Visiting family in India or Punjab this winter?
Winter is wedding and family season, and many trips run for weeks. Canada's travel advice counts people visiting friends and relatives among the travellers at higher risk: they often stay longer, eat in people's homes and are less likely to get advice before they go. See a health care professional about 6 weeks before you leave.
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About 6 weeks before you fly
Flying December 18? Six weeks earlier is November 6. Flying January 8? That is November 27.
Source (checked ): Government of Canada, Visiting friends and relatives abroad
Flu shot
At least 2 weeks before you fly
Canada's advice for India is to get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.
Source (checked ): Government of Canada, India travel advice
Winter air
Typically at its worst in winter
Canada's advice says air pollution in cities such as Delhi can be extremely hazardous and is typically at its worst in winter, and that agricultural burning affects air quality in rural areas.
Source (checked ): Government of Canada, India travel advice
Visiting India or Punjab this winter? 4 things before you fly
Typhoid and hepatitis A vaccines
Canada's advice for India recommends the hepatitis A vaccine for all travellers and the typhoid vaccine for most travellers. It also says people visiting friends or relatives are more likely to become seriously ill from typhoid.
Source (checked ): Government of Canada, India travel advice
Ask whether you need malaria pills
Canada's advice says India has a risk of malaria in certain areas or at certain times of year, and that whether you need antimalarial pills depends on your itinerary. Bring your whole plan, side trips included, to your consult.
Source (checked ): Government of Canada, India travel advice
Plan for winter air
Canada's advice says air pollution in cities such as Delhi can be extremely hazardous, is typically at its worst in winter, and that agricultural burning affects rural air. It advises monitoring pollution levels, especially if you have a breathing problem or another medical condition, and limiting time outdoors when pollution is high.
Source (checked ): Government of Canada, India travel advice
Stay away from dogs; ask about rabies
Canada's advice says rabies is present in India and is carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats, and that counterfeit human rabies vaccine has been reported in major Indian cities. It advises talking to a health care professional about rabies vaccination before you travel, and avoiding contact with animals, especially dogs.
Source (checked ): Government of Canada, India travel advice
Near the Pakistan border in Punjab
Canada advises avoiding all travel to areas within 10 km of the border with Pakistan in Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan, because of the unpredictable security situation and the presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance. It also says the Attari-Wagah border crossing is currently closed. Check the advice again before you leave; it can change quickly.
Source (checked ): Government of Canada, India travel advice
Staying more than a month
Canada's advice says the risk of Japanese encephalitis is very low for most travellers but higher for long stays, such as more than 30 days. A long stay or time in villages can also change your rabies and malaria plan, so tell your physician how long you will be away and where.
Canada's measles notice applies here too: adults born in 1970 or later need 2 doses of a measles vaccine unless they have proof of immunity.
Sources (checked ): Government of Canada, India travel advice · Government of Canada, Measles: advice for travellers
What it costs, and what your plan may pay
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Frequently asked questions
Which vaccines do I need to visit family in India?
Canada's advice for India recommends hepatitis A for all travellers and typhoid for most, and lists rabies and Japanese encephalitis as vaccines to consider depending on your trip. Your physician decides with you based on where you will be and for how long.
Is the advice different for Punjab?
Canada's health advice is written for India as a whole. What changes your plan is your itinerary: cities or villages, side trips, and how long you stay. Canada's safety advice does single out the border with Pakistan, including in Punjab.
How early should I book before a December trip?
About 6 weeks before you leave, as Canada's advice for people visiting friends and relatives suggests: November 6 for a December 18 flight.
Does OHIP cover travel vaccines for India?
No. Ontario's health insurance regulation excludes services and immunizations given only because you are travelling outside Canada. A workplace health plan or a health spending account may cover them; our insurance guide explains how to check and claim.
See also: How to check your plan and claim
Related guides
This page is general information drawn from the government sources linked beside each point, as of the dates shown. It is not medical advice for you. Your own plan depends on your health, your itinerary and the advice in force when you travel, and a consultation with a physician is required before any prescription. For an emergency, call 911.