Travel health ยท Haiti
The Government of Canada advises against all travel to Haiti. This page is written for the people who are going anyway โ mostly to see family โ and it is written straight.
The short version
Most travellers to Haiti need 5 vaccines, and six to eight weeks is enough time to do it properly.
Leaving sooner? Most of it can still be done โ we prioritise what matters for your route. Nobody gets turned away for booking late.
Recommended for essentially everyone going to Haiti.
CDC puts malaria risk in ALL areas of Haiti, and names Labadee, the cruise port on the north coast, explicitly. The Government of Canada also recommends antimalarial medication and says to speak to a healthcare provider six weeks before you travel. Ninety-nine per cent of cases are P. falciparum, the species that becomes serious quickly.
Six weeks out is the Government of Canadaโs own figure. Some options can still be started much closer to departure.
Food and water, and both sources agree. CDC recommends it for unvaccinated travellers aged one and over going to Haiti; the Government of Canada recommends it where hepatitis A is present. With water supply disrupted in much of the country, this is not a formality.
Any time before you fly. One dose covers the trip; a second, six months later, covers decades.
CDC recommends it for most travellers to Haiti, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas โ which describes most Canadians who fly there. Same route as hepatitis A: contaminated food and water.
At least two weeks before departure. The oral capsules take a week to finish.
CDC carries a current travel notice reporting an outbreak of diphtheria in Haiti, and asks all international travellers to be fully vaccinated against measles with MMR vaccine. Diphtheria protection sits inside the ordinary tetanus booster most adults are overdue for, which makes this the easiest thing on the page to fix.
Tetanus-diphtheria if it has been more than ten years โ which for most adults it has. Can be given the same day.
Blood and bodily fluids, including unplanned medical or dental care โ which carries real weight where the Government of Canada describes health care as inadequate throughout the country. It recommends the vaccine for all travellers; CDC for unvaccinated travellers younger than 60.
The standard course runs over months. Faster schedules exist โ bring your dates.
The honest answer to โam I too late?โ depends on the date. Put yours in and weโll work backwards. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Worth a conversation โ the answer changes with where youโre going and what youโll be doing.
The full list for Haiti. Most people need the first two or three; the rest depend on where you are going and for how long.
Spread through contaminated food and water. CDC recommends it for unvaccinated travellers aged one year and over going to Haiti; the Government of Canada recommends vaccination where hepatitis A is present and advises safe food and water practices alongside it. With water supplies disrupted across much of the country, this is one of the more useful things you can do before you fly.
Bacterial infection from contaminated food and water. CDC recommends it for most travellers to Haiti, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas โ which describes the large majority of Canadians who make this trip. Injection or oral capsules; the capsules take a week to finish.
CDC asks travellers to be up to date on routine vaccines before every trip and says all international travellers should be fully vaccinated against measles with MMR vaccine. It also carries a current notice reporting an outbreak of diphtheria in Haiti โ diphtheria protection comes in the same booster as tetanus, so for most adults this is one injection that covers both. The Government of Canada lists measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella, meningococcal disease and seasonal flu.
Spread through blood and bodily fluids โ including unplanned medical or dental care, which matters more where the Government of Canada describes health care as inadequate throughout the country with few hospitals and many closed. It recommends the vaccine for all travellers; CDC for unvaccinated travellers younger than 60. Many Canadians already have it from the routine school programme, so the first thing we do is look.
CDC states that dogs infected with rabies are commonly found in Haiti, that rabies is also present in some terrestrial wildlife, and โ the sentence that changes the calculation โ that if rabies exposures occur while in Haiti, rabies vaccines are typically not readily available. The Government of Canada suggests considering vaccination, particularly for children and anyone with animal contact. Pre-exposure vaccination does not replace treatment after a bite, but it reduces what you have to find and buys time to reach somewhere that has it. For longer stays, family visits and children, this sits higher here than for most destinations on this site.
