What Vaccinations & Health Rules Apply to Brazilians in Zimbabwe in 2026?

Quick answer: Zimbabwe’s yellow fever entry rule applies to travellers aged 9 months or older arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk, including travellers who spent more than 12 hours in transit at an airport in such a country. Because Brazil is treated in the research as a country with yellow fever transmission risk, Brazilian travellers should arrange an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) before travelling and confirm the current rule for their precise itinerary.

Yellow fever vaccination is not generally recommended for travel to Zimbabwe because the country has no reported yellow fever transmission risk in the cited guidance. That entry requirement is separate from medical advice: hepatitis A is recommended for unvaccinated travellers of all ages, typhoid is recommended for many travellers, and malaria prevention should be discussed with a travel-health professional.

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

Vaccines for Zimbabwe from Brazil: required versus recommended

Brazilian citizenship and the country from which you travel are not the same test for Zimbabwe’s yellow fever certificate rule. The published entry condition is based on arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk, or on a qualifying transit through one. This means a Brazilian citizen travelling directly from a lower-risk country may have a different document requirement from a traveller departing Brazil, while the route itself should always be checked before departure.

Health measure	Zimbabwe entry position or travel advice	What Brazilian travellers should do
Yellow fever certificate	Required for travellers aged 9 months or older arriving from a yellow-fever-risk country, including a qualifying airport transit.	Carry the ICVP if your journey starts in Brazil or includes the qualifying transit. Confirm the route with an official health or immigration authority.
Yellow fever vaccination for Zimbabwe itself	Not generally recommended for travel to Zimbabwe because the destination risk is low or absent in the cited guidance.	Do not confuse the destination recommendation with the certificate rule. A vaccination may still be needed to satisfy the entry condition based on your previous route.
Hepatitis A	Recommended for unvaccinated travellers of all ages travelling to Zimbabwe.	Ask a travel-health clinician whether you need it and how it fits your existing Brazilian immunisation record.
Typhoid	Recommended for most travellers, particularly those visiting smaller cities or rural areas or staying with friends and relatives.	Discuss it if your safari, community visit or accommodation will involve rural or less-serviced areas.
Routine immunisations	Travel-health guidance recommends staying up to date with routine immunisations.	Take your vaccination record to a clinician for an individual review.
Malaria prevention	Malaria risk varies by area and season; prevention may include mosquito precautions and prescription prophylaxis.	Obtain a personalised plan based on your itinerary, dates, health and medicines.

For the separate immigration question, see our guide to whether Brazilian citizens need a Zimbabwe visa in 2026. Visa rules and health-certificate rules are different requirements.

Yellow fever certificate rules for Brazilian travellers

Zimbabwe requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for travellers aged 9 months or older who arrive from countries with risk of yellow fever virus transmission. The same rule covers an airport transit or layover lasting more than 12 hours in a country with that risk. A short airside connection may therefore produce a different result from a long overnight transit, but the exact routing and airport arrangements should be confirmed before booking.

For a traveller departing Brazil, the practical approach is to assume that the yellow fever certificate may be requested and check the current official position before travel. The research identifies Brazil among the countries relevant to yellow fever requirements and risk guidance. This rule concerns the traveller’s route, not simply the passport held: a non-Brazilian traveller arriving from Brazil can also be affected.

The certificate is the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, commonly called the yellow card or ICVP. Under the cited CDC Yellow Book guidance, a completed ICVP is valid for the life of the vaccinated person, and since 2016 a booster cannot generally be required as an international entry condition solely because time has passed. Keep the original certificate with your passport and retain a secure copy; confirm the document format accepted for your journey with the official Zimbabwean authorities or your airline.

The certificate requirement does not mean that Zimbabwe recommends yellow fever vaccination for every visitor. The CDC’s destination guidance says vaccination is not recommended for travel to Zimbabwe, while its entry section separately applies the certificate rule to travellers from yellow-fever-risk countries. A clinician should weigh the benefit of vaccination against individual factors such as age, immune status and medical history.

Recommended vaccinations and when to arrange them

Start your travel-health review at least 8 weeks before departure. UK government travel-health guidance advises travellers to check vaccine recommendations at least 8 weeks before a trip, and this gives time to review records, discuss malaria and address medical conditions or pregnancy. The exact vaccines and schedule depend on your age, previous doses, destination activities and health history.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for unvaccinated travellers of all ages going to Zimbabwe. The cited CDC guidance also notes that infants aged 6 to 11 months should receive a dose in some travel circumstances, although that travel dose does not count towards the routine two-dose series. Parents should obtain child-specific advice rather than relying on an adult schedule.

