Mexico Travel Advice
Home to over 129 million people, Mexico is a unique place of culture, food, and community. Famous for their festivals and parades, Mexico is a popular tourist destination for many UK residents and attracts over 500,000 British tourists a year.
Although Mexico is a beautiful place, there are still plenty of dangers to watch out for while you are visiting. With lots of diseases and infections not commonly found in the UK, educating yourself on how to avoid these infections is a must.
Many tourists often ask is Mexico safe? But it's not the crime and people you should be worried about, it's the diseases! Before travelling to Mexico, you should check you have all the required vaccines to ensure you don’t contract any serious diseases while abroad. Not sure if you need travel vaccines before heading to Mexico? Here are a few things you should consider before setting off on your travels.
Do I Need Injections For Mexico?
Before travelling to Mexico, there are many vaccinations you should consider depending on your time of stay, what you’ll be doing, and your general health. Even if you’re planning on walking around the city and exploring the shops, there are still some vaccines that are recommended.
Without these vaccines, you are at risk of contracting serious diseases that could ruin your trip and even hospitalise you. These vaccines are designed to expose your body to dead or inactive versions of various diseases so that you can build up a resistance to fight off any future infections.
With lots of deadly diseases and infections found in Mexico that aren’t in the UK, ensuring your body is ready to fight off any infections is crucial.
Common Diseases in Mexico
There are various diseases in Mexico that travellers can be exposed to, depending on the areas that they visit. Many poor regions of Mexico can have poor hygiene and sanitation, which significantly increases the chances of catching these diseases. In addition to this, there are also plenty of other viral infections that you can pick up from just walking down the street.
One of the most common types of infections is Typhoid, which can cause a fever, upset stomach, and diarrhoea. If left untreated, then it can cause even more severe issues internally resulting in internal bleeding. The primary way in which Typhoid is contracted is via poor sanitation or through food and water. If you happen to be visiting the poorer parts of Mexico, then there is a much higher chance of catching the infection.
Mosquitoes in Mexico
Known for its hot climate, Mexico is full of mosquitoes which can carry a range of unpleasant diseases and bacteria including Malaria and Yellow Fever.
Mosquitoes are most active in Mexico between April to November, while their numbers often increase dramatically during the rainy season from June to October. Mosquito bite prevention during your stay is crucial as it significantly decreases your chances of catching diseases.
One of the most popular ways to stop mosquito bites is to use body lotion repellents that emit a strong fragrance that mosquitos dislike. These lotions can often give up to 12 hours of protection depending on their concentration and active ingredient.
Malaria in Mexico
One of the deadliest diseases in Mexico is currently Malaria. Transferred by the bites of mosquitos, Malaria can lead to many complications if left untreated such as kidney and liver failure.
Most commonly found in the South of Mexico in areas such as Chiapas, Guatemala and Honduras, these areas require strict mosquito prevention practices to avoid being bitten. Other regions of Mexico such as Sonora, Sinaloa and Durango also have an increased risk of the disease.
Although there is a vaccine available for Malaria, studies have shown that it’s only 25% effective on users and shouldn’t be relied on as a prevention method.
As mentioned above, the best way to avoid contracting Malaria and other diseases by mosquitos is to wear body lotion repellent while outdoors. By stopping mosquitos from biting you, the risk of contracting Malaria is substantially reduced.
Recommended Vaccinations for Mexico
Here are all the reccomended travel vaccinations for Mexico:
Yellow Fever from £70 per dose
Yellow Fever is currently found in countries across Africa and South America, however, the vaccination may be required if you are travelling to other countries outside of these continents.
The list of countries for which vaccination is required is constantly changing and your pharmacist will use up to date information to advise you on the requirement of the country.
Certain countries require a Yellow Fever certificate, also known as the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), which your pharmacist will provide you when you are vaccinated. The certificate becomes valid 10 days after you have had your vaccination.
If however, you require an exemption certificate, please speak to your pharmacist regarding this.
- £70 per dose
- 1 dose(s)
- Total Cost
- £70
Situational Vaccinations for Mexico
Whether you will need any of the vaccines in this section depends on the region you're travelling to, the activities you have planned and your medical history.
Typhoid from £40 per dose
Typhoid is an infection that can be found in countries across South Asia including, India, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.
Typhoid fever is a very serious and life-threatening infection that can have fatal consequences if left untreated. The best way to protect yourself from this type of infection is with the appropriate vaccine before setting off on your travels.
Symptoms of the infection include headaches, high fever, constipation, dizziness and tiredness. These symptoms can occur anytime after 3 days of being infected.
The Typhoid vaccine can be taken orally or through an injection. Contact us to find out the availability of your preferred vaccine.
- £40 per dose
- 1 dose(s)
- Total Cost
- £40
Why do I need a consultation?
It is difficult to say which vaccines you need without asking a medical professional. Your itinerary, your medical history and the activities you have planned all affect which vaccinations you need. It is important that a trained travel nurse or pharmacist checks what you need.
Exactly the travel vaccinations you need - no more, no less.
During your consultation, our nurse or pharmacist will talk you through the health risks at your travel destinations to check which vaccines you need. If a vaccine is not essential, we will explain your options so you can decide whether you would like to have it.