CDC advises all eligible travellers to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.
The two sources emphasise this differently. CDC says active cholera transmission is widespread in Haiti, that cholera is rare in travellers, and that vaccination may be considered for children and adults travelling to areas of active transmission. The Government of Canada describes the risk as present in parts of the country and very low for most travellers, focusing on safe food and water. For a short hotel stay it usually does not come up. For a long stay with family, health or relief work, or an area with a broken water supply, it is worth discussing properly.
The Government of Canada names chikungunya as a risk in Haiti, notes that the level varies by season and region, that an approved vaccine is available in Canada, and that you should discuss it with a healthcare provider. CDC lists chikungunya among the mosquito-borne infections to prevent by avoiding bites rather than recommending vaccination for Haiti. Worth raising at the appointment.
Neither source recommends it for Haiti itself. But proof of vaccination IS required for travellers aged one year and over arriving from a country where yellow fever occurs. Coming directly from Canada it does not apply. If your route passes through South America or Africa, bring the whole itinerary and we will check.
Honest about the risks, and specific about what prevents each one.
CDC puts risk in all areas of Haiti, including Labadee. P. falciparum accounts for 99% of cases, with P. malariae rare, and CDC records no drug resistance. The Government of Canada recommends antimalarial medication and advises speaking to a healthcare provider six weeks before travel.
Prevention Tablets, taken exactly as prescribed and continued after you come home for as long as we tell you โ stopping early is the commonest way people get ill anyway. Plus repellent, long sleeves after dark and a bed net where rooms are open. Any fever after a trip to Haiti, even months later, means telling the doctor where you have been.
CDC says rabid dogs are commonly found in Haiti, that rabies is present in some terrestrial wildlife, and that rabies vaccines are typically not readily available in the country if an exposure occurs.
Prevention Do not touch dogs or cats, however friendly, and keep children within armโs reach. Wash any bite, scratch or lick on broken skin for a full fifteen minutes with soap and running water and seek medical advice the same day, vaccinated or not. Discuss pre-exposure vaccination before you go โ here more than almost anywhere.
CDC states active cholera transmission is widespread in Haiti while noting cholera is rare in travellers; the Government of Canada calls the risk very low for most travellers and stresses safe food and water. It also reports frequent power outages and shortages of essential supplies including water.
Prevention Bottled, boiled, filtered or chemically treated water only โ including for brushing teeth and for making ice. Water purification tablets or a filter earn their place in the bag here. Rehydration salts for everyone in the party; with cholera and with ordinary diarrhoea, fluid is the thing that matters most.
CDC carries a current travel notice reporting an outbreak of diphtheria in Haiti. It spreads person to person and it is prevented by a vaccine most Canadian adults have already had and are simply overdue for.
Prevention A tetanus-diphtheria booster if it has been more than ten years. One injection, available the same day you come in, and the single easiest item on this page.
All three are named by the Government of Canada as risks in Haiti and CDC lists dengue and Zika among the infections to prevent by avoiding bites. There is no vaccine or medication available in Canada for dengue. Zika spreads by mosquito and also sexually, and can cause serious birth defects.
Prevention Repellent through the day and reapplied, long sleeves, screened or air-conditioned rooms where possible. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, this belongs in the conversation before you book.
The Government of Canada states health care is inadequate throughout the country, that there are few hospitals and many are closed, that ambulances are limited and may not carry basic required medical supplies, that physicians and hospitals generally expect immediate cash payment, and that medical evacuation can be very expensive.
Prevention Bring your own medicine and a real first-aid kit, in quantity, in hand luggage. Carry cash. Insurance that names medical evacuation, if you can get cover for a country under an avoid-all-travel advisory โ check that specifically, because many policies exclude it, and knowing before you fly is better than finding out after.
CDC lists New World screwworm myiasis among the risks in Haiti and advises avoiding bug bites, cleaning and covering wounds, sleeping in screened areas and avoiding spending time around livestock. It also lists leptospirosis, with the advice to avoid contaminated water and soil and to avoid floodwater.
