What you need to know about travel health before, during, and after pregnancy.
Travel during pregnancy requires extra health planning. Some vaccines are safe during pregnancy, some are not, and certain destinations carry risks that are especially dangerous for pregnant women. Always consult your obstetrician or GP in addition to a travel health doctor before travelling overseas while pregnant.
The following vaccines are generally considered safe during pregnancy: Influenza (recommended), dTap (recommended in the third trimester in Australia), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Meningococcal vaccines. These are inactivated vaccines and do not contain live virus.
Live vaccines should generally NOT be given during pregnancy. These include: Yellow Fever (live vaccine — avoid unless travel to a high-risk area is unavoidable), MMR, Varicella (chickenpox), and oral typhoid. If Yellow Fever is required for your destination and you're pregnant, discuss the risks versus benefits with your doctor — a medical exemption letter may be an option.
Malaria is extremely dangerous during pregnancy — it can cause miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and maternal death. Pregnant women should strongly consider avoiding malaria-endemic areas altogether. If travel is unavoidable, malaria prophylaxis and rigorous bite prevention are essential. Mefloquine is considered the safest antimalarial during the second and third trimesters. Doxycycline is contraindicated during pregnancy. Discuss options carefully with your doctor.
Zika virus can cause severe birth defects. Pregnant women should avoid travel to areas with active Zika transmission, including parts of Southeast Asia, the Pacific, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. If your partner has travelled to a Zika-affected area, barrier contraception is recommended for at least 3 months after return. Check Smartraveller for current Zika risk areas.
Last updated: April 2026