What Vaccinations Does Madagascar Require for Swiss Travellers in 2026?

Quick answer: Madagascar does not have yellow fever transmission, but travellers aged 9 months or older arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk must show an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP). The requirement can also apply after more than 12 hours in transit at an airport in a risk country, so Swiss citizens must check every connection on their route, not only their departure from Switzerland .

For health protection, CDC guidance says travellers should be up to date with routine vaccinations, consider typhoid vaccination, follow COVID-19 vaccination guidance, and take steps to prevent mosquito bites. Chikungunya vaccination is generally not recommended, although unvaccinated travellers aged 1 or older may wish to discuss it in specific circumstances . Arrange a travel-health consultation at least 8 weeks before departure, particularly if you are pregnant, have a chronic condition, or will travel to remote safari areas .

Last checked July 2026 — always confirm with official sources before travelling.

Quick answer: required versus recommended vaccinations

Vaccine or health measure	What Swiss travellers should know
Yellow fever	Required for travellers aged 9 months or older arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk, including a qualifying airport transit. It is not generally recommended solely for travel to Madagascar because there is no yellow fever risk in the country .
Routine vaccinations	Be up to date before every trip. CDC specifically includes routine immunisations among the vaccines travellers should review .
Typhoid	Recommended for most travellers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas .
COVID-19	Eligible travellers should be up to date with COVID-19 vaccination in line with current guidance .
Chikungunya	Generally not recommended for routine travel, but unvaccinated travellers aged 1 or older can discuss whether it is appropriate for their itinerary .
Malaria prevention	Malaria is listed among the health risks in Madagascar. Ask a clinician whether prescription prophylaxis is appropriate and use mosquito-bite precautions .

There is no single vaccination list that applies identically to every Swiss passport holder. Your age, medical history, previous vaccinations, destinations within Madagascar, trip length and route through other countries can change the advice. The itinerary is particularly important for yellow fever because the entry rule is linked to where you have travelled or transited, rather than simply to whether you are Swiss .

Yellow fever certificate rules for Swiss citizens

Madagascar has no yellow fever transmission risk, but it applies an entry certificate rule to travellers arriving from countries where yellow fever virus transmission occurs. CDC states that the certificate requirement applies to travellers aged 9 months or older and includes a transit or layover of more than 12 hours in a country with yellow fever transmission risk . TravelHealthPro gives the same threshold and describes the requirement as applying under the International Health Regulations .

For a Swiss traveller, review every airport on the booking. A direct journey from Switzerland should be assessed using the current Madagascar entry rule and the official risk-country list. A connection through a yellow-fever-risk country may change the result, even if you do not intend to leave the airport. The CDC also advises considering whether a long layover requires passing immigration or leaving the airport transit area .

Carry the original ICVP, commonly called the yellow card, with your passport if the requirement applies. CDC guidance says a completed ICVP is valid for the life of the vaccinated person under the International Health Regulations; a booster cannot be required solely because more than 10 years have passed .

One Swiss-oriented health source describes Madagascar's administrative rule differently, referring to arrival within 6 days after leaving or transiting a risk country, while CDC and TravelHealthPro state the more-than-12-hour transit rule . Because these sources do not present identical wording, use the official Madagascar authorities or your airline to confirm how your exact itinerary will be treated, and carry the certificate whenever your route could trigger the requirement.

A medical waiver may be relevant when yellow fever vaccination is medically unsuitable. CDC notes that travellers can comply with an entry requirement by presenting an ICVP showing vaccination or a medical waiver . Do not make that decision without a travel-health professional: yellow fever vaccine suitability depends on age, immune status and other individual risk factors .

Recommended vaccinations for Madagascar and when to arrange them

Book a travel-health appointment at least 8 weeks before departure. This gives a clinician time to review your Swiss vaccination record, identify gaps, assess your route and plan any multi-dose vaccination schedule . If you are leaving sooner, seek advice anyway rather than assuming that late preparation makes vaccination pointless.

