Costa Rica is a rugged, rainforested Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific. Though its capital, San Jose is home to cultural institutions like the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, Costa Rica is known for its beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity. Roughly a a quarter of its area is made up of protected jungle, teeming with wildlife including spider monkeys and quetzal birds.
Recommended Travel Vaccinations For Costa Rica
| VACCINE | HOW DISEASE SPREADS | PREVENTIVE ACTIONS |
| Hepatitis A | Contaminated food or water, regardless of where you are eating or staying. | Get vaccinated. Eat and Drink safely |
| Typhoid | Food & Water | Get vaccinated. Eat and Drink safely |
| Yellow Fever | Viral infection transmitted by a bite from infected mosquitoes. | Get vaccinatedPrevent mosquito bites |
| Hepatitis B | You can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products. | Get VaccinatedAvoid sharing body fluids Avoid non sterile medical or cosmetic equipment |
| Rabies | Saliva infected animals. | High risk country Vaccine recommended for long- term travelers and those who may come in contact with animals |
Routine Vaccinations For Costa Rica
| VACCINE | HOW DISEASE SPREADS | PREVENTIVE ACTIONS |
| Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccination (MMR) | Rubella is a contagious disease caused by a virus.symptoms that can include a low-grade fever, sore throat, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. | Get vaccinated.Avoid sharing contacts with infected people.wash your hands using soap. Avoid infected person coughs, sneezes or even talks |
| Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccination | Tetanus enters the body through breaks in the skin. This is most often cuts or wounds made by contaminated objects.Tetanus enters the body through a wound or cut. It affects the brain and nervous system and causes extremely painful muscle spasms.Diphtheria is a very contagious infection that makes it difficult to breathe. In severe cases, it can cause heart and nerve damage.Pertussis, or whooping cough, is an extremely contagious respiratory infection that can lead to severe breathing problems, especially in infants | Get vaccinated. |
| Chickenpox (Varicella) Vaccination | Chickenpox is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It causes a blister-like rash across the body.Chickenpox can spread from someone with shingles to other who has never had the disease. This happens if a person touches or inhales droplets of the shingles blisters. | Get vaccinated.Avoid sharing contacts with infected peopleAvoid sharing contacts with infected people |
| Polio Vaccination | “Polio (poliomyelitis) is a potentially deadly, life-altering disease. The virus enters the body and attacks the brain and spinal cord, often causing paralysis | Get vaccinated.Avoid sharing contacts with infected people.Avoid contaminated food or water, though sneezes or coughs can transmit the virus |
| Meningitis | Airborne & Direct Contact. | Given to anyone unvaccinated or at an increased risk, especially students |
| Influenza | Influenza is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. This is commonly called the flu, but it’s not the same as stomach “flu” viruses that cause diarrhea and vomiting. | Get Vaccinate Away from people who are infected cough or sneeze |
| Pneumonia | Airborne & Direct Contact. | Two vaccines given separatelyAll 65+ or compromised should receive both |
| Shingles | Direct Contact | Vaccine can still be given if you have had shingles |
