Health
Use normal tropical precautions. Tap water in Port Vila and Luganville is generally safe but can be affected by cyclones, heavy rain or volcanic ash; outside those centres use sealed bottled or boiled water and be cautious with ice, raw salads and undercooked food. Mosquito-borne dengue, Zika and malaria occur; use repellent, covered clothing, screens/nets. Vanuatu is hot/humid, so manage heat and sun; altitude illness is not a usual issue, with the highest peak under 1,900 m. Reef fish can cause ciguatera poisoning; medical care is limited and evacuation may be needed for serious illness or injury.
Vaccinations
Consult a doctor or travel clinic before travel. Be up to date on routine vaccines such as MMR, tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, polio, varicella, influenza and COVID-19. CDC recommends hepatitis A for unvaccinated travelers and hepatitis B for unvaccinated travelers of all ages; typhoid is recommended for most travelers, especially rural or local-stay trips. Ask about malaria prevention and whether rabies pre-exposure vaccine is appropriate for remote/outdoor work or limited access to post-exposure care. Yellow fever vaccine is not recommended and not required for entry by CDC.
eSIM / connectivity
Do not assume local eSIM is widely available. Vanuatu’s main mobile carriers are Vodafone Vanuatu/TVL and Digicel Vanuatu; practical visitor connectivity is usually a local prepaid physical SIM with data, bought after arrival at airport, town shops or carrier outlets. Some international travel eSIMs list Vanuatu via roaming, but coverage and speeds depend on the partner network and outer-island service can be patchy; check compatibility before relying on it.
Health/vaccine info is reference only, not medical advice — consult a doctor or travel clinic; defer to CDC/WHO and official sources (as of 2026-06-24).