Do you need a yellow fever vaccine for Djibouti?
Only depending on where you come from. There is no yellow fever in Djibouti, but it requires a certificate from travellers aged 1 or over arriving from an at-risk country, or after more than 12 hours in transit at such a country’s airport.
One for the diaspora: Ethiopia is on WHO’s list, as are Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and South Sudan. Coming from Ethiopia, or connecting in Addis Ababa for more than 12 hours? Carry the certificate and check the current rule with the embassy or your airline.
Get the vaccine at least 10 days before you arrive: the certificate is valid from that day, and then for life.
Which vaccines should you get before travelling to Djibouti?
See a doctor or travel clinic at least 8 weeks before you leave, with each traveller’s vaccination record: some vaccines need several doses. They will tailor the list to your age, health and trip.
| Vaccine | Who needs it | When to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow fever | Arriving from an at-risk country or after a 12-hour-plus transit, from age 1 | At least 10 days before arrival |
| Routine: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles | Everyone, children included | At the appointment, catch-up if needed |
| Hepatitis A | Most travellers, from age 1 | At least 2 weeks before departure |
| Typhoid | Most travellers, from age 2 | At least 2 weeks before departure |
| Hepatitis B | Long or repeated stays | 2 doses a month apart, booster 6 months later |
| Rabies | Long or rural stays, young children | At least 1 week before: 2 doses, days 0 and 7 |
Rabies: two doses or three?
Two, according to WHO since 2018 and the US CDC since 2022: one on day 0, one on day 7. The Institut Pasteur in France still lists three (days 0, 7 and 21 or 28): your doctor chooses the schedule.
Vaccinated or not, any bite means washing the wound and seeing a doctor the same day: the preventive course does not replace the injections given after a bite.
Diaspora children visiting family: what to plan?
A child spending the holidays with grandparents lives like the neighbourhood kids: shared meals, playing outside, animals. For them, hepatitis A (from age 1), typhoid (from age 2) and rabies matter more.
Children are the most frequent victims of dog bites: teach them not to approach animals. Does your child live in Djibouti? See our guide to the Djibouti vaccination schedule.
Malaria, heat, water: what else to plan?
There is no malaria vaccine for travellers. See a doctor before you leave about preventive tablets, and get any fever tested, during the trip and after you get home.
- Heat
- Drink water regularly, 2 to 3 litres a day, unless your doctor has limited your fluids (heart or kidney disease); stay in the shade at the hottest hours.
- Water
- Sealed bottled water or water made safe.
- Food
- Well cooked, fruit peeled, hands washed.
Where can you get vaccinated once in Djibouti?
Ask your doctor or your local health centre. Medyc arranges a video consultation with a doctor, from 3,000 DJF, to go through your record and tell you which vaccines are due.
Moving there? See our expat health guide too.
Your questions, answered
Do I need a yellow fever vaccine to fly to Djibouti from Europe or the US?
No, if you arrive directly from a country without yellow fever risk. The certificate is only required when arriving from an at-risk country, or after more than 12 hours in transit in one.
Do I need a vaccine to travel from Ethiopia to Djibouti?
Yes, a yellow fever certificate from age 1: Ethiopia is on WHO’s list of at-risk countries. Check the current rule with the embassy or your airline.
My yellow fever certificate is over 10 years old. Is it still valid?
Yes. Since 2016, yellow fever certificates are valid for life, including older ones. No booster can be required at the border.
Is there a malaria vaccine for Djibouti?
Not for travellers. You protect yourself by avoiding bites and, depending on the trip, with preventive tablets prescribed by a doctor.
Can my baby travel to Djibouti before their first vaccines?
Talk to the paediatrician before booking flights: they will say which vaccines can be brought forward and how to protect the baby from mosquitoes.
Sources & further reading
- WHO: countries with risk of yellow fever and countries requiring vaccination (2022 list, revised 2023)
- CDC: Djibouti, traveler view
- CDC: International Certificate of Vaccination, valid 10 days after vaccination
- Institut Pasteur: Djibouti country sheet
- France Diplomatie: Djibouti, health
- NaTHNaC (TravelHealthPro): Djibouti
- GOV.UK: Djibouti travel advice, health (8 weeks before)
- WHO: rabies vaccines position paper (2018)
- CDC, MMWR: 2-dose rabies pre-exposure schedule (2022)
- WHO: rabies fact sheet (wound washing, care after a bite)
- WHO: heat and health, advice
- WHO Europe: public health advice on heat (fluids limited by a doctor)
- Medyc: malaria in Djibouti
- Medyc: the Djibouti vaccination schedule
- Medyc: expat health in Djibouti
This guide explains how to organise care. It does not provide a diagnosis or individual medical advice. How we write our guides
