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Travel health · sourced from ITM Antwerp

China

The vaccines usually advised for China when departing from Belgium, with the lead times to respect, based on the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp (ITM).

Yellow feverConditionalMalariaNo risk
emmunity editorial team · sourced & datedLast updated 17 August 2026

Overview

China is malaria-free for travellers, but it is large enough that risks vary by region and season. Japanese encephalitis circulates in most provinces from June to October (the reason it is on the consider list for rural stays), and the far west adds altitude.

Recommended vaccines

VaccineCategoryWhen
Hepatitis ARecommendedas early as possible (1st dose already protective)
Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTPa)Recommendedkeep the booster current (every 10 years)
PolioRecommendedbooster for 16+ to Asia/Africa; sometimes compulsory (long stays)
Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)Recommendedbe up to date (2 doses) before departure
Typhoid feverConsider≥14 days before departure
Japanese encephalitisConsider2 doses to complete before departure (long rural stays)
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)Considerstart early for ≥2 doses (outdoor activity, tick season)
RabiesConsiderpre-exposure: 2 doses, start early enough
Hepatitis BConsiderstart early (multi-week schedule)

Other health risks

Altitude sickness
Altitude sickness is possible above about 2,500 m, notably on the Tibetan plateau.
Dengue
Dengue and chikungunya occur in the south of the country.
Rabies
Rabies is present in dogs and other mammals; avoid contact and seek care after a bite.
Bilharzia (schistosomiasis)
Bilharzia can be caught swimming or bathing in lakes and rivers.

Prepare your trip

8 weeks
Book a travel clinic
10 days
Yellow fever (if required)
Departure
Certificates & reminders ready

Leaving in under 2 weeks? Still book a clinic: a first hepatitis A dose already protects, and yellow fever needs at least 10 days. A travel clinic will prioritise what fits your timeline.

Frequently asked questions

Is any vaccine required for China?

No vaccine is required if you arrive directly from Belgium. Yellow fever is only asked for if you come from (or transit through) a country where it circulates.

Is there a malaria risk?

Malaria: no risk.

How far ahead of departure should I start?

Ideally 6 to 8 weeks before departure, to complete multi-dose schedules. Yellow fever, where it applies, must be given at least 10 days before arrival.

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Our sources

Last updated 17 August 2026

Indicative information for a typical traveller, not medical advice. What you need depends on your itinerary, region, season and duration. See an approved travel clinic 6–8 weeks before departure: only they can give yellow fever and issue the certificate.

Entry formalities: see FPS Foreign Affairs ↗

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