Visiting Taiwan? See a Doctor a Month Out; Hep A, B Advised
Before going back to Taiwan, see a doctor at least a month ahead to get the vaccines and medicines you need. CDC’s Taiwan travel health page recommends hepatitis A vaccine for unvaccinated travelers 1 year and older, and for infants 6 to 11 months; it recommends hepatitis B vaccine for unvaccinated travelers of all ages.
CDC also says to be up to date on routine vaccines before every trip, and all international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles (MMR). This article follows CDC’s Taiwan travel health page: what everyone should do, recommended vaccines, vaccines to consider depending on your trip, and diseases vaccines can’t prevent. Health situations differ, so ask your health care provider if you have questions.
What everyone should do
CDC explains (CDC Taiwan Traveler View):
- At least a month ahead: see a doctor at least a month before your trip to get the vaccines and medicines you need.
- Routine vaccines: be up to date before every trip, including chickenpox, DTaP/Tdap/Td, flu, MMR, polio and shingles.
- Measles: all international travelers should be fully vaccinated with MMR, and infants 6 to 11 months should get an early dose; CDC has a Level 1 travel health notice for global measles (2025-05-28).
- COVID-19: all eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.
Recommended vaccines
- Hepatitis A: recommended for unvaccinated travelers 1 year and older; infants 6 to 11 months should also be vaccinated, but that dose doesn’t count toward the routine two-dose series.
- Hepatitis B: recommended for unvaccinated travelers of all ages.
Vaccines to consider
- Japanese encephalitis: recommended if you are moving there to live, staying a month or more, or traveling there often; consider it for shorter stays with rural visits, hiking, camping, or lodging without air conditioning, screens or bed nets; not recommended for short trips limited to cities.
- Rabies: rabid dogs are not commonly found in Taiwan, but some wild land animals have rabies; if your work or recreation may expose you to animals, or you may have trouble getting prompt care, consider vaccination before the trip and talk with a health care provider.
- Mpox: recommended for adults who expect situations such as new sexual or intimate partners during travel; ideally get the first dose at least 6 weeks before the trip.
- Other: the Taiwan page doesn’t list malaria or typhoid recommendations.
- Yellow fever: CDC doesn’t recommend it, and it isn’t required for entry.
What vaccines can’t prevent
- Other diseases on the page: leptospirosis and melioidosis (avoid floodwater and muddy water, cover wounds), dengue (avoid mosquito bites), hantavirus (avoid rodents) and tuberculosis (avoid sick people).
- Animal bites: don’t touch or feed unfamiliar animals; if you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound, see a doctor right away, and tell your doctor when you get back.
- After you return: if you feel sick, see a doctor and tell them where you went, what you did and whether you were bitten or scratched by an animal.
For finding your adult vaccine records, see No National Vaccine Record Database, Ask Your State Registry; for when to get a flu shot, see Flu Shots Advised Each Season from 6 Months, at Pharmacies; for what to do first after an animal bite, see Animal Bite? Wash 15 Minutes With Soap and Water, Get Care.
What this article doesn’t cover
- Cost and insurance: the page doesn’t say what travel vaccines cost or whether insurance covers them, so this article doesn’t either.
- Entry rules: this article didn’t look into Taiwan’s government rules for arriving travelers.
- Visiting friends and relatives: CDC has a separate page for travelers visiting friends and relatives that this article didn’t review.
- Your own case: this article doesn’t judge which vaccines you’ve had or whether you need more.
FAQ
I’m only visiting Taipei for a few days. Do I need the Japanese encephalitis vaccine?
CDC says it isn’t recommended for short trips limited to cities; consider it if you’ll visit rural areas, hike or camp.
I had the hepatitis B vaccine as a child. Do I need it again?
CDC’s recommendation is for unvaccinated travelers; ask your health care provider whether you’ve had it and whether you need more.
How early should I see a doctor?
CDC says at least a month before your trip.
What does my baby need?
CDC says infants 6 to 11 months should get an early dose of MMR and the hepatitis A vaccine.
Sources and date checked
All checked on 2026-11-01.
- CDC, Taiwan Traveler View (page reviewed 2026-08-25):https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/taiwan