Routine vaccinations

CDC advises travellers to make sure routine vaccinations are up to date before every trip . Ask your clinician to review the immunisations appropriate for your age and health status, including any boosters due under the Swiss schedule. Routine protection is separate from Madagascar's yellow fever certificate requirement: being vaccinated against routine diseases does not replace an ICVP when an entry certificate is required .

Typhoid

Typhoid vaccination is recommended for most travellers to Madagascar, with particular relevance for people staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities and rural areas . Discuss it early enough for your clinician to select the appropriate product and schedule for you. Vaccination does not remove the need for careful food and water hygiene.

COVID-19 and other itinerary-dependent advice

CDC says all eligible travellers should be up to date with COVID-19 vaccines . The same consultation is an opportunity to discuss your activities, including rural travel, wildlife contact, hiking, long stays and remote camps. CDC identifies chikungunya vaccination as generally not recommended, while allowing unvaccinated travellers aged 1 or older to consider it in appropriate circumstances .

Rabies deserves an individual risk assessment rather than an automatic recommendation for every visitor. Consider discussing pre-exposure vaccination if your trip involves remote areas, extended travel, work with animals or likely difficulty reaching prompt medical care. The supplied official guidance specifically advises considering rabies vaccination before travel, while the final decision should be made with a qualified clinician .

For trip-planning context, you can also read SafariFind's Madagascar vaccinations and health rules guide for Spanish travellers; use it as supplementary reading and verify the current advice for Swiss travellers with official sources.

Malaria in Madagascar: risk assessment and prevention

Malaria is identified as a health risk in Madagascar by the UK government travel-health guidance . The appropriate prevention plan depends on your itinerary and personal medical circumstances, so ask a doctor or travel clinic whether you need prescription antimalarial medication before departure. Do not self-select a medicine based only on another traveller's experience.

CDC advises all travellers to take steps to prevent mosquito bites and specifically includes mosquito protection in its Madagascar guidance . Practical measures include wearing clothing that limits exposed skin, applying an appropriate insect repellent, using screened or air-conditioned accommodation where available, and sleeping under a mosquito net when necessary. Ask your clinician or pharmacist which repellents and products are suitable for your health circumstances.

Malaria symptoms can occur after returning home. If you develop a fever or become unwell during or after Madagascar travel, seek urgent medical advice and state clearly that you have visited Madagascar. The supplied guidance confirms malaria as a destination health risk, but does not provide a universal incubation period or one prophylaxis schedule for all travellers; follow the personalised instructions given by your travel-health professional .

Insect protection also matters because CDC advises mosquito-bite prevention for Madagascar generally and discusses chikungunya vaccination as an itinerary-dependent issue . Your safari route, accommodation and season may affect how much time you spend outdoors. SafariFind's Madagascar safari season guide for July to October 2026 can help with trip planning, but it does not replace medical advice.

Health documents and travel insurance

Take your vaccination record and, if relevant, your original yellow fever ICVP. Keep paper copies and secure digital copies separately from your passport. If a medical waiver is issued, carry the official documentation explaining it; CDC recognises an ICVP entry recording either vaccination or a medical waiver for countries that require proof .

Arrange travel insurance that covers medical treatment and unexpected medical evacuation. The UK government advises travellers to check that their destination can provide the healthcare they may need and to obtain appropriate insurance, particularly when they have a health condition or are pregnant . This is especially important when an itinerary includes remote safari locations, where reaching a suitable facility may take time.

Medical capacity is limited outside major centres. The UK government reports that public and private hospitals in Antananarivo can handle routine operations but complex surgery may require evacuation to Mauritius, South Africa or Réunion . Confirm that your policy covers evacuation, repatriation, pre-existing conditions where applicable and the activities on your itinerary.

Medication rules and what to pack

Bring enough prescribed medication for the trip, in its original packaging, together with a copy of the prescription and a letter from your clinician when appropriate. The UK government warns that the legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can differ in other countries . The same principle is relevant to medicines carried by Swiss travellers: check the rules for Madagascar and any transit country before departure.

