Travel Vaccines and Advice for the Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Cocos (Keeling) Islands is an external territory of Australia located in the Indian Ocean to the west of Australia. The islands consist of 27 coral islands, but only two are inhabited: West and Home Island.
Only 600 people are official residents of the Cocos, with the majority of people living in Bantam.
A majority of the population practices Sunni Islam and speak a native dialect of Malay. English is also a native language.
About 400 people live in Bantam on Home Island and 200 live on West Island.
Do I Need Vaccines for Cocos (Keeling) Islands?
Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The PHAC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Cocos (Keeling) Islands: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.
See the bullets below to learn more about some of these key immunizations:
- Hepatitis A –
Food & Water –
Recommended for most travellers - Hepatitis B –
Blood & Body Fluids –
Accelerated schedule available - Typhoid –
Food & Water –
Shot lasts 2 years. Oral vaccine lasts 5 years, must be able to swallow pills. Oral doses must be kept in refrigerator. - Yellow Fever –
Mosquito –
Required if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Excludes the Galapagos in Ecuador and Misiones in Argentina. - Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) –
Various Vectors –
Given to anyone unvaccinated and/or born after 1957. One time adult booster recommended. - TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis) –
Wounds & Airborne –
Only one adult booster of pertussis required. - Chickenpox –
Direct Contact & Airborne –
Given to those unvaccinated that did not have chickenpox. - Shingles –
Direct Contact –
Vaccine can still be given if you have had shingles. - Pneumonia –
Airborne –
Two vaccines given separately. All 65+ or immunocompromised should receive both. - Influenza –
Airborne –
Vaccine components change annually. - Meningitis –
Airborne & Direct Contact –
Given to anyone unvaccinated or at an increased risk, especially students. - Polio –
Food & Water –
Considered a routine vaccination for most travel itineraries. Single adult booster recommended.
See the tables below for more information:
Recommended Travel Vaccinations for Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
||
| VACCINE | HOW DISEASE SPREADS | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis A | Food & Water | Recommended for most travellers |
| Hepatitis B | Blood & Body Fluids | Accelerated schedule available |
| Typhoid | Food & Water | Shot lasts 2 years. Oral vaccine lasts 5 years, must be able to swallow pills. Oral doses must be kept in refrigerator. |
| Yellow Fever | Mosquito | Required if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Excludes the Galapagos in Ecuador and Misiones in Argentina. |
Routine Vaccinations for Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
||
| VACCINE | HOW DISEASE SPREADS | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) | Various Vectors | Given to anyone unvaccinated and/or born after 1957. One time adult booster recommended. |
| TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis) | Wounds & Airborne | Only one adult booster of pertussis required. |
| Chickenpox | Direct Contact & Airborne | Given to those unvaccinated that did not have chickenpox. |
| Shingles | Direct Contact | Vaccine can still be given if you have had shingles. |
| Pneumonia | Airborne | Two vaccines given separately. All 65+ or immunocompromised should receive both. |
| Influenza | Airborne | Vaccine components change annually. |
| Meningitis | Airborne & Direct Contact | Given to anyone unvaccinated or at an increased risk, especially students. |
| Polio | Food & Water | Considered a routine vaccination for most travel itineraries. Single adult booster recommended. |
Health Clinics are available on West and Home Island and are able to provide basic services. If you need serious medical care, you will likely be flown to Perth for treatment.
To find out more about these vaccines, see our vaccinations page. Ready to travel safely? Book your appointment either call or start booking online now.
Do I Need a Visa or Passport for Cocos (Keeling) Islands?
The Cocos is a territory of Australia.
Canadians planning to travel there will need a valid Canadian passport and a visa (or ETA) to enter the country. Many Canadian passport holders choose to get an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), which is a label-free, electronic visa. An ETA holder can travel to Australia or its territories as many times as they wish within 12 months of the ETA’s issue date. The longest length of each stay is three months.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Entry Requirements |
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| Do I Need A… | For My Trip to Cocos (Keeling) Islands? | |
|---|---|---|
| Passport |  |
|
| Tourist Visa | |
|
| Business Visa | |
|
| Vaccinations | |
|
Sources: Embassy of Australia and Government of Canada
What Is the Climate Like in Cocos (Keeling) Islands?
The climate of the Cocos is tropical. The hotter months run from December to March. The cooler months run from June to October. Temperatures remain consistent year-round ranging from the low-20’s to high-20’s.
Humidity is usually high and it rains often. Cyclone season runs from October to April.
How Safe Is Cocos (Keeling) Islands?
The crime rate is zero in Cocos (Keeling) Islands, so there is no need for travellers to worry. But, travellers should be aware of cyclone season and practice safety precautions during this time.
Remember, local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime.
Marine Life in Cocos (Keeling) Islands
The Cocos are known for their biodiversity. For tourists, one of the best way is by going on a motorized outrigger canoe tours. These canoe tours take travellers through lagoons in the southern islands that showcase amazing marine life.
Some marine life that travellers can see are turtles, tropical fish, and dolphins.
What Should I Take To Cocos (Keeling) Islands?
Here are some essential items to consider for your trip to Cocos (Keeling) Islands:
- Sun block, sunscreen, hat for sun protection
- Mosquito repellent
- Swimwear
Canadian Embassy in Cocos (Keeling) Islands
If travellers face issues or have concerns while travelling throughout the country, contact or visit the Canadian Embassy.
There is no Canadian embassy in the Cocos, but it is served by the embassy in Australia.
High Commission of Canada in Canberra
Commonwealth Avenue,
Canberra ACT, Australia 2600
Telephone: (61) 2 6270 4000
Email: cnbra@international.gc.ca
If you have any questions about travelling to the Cocos or are wondering what shots you may need for your trip, schedule an appointment with your local Passport Health travel medicine clinic. Call us at or book online now and protect yourself today.
Customer Reviews
Passport Health – Travel Vaccines for the Cocos
“Immunizations and a whole lot more. Full information on risks of all kinds while traveling and more info on who to call if all else fails while in the Cocos. Much more than I expected. Even has services to help with passports and visas.”
“I arrived 2 minutes before my appointment time and they called me back right away. The nurse was informative and detailed and was great about asking if I had any questions about what I needed for the Cocos. Great quick visit.”
On This Page:
Do I Need Vaccines for Cocos (Keeling) Islands?
Do I Need a Visa or Passport for Cocos (Keeling) Islands?
What Is the Climate Like in Cocos (Keeling) Islands?
How Safe Is Cocos (Keeling) Islands?
Marine Life in Cocos (Keeling) Islands
What Should I Take To Cocos (Keeling) Islands?
Canadian Embassy in Cocos (Keeling) Islands
