendations will be based on your personal circumstances. Your underlying health, your vaccination record to date, how long you’ll be in the country, and what you plan to do on your trip can all make a difference. That means that it’s crucial to visit a travel health professional well in advance of travel to talk through your personal needs. Schedule a visit 6 to 8 weeks in advance if you can, so you’ll know you have enough time to get any required vaccinations or boosters.

This guide outlines some things to think about when it comes to vaccinations for Costa Rica - you can also get loads of helpful advice from sites like the NHS Fit to Travel pages². Kick off your research here, and get your appointment booked with a travel health doctor as soon as you can.

What vaccinations are required for Costa Rica?

At the time of writing, there’s no need for any proof of Covid vaccination to enter Costa Rica³. This means that most likely, the only compulsory health requirement will be a yellow fever certificate if you’ve come from, or transited through a risk area.

You may not be asked for a yellow fever certificate if you're heading to Costa Rica directly from the UK. However, there’s a pretty extensive list of countries covered by yellow fever requirements - so if you’re travelling more widely in the Americas, or even just transiting through another country on the way to Costa Rica, do check whether you’ll need this certificate to be allowed to enter the country.

Costa Rica required travel vaccinations

As we've mentioned, travel health requirements are highly personal. That means that while some vaccinations or precautions are recommended to all travellers, others may only be advised in specific situations.

The only specific health measures which are recommended to all travellers heading to Costa Rica are around getting up to date with your UK vaccinations - that is, checking you've completed the normal primary courses, and getting any required boosters.

You may well be advised to get boosters for your Covid vaccination if available, or a seasonal flu vaccination. Most of the other vaccinations in the primary schedule are administered in childhood, but boosters are needed for some to provide long term or lifetime cover. Your travel health doctor will be able to advise you if you need any boosters based on your personal health records.

Other Costa Rica travel vaccinations to consider

Here’s a roundup of some other Costa Rica vaccines which may be suggested to specific travellers:

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection spread through respiratory droplets. It’s often not serious - but in some cases, can cause death. You’ll probably have received a vaccination as part of the normal UK childhood schedule, but you may well still need a booster. Boosters are usually recommended every 10 years, so check your records to see if this may apply to you.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a viral infection which damages the liver. It’s usually transmitted through contaminated food and water, or person to person. This vaccination is recommended for Costa Rica where underlying health conditions such as chronic liver or kidney disease may make you more vulnerable.

Rabies

Rabies vaccination won’t give you complete protection, but it will buy you time in the unfortunate event that you’re bitten, scratched or otherwise in contact with an infected animal. You’ll still need to get to a hospital as soon as possible - but as rabies is usually fatal, this vaccine is recommended if your plans put you at increased risk. This may be the case if you’re staying for a long time or working with animals, for example.

Tetanus

Tetanus is a bacterial infection which is sometimes called lockjaw, as it presents with muscular spasms which begin with the jaw. You can get tetanus through cuts, scratches or burns and although you may have been vaccinated in childhood, your healthcare professional may recommend a booster. Usually a tetanus vaccine is needed every 10 years, with 5 doses offering lifetime cover.

Health Tips for Travelling to Costa Rica

In the vast majority of cases, your trip to Costa Rica will be just fine - but it’s not worth taking risks, particularly with common issues. Here are a few more travel health tips to follow:

• Avoid tap water and stick to bottled brands you know and recognise
• Be wary of food that’s been cooked and cooled, or otherwise may have been prepared with poor hygiene
• Much of Costa Rica is at a very high altitude - learn about altitude sickness and how to avoid it if you’re heading to a mountainous area
• Dengue is a risk - avoid insect bites using DEET based repellent and long sleeves and trousers
• Use sun protection and stay hydrated to avoid burning or getting sunstroke

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Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 18-July-2024