All visitors to Brazil must carry proof of yellow fever vaccination if they have been to or through certain countries within three months of visiting Brazil. The countries change frequently, so visit the most up-to-date list in the resources section below. In addition, the yellow fever vaccination is required to visit many states in Brazil (Acre, Distrito Federal, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Tocantins, Amazonas, Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Roraima, Amapá, and Goiás) and highly recommended for all other states.
The polio vaccination is required for children, and they must carry proof of the vaccination. The government does not specify ages for children, so to be safe, all minors should have the vaccine.
If you are going to stay in Brazil for longer than two weeks or live in the country for a period of time, the following vaccines are strongly recommended: Typhoid, Tuberculosis, Rabies and Hepatitis B. Typhoid needs to be taken at least 10 days before you travel. Tuberculosis must be taken three months before you travel. Rabies and Hepatitis B should be taken two months before travel.
Two more recommended vaccines for any traveler to Brazil, regardless of the length of stay, are Hepatitis A and Diphtheria. The Diphtheria vaccine should be taken three months before travel. Hepatitis A can be taken two weeks prior to your arrival in Brazil.
Malaria is not prevalent enough in Brazil to warrant suffering through the side effects of taking malaria tablets. Instead, protect yourself from malaria by using mosquito netting and wearing repellents.