Typhoid

Typhoid vaccination is recommended for most travellers, with particular relevance for people staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities and rural areas. It is not a substitute for careful food and water practices. Ask a clinician whether it is appropriate for your itinerary, especially if you will spend time away from major towns during a wildlife safari or in rural accommodation.

Routine and individual vaccines

Make sure routine immunisations are reviewed for adults and children before travel. The travel-health source specifically gives measles, mumps and rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis as examples of routine vaccines that travellers should keep up to date. Depending on your personal circumstances, a clinician may discuss additional protection, but the research does not establish one universal vaccine list for every Brazilian visitor.

Hepatitis B, rabies, influenza and other vaccines can be itinerary- or person-dependent rather than universally required. Consider a travel-health consultation if you will have close contact with animals, work in healthcare, stay for an extended period, travel with children, have a chronic condition or are pregnant. Do not treat a recommended vaccine as an immigration requirement unless an official source specifically says it is required.

Malaria in Zimbabwe: risk areas, prophylaxis and prevention

Malaria is a significant itinerary issue even though it is not a vaccination entry requirement. The WHO country information in the research describes predominantly Plasmodium falciparum malaria risk throughout the year in Zimbabwe, with risk from November through June in areas below 1,200 metres and throughout the year in the Zambezi Valley. It describes risk as negligible in Harare and Bulawayo.

These regional and seasonal differences matter for travellers combining cities with Victoria Falls, the Zambezi Valley, national parks or other safari areas. The same source recommends malaria prevention measures for risk areas, while the precise medicine depends on the destination, season, duration, allergies, pregnancy status, other medicines and medical history. A clinician should decide whether prescription prophylaxis is suitable; do not self-select a drug based only on an online itinerary.

• Ask about malaria prevention before departure, particularly if your route includes the Zambezi Valley or lower-altitude areas during the higher-risk season described by WHO.
• Reduce mosquito bites with suitable repellent, covered clothing and screened, air-conditioned or netted sleeping arrangements where available.
• Seek medical advice promptly for fever during or after travel and explain that you have visited a malaria-risk area. Malaria can occur after leaving the destination, so do not dismiss a later fever.

Zimbabwe’s malaria pattern can differ between a city stay and a remote safari camp. Share every overnight location with your travel-health professional rather than asking only whether “Zimbabwe” is high risk. You can also compare safari packages on SafariFind while checking that your final route is detailed enough for a clinician to assess health risks.

Health documents and travel insurance

Carry your original ICVP if your route triggers Zimbabwe’s yellow fever certificate rule. Keep it accessible during check-in and border procedures rather than in checked luggage. Also carry your vaccination record, a list of prescription and non-prescription medicines, copies of prescriptions and relevant medical information. The research supports carrying a health certificate where required, but it does not establish a separate universal COVID-19, cholera or other vaccination certificate requirement for all Brazilian travellers.

Travel insurance should cover medical treatment and unexpected medical evacuation. UK government guidance specifically advises travellers to have appropriate insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation, particularly when they have a health condition or are pregnant. Check the policy’s exclusions, remote-area evacuation terms, pre-existing-condition rules and assistance phone number before leaving Brazil.

Healthcare provision and quality in Zimbabwe are variable and can be very poor outside major cities. That makes insurance and an evacuation plan especially important for remote safari itineraries. Tell your insurer promptly if you are referred to a medical facility, as the cited guidance advises.

For comparison with other nationalities, SafariFind also explains what health rules apply in Zimbabwe to Emiratis and how route-based entry rules can differ from general travel-health recommendations.

Medication rules and what to pack

Zimbabwe may regulate medicines differently from Brazil or other countries. UK government guidance warns that the legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or purchased in the UK can differ in another country and recommends checking medicine guidance before travel. The same principle applies to Brazilian prescriptions: verify the rules for every controlled, injectable or specialist medicine with the relevant Zimbabwean authority and your airline before departure.