Prevention Clean every cut properly and keep it covered rather than open to the air. Do not wade through floodwater. Antiseptic and dressings in the kit, and a low threshold for getting a wound looked at that is not healing.
The Government of Canada reports frequent power outages and shortages of essential supplies such as water and fuel.
Prevention If anything you take must stay refrigerated โ insulin, some biologics โ tell us before you travel and we will work out a cooling plan you can actually carry, including how long your particular product tolerates being warm. Never put it in checked luggage.
Prevented with tablets rather than a vaccine, and only needed for some routes โ which is why the answer depends on your itinerary.
CDC puts malaria risk in ALL areas of Haiti โ there is no part of the country it excludes โ and names Labadee, the cruise port on the north coast, explicitly. That last detail catches people out, because a day at Labadee does not feel like a day in Haiti. The Government of Canada agrees that malaria is a risk to travellers here and recommends antimalarial medication, advising you to speak to a healthcare provider six weeks before you travel. P. falciparum accounts for 99% of cases, with P. malariae rare โ falciparum is the species that can turn serious quickly, which is why prevention is not optional on this trip.
CDC records NO drug resistance in Haiti, which is unusual in the world today and genuinely good news. It means chloroquine is on the list of options alongside atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine and tafenoquine. Chloroquine is taken weekly and is inexpensive, which matters when you are buying for a family rather than one person. It is not automatically right for everyone โ your other medications, your health and the length of your stay all bear on it โ so bring your medication list and we will choose together. Whichever we pick, finishing the course after you get home is the part that people skip and the part that matters.
The things that prevent most travel illness are not medical.
The Government of Canada advises Canadians to AVOID ALL TRAVEL to Haiti because of the threat posed by kidnappings, gang violence and the potential for civil unrest throughout the country. It states that if you are in Haiti your personal safety is at risk, and that you should consider leaving by commercial means if it is safe to do so. It reports that armed gangs control most of Port-au-Prince, that flights which do take off from or land at the airport are often targeted by gunfire, and that there are no regular international flights arriving in or departing from Port-au-Prince until further notice. The land and sea borders with the Dominican Republic remain closed to travellers. It also notes frequent power outages and shortages of essential supplies including water and fuel. That is the highest level on the Canadian scale and we are not going to bury it or soften it. Read the current advisory in full on travel.gc.ca before you make any decision, because the situation changes and this page is a snapshot.
A large share of the Canadians who fly to Haiti are Haitian-Canadians going to see family, and telling them not to go is not advice, it is just noise. So here is the part that is actually useful. In Haiti, the usual fallback โ "if something happens, I will deal with it there" โ does not hold. CDC states that if a rabies exposure occurs in Haiti, rabies vaccines are typically not readily available. The Government of Canada says health care is inadequate throughout the country, that there are few hospitals and many are closed, that ambulances are limited and may not carry basic medical supplies, that physicians and hospitals generally expect immediate cash payment, and that medical evacuation can be very expensive. Every one of those sentences points the same way: the decisions get made here, before you fly. That is what this appointment is for, and it is free.
CDC puts malaria risk in all areas of Haiti, and names Labadee specifically, which matters because Labadee is the cruise port on the north coast and people arriving that way often do not think of themselves as having been in Haiti at all. Ninety-nine per cent of cases are P. falciparum, the species that can become severe fast, with P. malariae rare. The unusual part is the drug resistance line: CDC records none. That is rare in the world now, and it means chloroquine is on the list of options alongside atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine and tafenoquine. Chloroquine is taken weekly and is inexpensive, which matters enormously when you are buying tablets for a family of five rather than one traveller. It is not automatically the right choice for everyone โ it depends on your health, your other medications and how long you are staying โ but it is worth knowing the cheap option is genuinely on the table here.