• Pack your vaccination record and yellow fever certificate if your itinerary requires one .
• Carry prescription medicines in their labelled containers and keep them in hand luggage where practical.
• Bring mosquito repellent and clothing suitable for reducing exposed skin, following your clinician's advice .
• Pack a basic personal health kit and any prescribed malaria medicine only if it has been recommended for you.
• Carry insurance details, emergency contacts and copies of important medical information.

Do not assume that medicines available in Switzerland will have the same name, strength or legal status in Madagascar. Ask your travel clinic or the relevant embassy about controlled medicines well before departure, particularly if you use medication for pain, anxiety, sleep or attention disorders.

Health facilities and emergencies in Madagascar

For an ambulance in Madagascar, the UK government travel advice lists 117 from a mobile phone and 17 from a landline . Ask your insurer promptly if you are referred to a medical facility, and keep the insurer's emergency assistance number accessible .

Tap water is unsafe according to the UK government health guidance. Drink and use boiled or bottled water, and avoid ice in drinks . Food and water precautions are particularly relevant because typhoid vaccination is recommended for most travellers, but no vaccine provides complete protection against every food- and water-borne infection .

Before booking, consider the distance between your accommodation and appropriate medical care. Review your route, planned activities and insurance limits with your travel clinic. Travellers can compare safari packages on SafariFind, but should select an itinerary whose remoteness and activities match their health needs and insurance cover.

For related planning, SafariFind's guide to safari safety in Madagascar covers broader travel-safety considerations. Vaccination and health requirements can change, and this article is informational content rather than legal or medical advice.

Last checked July 2026 — always confirm with official sources before travelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Swiss citizens need a yellow fever vaccine for Madagascar?

Swiss citizens need proof of yellow fever vaccination if they arrive from a yellow-fever-risk country or have a qualifying transit there. CDC states that the rule applies to travellers aged 9 months or older and includes airport transits of more than 12 hours .

Do I need a yellow fever certificate when flying from Switzerland to Madagascar?

It depends on the complete itinerary, including transit airports. A direct journey from Switzerland should be checked against the current Madagascar entry rule, while a qualifying transit through a yellow-fever-risk country can trigger the certificate requirement .

How long is a Madagascar yellow fever certificate valid?

A completed International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis is considered valid for the life of the vaccinated person under the International Health Regulations . Carry the original certificate when the entry rule applies.

Is yellow fever vaccination recommended for travel to Madagascar?

Yellow fever vaccination is generally not recommended solely for protection against disease in Madagascar because there is no yellow fever risk in the country. It may still be required administratively because of your arrival country or transit route .

What vaccinations are recommended for Madagascar?

CDC recommends being up to date with routine vaccinations, considering typhoid vaccination for most travellers, and following current COVID-19 vaccination guidance . Chikungunya vaccination is generally not recommended but may be discussed for certain unvaccinated travellers aged 1 or older.

How far in advance should Swiss travellers get Madagascar vaccinations?

Arrange a travel-health consultation at least 8 weeks before departure. This allows time to review routine vaccines, plan typhoid or other itinerary-dependent protection, assess malaria prevention and address medical conditions .

Is malaria a risk in Madagascar?

Yes, malaria is listed among Madagascar's health risks. Ask a travel-health professional whether prescription prophylaxis is appropriate for your route and use mosquito-bite prevention throughout the trip .

Do I need travel insurance for a Madagascar safari?

You should arrange travel insurance that covers medical treatment and unexpected medical evacuation. The UK government specifically advises appropriate insurance, and complex medical cases may require evacuation from Madagascar to another location .

Is tap water safe to drink in Madagascar?

No. UK government health guidance says tap water is unsafe, so travellers should drink and use boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks .

What is the emergency ambulance number in Madagascar?

The listed ambulance numbers are 117 from a mobile phone and 17 from a landline . Contact your travel insurer quickly if you are referred for treatment.