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Travel health · sourced from ITM Antwerp

Zambia

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

Yellow feverConditionalMalariaHigh risk
emmunity editorial team · sourced & datedLast updated 25 August 2026

Overview

Zambia is high-risk for malaria across the entire country, with no spared zone, so preventive tablets and mosquito-bite protection belong in the basic preparation whatever your itinerary. No vaccine is required to enter from Belgium; yellow fever is only asked for if you have been in certain countries in the six days before arrival.

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
RabiesConsiderpre-exposure: 2 doses, start early enough
Hepatitis BConsiderstart early (multi-week schedule)

Malaria by region

Bite protection and preventive tablets are advised everywhere. If you develop a fever during or after the trip, get tested for malaria as soon as possible.

Malaria risk is regional, concentrated in the areas detailed below.

High risk

The whole country, with no spared zone.

Other health risks

Dengue
Dengue is present; protect against mosquito bites.
Sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis)
Sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis) is spread by insect bites; protect against insect bites.
Tick-bite fever
African tick-bite fever is spread by tick bites; cover up and check for ticks.
Rabies
Rabies is present in dogs and other mammals; avoid contact and seek care after a bite.
Bilharzia (schistosomiasis)
Bilharzia is possible when swimming or bathing in lakes and rivers.
Mpox
Mpox is present; avoid close contact with infected people or wild animals.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is present; avoid prolonged close contact with unwell people in enclosed spaces.

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 Zambia?

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: high risk depending on the region. Bite protection and preventive tablets are advised everywhere. If you develop a fever during or after the trip, get tested for malaria as soon as possible.

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 25 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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