CDC states three things about rabies in Haiti, and they have to be read together. Dogs infected with rabies are commonly found there. Rabies is also present in some terrestrial wildlife. And if an exposure happens while you are in Haiti, rabies vaccines are typically not readily available. The last one is the one that changes the decision. The usual reason a short-trip traveller skips the pre-exposure course is that treatment after a bite is available if it is ever needed โ that reasoning requires the treatment to exist within reach. Pre-exposure vaccination does not remove the need for care after a bite, but it reduces what you have to find and buys time to get somewhere that has it. If you are travelling with children, staying in a neighbourhood with street dogs, or going for more than a couple of weeks, this deserves a real conversation. The Government of Canada also names children among those at higher risk.
CDC states that active cholera transmission is widespread in Haiti, and in the same paragraph that cholera is rare in travellers, and says vaccination may be considered for children and adults travelling to areas of active transmission. The Government of Canada describes the risk as existing in parts of the country and very low for most travellers, and puts the emphasis on safe food and water. Both of those are true at once and they are not in conflict, but they do lead different people to different answers. For a hotel stay of a few days, safe food and water is usually where the conversation ends. For a long stay with family, work in a clinic or an orphanage, or somewhere with a broken water supply, the vaccine is worth discussing properly. The Government of Canada notes frequent power outages and shortages of water, which is the condition under which cholera spreads.
The Government of Canada says physicians and hospitals generally expect immediate cash payment, that there are few hospitals and many are closed, and that medical evacuation can be very expensive. So bring more of your regular prescriptions than the trip strictly needs, in original labelled packaging, in your hand luggage โ and bring a real kit rather than a token one: pain and fever relief, rehydration salts, something for diarrhoea, an antihistamine, antiseptic, dressings, a thermometer, and where it is appropriate, a standby antibiotic. Water purification tablets or a filter are worth their space here in a way they are not for most destinations. We can put all of that together with you in the same visit as the vaccines, and we can usually arrange an extended supply of your regular medication if you ask a couple of weeks out rather than the day before.
Most people booking a travel consult with us are sorting out a household, not just themselves. A few things are different for children.
Bring the whole household to the same consultation. For Haiti there is more to work through than for most trips โ malaria tablets dosed for each child, rabies, water planning, a kit that covers everyone โ and doing it in one sitting is far better than in pieces. Tell us how many people when you book so we set aside the time.
CDC says rabid dogs are commonly found in Haiti and that rabies vaccines are typically not readily available in the country if an exposure happens; the Government of Canada names children among those at higher risk. Small children approach dogs, are less likely to mention a scratch, and are more often bitten on the face or hands. That combination is why we would go through this child by child rather than give a general answer.
Every option CDC lists for Haiti has its own rules about age and weight, and some are not suitable for young children at all. Bring each childโs current weight to the appointment โ not an estimate from last year โ and we will work out what is both suitable and practical, including whether they can swallow it and what to do about a spat-out dose.
CDC recommends it for unvaccinated travellers aged one year and over going to Haiti. Infants aged 6 to 11 months can have a travel dose, which does not count towards the routine schedule and is repeated later. Bring their dates and we will work it out.
Childrenโs paracetamol and ibuprofen, rehydration salts in child sachets, an antihistamine, antiseptic and dressings, and anything they take regularly with extra to spare. The Government of Canada describes health care as inadequate throughout the country with many hospitals closed, and a feverish child in the middle of the night is not the moment to discover what is not available.
The highest one it has: avoid all travel to Haiti, because of the threat posed by kidnappings, gang violence and the potential for civil unrest throughout the country. It states that if you are in Haiti your personal safety is at risk and that you should consider leaving by commercial means if it is safe to do so. It reports that armed gangs control most of Port-au-Prince, that flights using the airport are often targeted by gunfire, and that there are no regular international flights arriving in or departing from Port-au-Prince until further notice. The land and sea borders with the Dominican Republic are closed to travellers. We are stating that plainly rather than working around it. Read the current version in full before you decide anything, because it changes.
