Destination guide
Travel vaccines for Sierra Leone
A practical guide for UK travellers visiting family, working or volunteering in Sierra Leone, with clear advice on the yellow fever certificate and year-round malaria.
Overview
What vaccinations do I need for Sierra Leone?
Most travellers to Sierra Leone are advised to be up to date with hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid and yellow fever, with rabies, hepatitis B, cholera and others considered depending on your plans. Sierra Leone also requires a yellow fever certificate for entry, so this is one destination where the vaccine is both a health need and a legal formality.
If you are visiting friends and relatives (VFR) or travelling for work, you often face longer stays, rural time and closer contact with local food, water and animals, which raises the risk from illnesses like typhoid, hepatitis and rabies. Malaria is present all year across the whole country, so antimalarial tablets matter as much as any vaccine. These are general recommendations from TravelHealthPro (UKHSA/NaTHNaC) and are confirmed for you at a short consultation.
Plan ahead
Book 4–6 weeks before you fly
Try to book 4 to 6 weeks before departure so vaccine courses have time to work and your yellow fever certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. Travelling sooner? Please still get in touch, as we can often help at shorter notice and start your malaria tablets straight away.
Recommended vaccinations
Vaccines commonly advised for Sierra Leone
The list below follows TravelHealthPro (UKHSA/NaTHNaC) guidance and is tailored to your trip during your consultation.
Hepatitis A
Most travellers
Spread through contaminated food and water, which is a real risk on longer VFR and work stays.
Tetanus
Most travellers
Worth checking your booster is current, as wound care can be harder to access in rural areas.
Typhoid
Most travellers
Advised where food and water hygiene is variable, especially for extended stays with family.
Yellow fever
Most travellers
Required for entry to Sierra Leone; we are a registered Yellow Fever centre and can issue your certificate.
Chikungunya
Some travellers
Considered for some travellers depending on risk; daytime mosquito-bite protection remains important.
Cholera
Some travellers
May be advised for aid, healthcare or those staying in areas with poor sanitation.
Dengue
Some travellers
Discussed case by case; there is no simple prevention beyond avoiding daytime mosquito bites.
Hepatitis B
Some travellers
Recommended for longer stays, work, medical exposure or possible contact with blood or body fluids.
Measles (MMR)
Some travellers
Check you have had two documented doses, as measles still circulates in the region.
Rabies
Some travellers
Sensible for rural stays, longer trips or work with animals, as treatment after a bite can be hard to obtain.
Tuberculosis
Some travellers
Considered for longer stays and closer contact with local communities, particularly in younger travellers.
Entry rules — separate from your jabs
Yellow fever certificate: what Sierra Leone requires
A yellow fever certificate requirement is a legal condition of entry — it is not the same thing as the vaccine being recommended for your health. The recommendation (when there is one) appears in the vaccine list above; the entry rule is below.
Sierra Leone requires a yellow fever certificate from ALL arrivals
Every traveller aged 9 months or older must show a valid International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) — or a medical exemption letter — to enter Sierra Leone, whichever country they arrive from. The certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination, so plan ahead.
Separately, yellow fever transmission does occur in Sierra Leone — so the vaccine itself may be advised for your health; see the vaccine list above and we'll confirm at your consultation.
Malaria & mosquitoes
Malaria and mosquito-borne illness in Sierra Leone
There is a high risk of malaria across the whole of Sierra Leone all year round, so antimalarial tablets are recommended for every traveller. We can advise on atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine, matching the option to your health, budget and length of stay. VFR travellers are especially at risk, so please do not assume past exposure gives lasting protection.
- Antimalarials advised: atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine
- Use repellent with 50% DEET and cover up at dusk and dawn
- Sleep under a treated net and get any fever checked promptly
FAQ
Sierra Leone travel vaccines — FAQs
Getting ready for Sierra Leone?
Book a consultation at our Timperley clinic in Altrincham for your yellow fever certificate, malaria tablets and a plan tailored to your trip.