Travel Health Advice: Samoa
With its turquoise lagoons, lush mountains, and rich cultural traditions, Samoa is a beautiful and relaxing destination for Australian travellers. But like all tropical travel, it’s important to prepare well—especially when it comes to your health.
Here’s what you need to know before you go, from the team at Walker Street Doctors.
Vaccinations for Travel to Samoa
We recommend the following vaccinations for all travellers, regardless of trip duration.
Routine Vaccines
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Tetanus/Diphtheria (ADT): Booster every 10 years.
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Polio: Essential if you’ve never completed your primary immunisation.
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Influenza & Pneumococcal: Recommended for those over 65 or with underlying health conditions.
Travel-Specific Vaccines
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Hepatitis A: Strongly recommended. Spread through contaminated food and water.
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Hepatitis B: Important if you:
- Might require medical care while overseas
- Will be staying longer than 6 months
- Are working in healthcare or have sexual contact with locals
Now routinely recommended in Australia for infants and unvaccinated adolescents.
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Typhoid: Also spread through food and water. Recommended for all durations of stay.
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Yellow Fever: Only required if you are arriving from a country with yellow fever risk (including long transits >12 hours).
Mosquito-Borne Illnesses in Samoa
Mosquitoes are active year-round in Samoa and can transmit several illnesses. There are no vaccines for most of these, so prevention is key.
Zika Virus
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Pregnant women should not travel to Samoa due to the risk of birth defects.
- Zika can also be spread through sexual contact.
- Women trying to conceive should take strict precautions against mosquito bites.
- Use condoms or avoid sex during pregnancy if your partner has travelled to a Zika-affected region.
Chikungunya
- Spread by day- and night-biting mosquitoes in urban and rural areas.
- Symptoms can include fever, rash, joint pain and fatigue—sometimes lingering for weeks.
Dengue, Filariasis, RossRiver Virus & Murray Valley Encephalitis
- These mosquito-borne diseases occur in the region, though risk varies by season and outbreak.
To protect yourself:
- Use insect repellent with DEET or picaridin
- Wear long, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing
- Stay in screened or air-conditioned accommodation
- Use mosquito nets if needed
Book Your Travel Appointment Early
At Walker Street Doctors, we offer:
- Personalised travel vaccine planning
- Insect bite prevention kits
- Letters for travel insurance and border requirements
- Calm, efficient care by clinicians who understand travel health
For best protection, book your travel consultation 2–4 weeks before departure
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