Do you need malaria pills? Country by country
Malaria risk is rarely uniform across a country — a beach resort and a rural region in the same destination can carry very different risk. Find your destination below for the general picture, then have a physician confirm it against your actual route and season.
There is no malaria vaccine for Canadian travellers. Protection is antimalarial tablets plus bite prevention — compare Malarone, doxycycline and mefloquine.
High risk
Antimalarial tablets recommended for most itineraries.
Moderate risk
Recommended for many itineraries — depends on region and season.
Low / focal risk
Most travellers do not need tablets, but it depends where you go.
No malaria risk
No antimalarial tablets needed for a standard trip.
Common malaria questions
Is there a malaria vaccine for travellers?
No. The approved malaria vaccines (RTS,S and R21) are used in childhood immunisation programmes in high-burden African countries — they are not available or recommended for Canadian travellers. You are protected with tablets, not a shot.
How much do malaria pills cost?
Brand Malarone is about $5–$8 per tablet, generic atovaquone-proguanil $2–$4, and doxycycline $0.50–$1. All are daily, so the total tracks trip length — see full pricing.
When do I start taking them?
It depends on the medication. Atovaquone-proguanil is usually started 1–2 days before you enter a malaria area and continued 7 days after you leave; doxycycline is started 1–2 days before but continued for 4 weeks after. Your physician gives you the exact schedule for what you are prescribed.
Get your itinerary reviewed
An ISTM CTH® certified physician checks your exact route, season and health history, then prescribes the right prophylaxis — delivered anywhere in Canada.
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