Dominican Republic

Have a safe trip with travel vaccines and advice from medical professionals.

Travel health and safety for the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴

The Dominican Republic is a captivating destination that offers a rich experience of food, culture, and exciting excursions.

Visitors can indulge in diverse culinary delights, from traditional dishes like sancocho (a hearty stew) and mofongo (mashed plantains with various fillings) to fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and rich coffee. Beyond food, the Dominican Republic boasts a vibrant and rich artistic heritage, with numerous galleries and museums showcasing traditional and contemporary works. 

For adventure seekers and nature lovers, the Dominican Republic offers stunning landscapes, including pristine beaches and lush rainforests. Travelers can go zip-lining through the treetops, explore underground caves and cenotes, embark on thrilling ATV or dune buggy adventures, or enjoy water activities like snorkelling, scuba diving, and paddle-boarding. 

While immersing yourself in the Dominican Republic, remember to prioritize your health and safety. Pay attention to food hygiene, such as opting for well-cooked meals and drinking bottled or filtered water. Engage in activities responsibly and follow safety guidelines as well as precautions to protect yourself from sunburn and insect bites. With proper planning and awareness, you can enjoy all that the Dominican Republic has to offer. 

Travel Immunizations for Dominican Republic

What vaccines do I need for the Dominican Republic? Get all the information and vaccinations you need to minimize travel health risks.

Hepatitis A virus can cause liver disease, and in rare cases, liver failure and death.

  • Can be spread by fecal-oral transmission, consuming contaminated food or water, or close, personal contact with an infected person.
  • Symptoms may range from mild to severe, including fatigue, jaundice, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, and joint pain.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

  • Spreads through respiratory droplets and direct contact with infected individuals.
  • Symptoms initially resemble a common cold, followed by a characteristic rash fever, cough, runny nose, small, white spots inside the mouth and throat red eyes, sleepiness, and irritability.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that targets the liver and may cause chronic infections. 

  • Its primary mode of transmission is through direct blood-to-blood contact with an infected person. It can also be transmitted through unprotected sex or sharing needles.
  • Symptoms may range from mild to severe, including fatigue, jaundice, and abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting and joint pain.

Malaria is a serious and occasionally fatal disease that is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.  

  • Symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, similar to the flu. Without treatment, malaria can cause severe illness and death.
  • Malaria can be treated with anti-malarial medications.

Rabies is a viral infection transmitted through animal bites.  

  • Symptoms may initially include fever, headache, and discomfort at the bite site, progressing to more severe neurological symptoms. Rabies is fatal if it is not treated before symptoms develop.
  • Rabies treatment may be limited or may not be available, therefore you may need to return to Canada for treatment.

We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the provided information, however, it is not feasible for us to update daily. Please book a virtual consultation with one of our Travel Medicine Professionals for current, personalized advice and answers to any questions you may have.

Health Canada strongly advises travelers ensure their routine vaccinations are up to date, including:

Chickenpox (Varicella)

Guards against the varicella-zoster virus, responsible for chickenpox.

Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP)

Protects against three different bacterial infections.

Flu (Influenza)

Vaccination against seasonal influenza strains is essential.

Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Provides immunity against all three diseases in one shot.

Polio

Essential for guarding against the poliovirus.

Shingles

Offers protection against a viral infection that causes painful rashes.

COVID-19

The ongoing pandemic necessitates adherence to vaccination guidelines and preventive measures.

Dominican Republic Concerns / Health Canada Recommendations

Most common illness for travelers, from consuming contaminated food & water

  • Affects up to 70% of travelers and risks minimized with good hygiene and safe food/drink choices (eg. avoid raw foods, ice in drinks).
  • Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, fever, bloating.

Consider getting vaccinated against typhoid, as it can be contracted through contaminated food and water.   

  • Symptoms of typhoid fever include a high fever, headache, weakness, fatigue, stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea, loss of appetite, and a rose-colored rash on the chest and abdomen. 

Insect Bite Prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. Cover up and use mosquito repellents to protect against infection.   

