Travelling to Turkey This Summer? What You Need to Know About Travel Health in 2026

Which vaccines are recommended for Turkey?

Turkey does not require proof of vaccination for entry. TravelHealthPro — the UK's official travel health service — recommends the following:

• Hepatitis A — Recommended for all travellers, regardless of accommodation standard. Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated food and water and is present throughout Turkey. A single dose gives around one year of protection; a booster at 6–12 months extends cover to over 25 years.
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and polio — Ensure routine boosters are current. A combined Td/IPV booster is available at Medway Pharmacy if you are due one.
• MMR / MMRV — Since 1 January 2026, the UK childhood schedule uses MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) rather than MMR. All travellers should ensure they have had two doses. With the UK having lost measles elimination status after the 2024 case surge and outbreaks reported across Europe, being unvaccinated at a busy airport or resort carries a real risk.
• Rabies — Not required for most resort or city holidays, but worth considering for travellers spending time in rural areas or with a high likelihood of animal contact. Stray dogs are common in some parts of Turkey. Discuss your itinerary with a pharmacist.

Typhoid is not routinely recommended for standard tourist trips to Turkey, though it may be advisable for longer stays, backpacker itineraries, or travel to rural areas. Discuss your specific itinerary at your travel health consultation.

Food and water safety

Gastroenteritis is the most common illness affecting UK travellers returning from Turkey. This applies to all accommodation types — including high-end, all-inclusive resorts.

To reduce your risk:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water, not just hand sanitiser
• Eat freshly prepared, fully cooked food served hot
• Avoid pre-cut fruit, pre-dressed salads, and anything washed in tap water unless you can verify the water source
• Drink bottled or purified water — tap water quality varies widely across Turkey, including in popular resorts
• Avoid ice unless you know it is made from bottled water
• Avoid unpasteurised dairy products (risk of tick-borne encephalitis in border regions)
• Do not swallow water in swimming pools, lakes, or the sea

Pack oral rehydration sachets and loperamide (an antidiarrhoeal). If symptoms in an adult last more than 48–72 hours, or if a child is affected, seek medical attention promptly.

Insect bite risks

Insect bites in Turkey can, in rare cases, transmit West Nile virus and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in rural areas. Practical precautions:

• Use DEET-based insect repellent (20–50%), especially at dawn and dusk
• Sleep with windows closed or use insect screens
• Cover up with loose, light clothing in the evenings
• Check for ticks after walking through scrub or long grass

The malaria risk in mainstream Turkish resorts and cities is negligible — antimalarials are not recommended for typical tourist itineraries.

Medical tourism in Turkey — read this first

Turkey has become a popular destination for dental care, cosmetic surgery, hair transplants, and fertility treatment. The FCDO and TravelHealthPro both urge caution:

• Discuss plans with your UK GP before travelling for any procedure
• Accreditation does not guarantee outcomes — research clinics thoroughly and ask about complication rates
• Access to follow-up care once you return to the UK may be limited; your NHS GP may not be able to manage complications from overseas procedures
• Ensure your travel insurance covers medical complications from any planned treatment — most standard policies do not

Book a travel health appointment at Medway Pharmacy — 465 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, ME7 5LJ. Open 7 days a week, 7:30am–10pm.