Then let us be useful. Malaria tablets for everyone travelling โ CDC puts risk in all areas of the country. Hepatitis A and typhoid, because both come from food and water and the water supply is unreliable. A tetanus-diphtheria booster, because CDC has a current notice about a diphtheria outbreak there. Hepatitis B. A serious conversation about rabies. And a proper supply of your own medicines plus a real first-aid kit, because almost nothing can be bought or treated after the fact. Come in six to eight weeks ahead if you can, and bring everyone who is travelling to the same appointment.
This is the question we get most, and the answer surprises people. CDC lists malaria risk in all areas of Haiti and names Labadee specifically. A day ashore at a private resort port does not feel like being in Haiti, but the map does not agree. Come and talk to us with your itinerary โ how long you are ashore and what time of day changes the discussion, and for a single short daytime stop the answer is not always tablets. It is a conversation worth having rather than an assumption worth making.
Haiti is one of the few places where the cheap option is still on the table. CDC records no drug resistance in Haiti, so chloroquine is listed alongside atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine and tafenoquine. Chloroquine is taken once a week and costs a fraction of the alternatives, which matters a lot when you are buying for a whole family. Whether it is right for you depends on your other medications and your health, so bring your list. Whichever we choose, the course has to be finished after you get home.
It deserves a proper discussion here, for a specific reason. CDC says dogs infected with rabies are commonly found in Haiti and that rabies is present in some terrestrial wildlife โ and it also says that if an exposure happens there, rabies vaccines are typically not readily available. The usual argument for skipping the pre-exposure course is "if I am bitten, I will get treated there". That argument needs the treatment to be within reach. Pre-exposure vaccination does not replace care after a bite, but it reduces what you have to find and buys you time. With children, or a stay of more than a couple of weeks, we would talk it through seriously.
Sometimes, and the two sources put the emphasis differently. CDC says active cholera transmission is widespread in Haiti, that cholera is rare in travellers, and that vaccination may be considered for children and adults travelling to areas of active transmission. The Government of Canada calls the risk very low for most travellers and focuses on safe food and water. For a short stay in one place, safe water is usually where it ends. For a long family visit, health or relief work, or somewhere the water supply has broken down, it is worth the conversation. Either way, water purification and rehydration salts belong in your bag.
Yes, and for Haiti we would encourage it. There is more to decide here than for most destinations โ malaria tablets for each person by weight and age, rabies for the children, water and first-aid planning for the household โ and doing it once, together, is far better than piecing it together over several visits. Tell us how many are travelling when you book so we set aside enough time, and bring whatever immunisation records you have for each person.
Nothing. The travel consultation is free โ a full itinerary review, every recommended vaccine discussed, and advice for your particular trip. You pay only for the vaccines actually given. For Haiti that matters more than usual, because the planning is the biggest part of what we can do for you and none of it is billed.
Bring your travel dates. A pharmacist will go through what you need for Haiti, give what can be given that day, and book anything that needs a second dose. No doctor referral, no wait list.
Written from current CDC and Government of Canada guidance, checked 31 July 2026. Advice for your particular trip comes from our pharmacist, in person.
Imagine Health Pharmacy & Travel Clinic โ #4120, 15 Sunpark Plaza SE, Calgary, Alberta. In Sunpark Plaza, off Macleod Trail, serving Sundance, Midnapore, Shawnessy, Chaparral and the rest of south Calgary.
No doctorโs referral is needed. In Alberta a pharmacist can assess you, prescribe what your trip needs and give the vaccines in the same visit โ so for most travellers this is one appointment, not a clinic queue and then a pharmacy.
The vaccine guidance on this page follows the official recommendations below, read and applied by a pharmacist. Where the two differ we say so rather than pick one.
Checked against both sources on 31 July 2026. Official advice changes โ if your trip is months away, check again or ask us.