• Pack medicines in their original labelled containers and carry the prescription or a letter from your prescribing clinician.
• Bring enough essential medication for the itinerary, including possible delays, subject to the destination’s import rules.
• Keep medicines and medical documents in your hand luggage where practical, rather than separating them from you in checked baggage.
• Carry a written list of generic names, doses, allergies and relevant diagnoses.
• Pack mosquito repellent, long-sleeved clothing and suitable sleeping protection for malaria-risk areas.
• Use safe food and water practices; typhoid vaccination does not remove the risk of food- and water-borne infection.

Do not assume that a medicine commonly available in Brazil will be available in Zimbabwe. Hospitals may face shortages of drugs and trained medical staff, and emergency response capability is limited. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to transport and store temperature-sensitive medicines during flights, road transfers and safari stays.

Health facilities and emergencies in Zimbabwe

Healthcare quality varies considerably, with potentially poor provision outside major cities. Hospitals may have shortages of medicines and trained staff, and emergency response capabilities are limited; in many places, travellers may need to arrange transport to medical care locally. Remote safari camps should therefore be treated as locations where access may take time, not as substitutes for a full emergency medical system.

From a mobile phone, dial 112 and ask for an ambulance in an emergency. The cited guidance cautions that emergency response is limited, so also keep your accommodation, safari operator and insurer’s assistance details available. Before leaving, ask your operator how medical evacuation is initiated, which facility is normally used and whether the insurance policy covers evacuation from the specific area.

Seek professional advice before travel if you are pregnant, have an immune-system disorder, take regular medication or have a chronic medical condition. The appropriate yellow fever decision and malaria plan can depend on those factors, as well as your route and activities.

For further planning, read SafariFind’s guide to vaccinations and health rules for Singaporeans visiting Zimbabwe. The same core distinction applies: border certificates depend on the itinerary, while recommended vaccines and malaria precautions depend on personal and trip-specific risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Brazilian travellers need a yellow fever certificate for Zimbabwe?

Yes, a certificate is required for travellers aged 9 months or older arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk, and Brazil is treated in the research as relevant to that risk category. Confirm the current rule for your route and carry the ICVP if departing Brazil.

Does Zimbabwe require a yellow fever certificate after a transit?

Yes, the rule includes a transit or layover of more than 12 hours at an airport in a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Check every connection, including an overnight airport stay, before departure.

Is yellow fever vaccination recommended for travel to Zimbabwe?

The CDC guidance says yellow fever vaccination is not generally recommended for travel to Zimbabwe itself. However, Zimbabwe can require proof of vaccination because of the traveller’s previous route, so medical advice and border documentation are separate questions.

How long is the yellow fever certificate valid for Zimbabwe?

A completed International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis is considered valid for the life of the vaccinated person under the cited CDC Yellow Book guidance. Confirm acceptance with official authorities before travel because entry procedures can change.

Which vaccines are recommended for Brazilian travellers to Zimbabwe?

Hepatitis A is recommended for unvaccinated travellers of all ages, and typhoid is recommended for most travellers, particularly those visiting rural areas or smaller cities. Routine immunisations should also be reviewed, while any additional vaccines depend on your health and itinerary.

How far in advance should I check Zimbabwe travel vaccines?

Start at least 8 weeks before departure. That allows time to review your vaccination record, arrange any required yellow fever documentation and discuss malaria prevention or individual medical concerns.

Is malaria a risk for Brazilian visitors to Zimbabwe?

Yes, malaria risk varies by location and season in Zimbabwe. WHO describes year-round risk in the Zambezi Valley and risk from November through June in areas below 1,200 metres, while risk is described as negligible in Harare and Bulawayo.

Do I need malaria tablets for a Zimbabwe safari?

You may need prescription malaria prophylaxis, but the decision must be personalised to your route, dates and health. Give your clinician every overnight location, especially Zambezi Valley and remote safari areas, and also use mosquito-bite prevention.

Is travel insurance recommended for Zimbabwe?

Yes, appropriate cover for medical treatment and unexpected medical evacuation is advised. Check remote-area evacuation, pre-existing conditions and the insurer’s emergency assistance process before travelling.

What is Zimbabwe’s emergency ambulance number?

Dial 112 from a mobile phone and ask for an ambulance. Emergency response capabilities are limited, so keep your accommodation, safari operator and insurer contacts available as well.

Do Brazilian citizens need a visa for Zimbabwe?

Visa rules are separate from vaccination and health rules, and the available research indicates that Brazilian citizens should use Zimbabwe’s eVisa process. Confirm the current visa requirement, fee and permitted stay on the official Zimbabwe immigration or eVisa portal before booking.