  • Chikungunya: Symptoms include joint pains, fever, rash, and headache.    
  • Dengue: Symptoms include high-grade fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, rash, and nausea/vomiting.    
  • Zika: Symptoms include rash, itch, mild fever, headache, red eyes, muscle, and joint pains.    

Serious intestinal infection caused by a type the Vibrio cholerae bacteria 

  • Found in infected water or food contaminated with the bacteria. 
  • Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, leg cramps, watery diarrhea. 

Salmonellosis

Infectious disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella contracted through contaminated food or water. 

  • Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, fever, nausea and vomiting, headache, and muscle aches. 
  • Most cases, resolve on their own without treatment. It is important to stay hydrated to replace lost fluids. 

Tuberculosis (TB)

Infection caused by bacteria that mainly affects the lungs.  

  • Symptoms include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.    
  • Travellers may be at high risk while travelling in regions with risk of tuberculosis. 

Over the Counter Medications for Travel to Dominican Republic

Pain Relief

Medications such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil) can be helpful for managing headaches, muscle pain, or fever. 

Anti-Diarrheal Medications

It’s advisable to carry over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications like loperamide (e.g., Imodium) to treat mild cases of traveler’s diarrhea. However, it’s important to stay hydrated and seek medical attention if diarrhea persists or worsens. 

Antacids

Antacids like Tums or Pepto-Bismol can provide relief from indigestion or heartburn, which can sometimes occur when trying new foods or experiencing changes in diet during travel. 

Allergy Medications

If you have known allergies, carrying antihistamines like cetirizine(e.g., Reactine) or diphenhydramine (e.g., Benadryl) can help manage allergic reactions to environmental allergens or insect bites. 

Motion Sickness Medications

If you are prone to motion sickness, consider carrying medication like dimenhydrinate (e.g., Gravol) to alleviate symptoms during long journeys or when traveling by car, train, or boat.

Sun Protection

Dominican Republic has a sunny climate, so it is essential to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Use sunscreen with a high SPF, wear hats, sunglasses, and lightweight, breathable clothing. 

Medical Services and Facilities in the Dominican Republic
  • Quality of care varies greatly throughout the country. Good health care is generally available only in major cities.
  • Private hospitals and clinics are better equipped than public ones. However, there are reports of overcharging for medical services.
  • Beware of aggressive sales tactics of in-house resort doctors, who are often contracted out by private hospitals and try to sell you on their facility.
  • If you go to the hospital, be sure to inquire about fees prior to undergoing treatment. Request assistance in English or French from the hospital’s guest services desk.
Medical Tourism in the Dominican Republic

Canadian citizens have had serious health complications following cosmetic or other elective surgeries abroad. 

Before leaving for a medical travel trip: 

  • Ensure you have researched properly
  • Use reputable healthcare providers only

Consular Assistance in Dominican Republic

Street Address: Av. Winston Churchill 1099 Torre Citigroup en Acropólis Center, 18th Floor Ensanche Piantini, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 

Telephone: (809) 262-3100 

Email: [email protected] 

Website: https://www.Canada.ca/Canada-And-Dominican-Republic

Street Address: Carretera Veron- Bavaro, km 2.5, Amstar Business Center, Building 5, Suite 521, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 

Telephone: (809) 455-1730 

Email: [email protected] 

Website: https://www.Canada.ca/Canada-And-Dominican-Republic 

Street Address: Calle Villanueva No 8, Edificio Abraxas, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic 

Telephone: (809) 586-5761 

Email: [email protected] 

Website: https://www.Canada.ca/Canada-And-Dominican-Republic 

We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the provided information, however, it is not feasible for us to update daily. Please book a virtual consultation with one of our Travel Medicine Professionals for current, personalized advice and answers to any questions you may have.

In case of emergency, dial 911

The tourist police (CESTUR) provide a security presence in tourist areas and first response assistance to tourists. 

If in tourist areas, contact CESTUR: 1 809 200 3500 

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