First Aid Kit and Medication for Vanuatu

Travelling to a tropical country like Vanuatu comes with a higher risk of health issues, most commonly, sunburn, heatstroke and mosquito bites. Plus, with travellers to Vanuatu choosing to be pretty active during their visit, accidents and injuries can happen.

With all of this in mind, it’s a good idea to be prepared for minor injuries and illnesses with your own travel first aid kit for Vanuatu.

We go through the essential medications to pack for a trip to Vanuatu in the checklist below.

Table of Contents

10 Essential Health Tips for Travelling in Vanuatu

  1. Boiling water before drinking is advised. Alternatively, use a Lifestraw Bottle or one of the other methods discussed in Is the Water Safe to Drink in Vanuatu? LINK#TT044
  2. Speaking of water, be sure to drink plenty – at least 2 litres (68 oz) every two to three hours to stay hydrated.
  3. If you’re feeling unwell, be proactive and see a local doctor immediately.
  4. Taking a couple of paracetamol and a nasal decongestant spray 30 minutes before a flight can help with flu-like symptoms and ear pain.
  5. Take sensible precautions. For example, cover yourself and/or use insect repellent to avoid mosquito bites and wear sunscreen.
  6. Carry medicines in your hand luggage in case your check-in luggage is lost.
  7. Wear a medical alert bracelet if you have allergies or a chronic illness.
  8. If you are treated in Vanuatu, obtain a full written medical report for your travel insurer.
  9. If travelling with an infant, pack your usual brand of baby formula, as a change in diet may lead to bowel complications.
  10. If you become ill after returning home, tell your doctor that you have visited Vanuatu.

Our final tip is to check out our Vanuatu Safety Tips LINK#TT046 for much more advice.

First Aid Kit Medication Packing
© VanuatuPocketGuide.com

Vanuatu Travel First Aid Kit Checklist

Although you can get first aid kits at pretty much any pharmacy, they are generic and often only include enough to deal with a couple of cuts. We like to create our own first aid kit that has been adapted to our destination, in this case, Vanuatu, as well as to our personal needs.

Our example Vanuatu first aid kit includes a few prescribed medications, so make sure to book an appointment with your GP and get these prescriptions sorted.

What to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for Vanuatu

medication first aid
© VanuatuPocketGuide.com

Other Medication and Health Products to Pack for Vanuatu

While not necessarily needed in your "first aid kit" for Vanuatu, these other medications and health products are also handy to have with you.

Sunscreen

With UV levels of 9-11+ in Vanuatu LINK#TT093, it’s crucial that you protect yourself and your loved ones from sun exposure in order to avoid sunburn or heatstroke.

It’s recommended to use at least SPF 30 sunscreen, which should be applied thickly every three hours or soon after being in the water. Be sure to choose a sunscreen that’s safe for marine life in Vanuatu too and bring this from home, as reef-safe sunscreen is hard to come by in Vanuatu.

Check out examples of safe sunscreen to use in The Best Sunscreens for Vanuatu + Sun Protection Tips LINK#TT043.

Insect Repellent

It’s important to avoid mosquito bites in Vanuatu as much as possible, as mosquito-related diseases like dengue fever and chikungunya do occur.

Check out our recommended mosquito repellents in the 10 Best Insect Repellents for Vanuatu.

Iodine (Water-Purifying) Tablets

As a precaution for drinking water from a tap or any other potentially unsafe source, iodine tablets dissolved in water help remove some bacteria and viruses from the water.

This is not 100% effective though so, when possible, boil water for at least 10 minutes before drinking it. Get more tips for finding safe drinking water in Is the Water Safe to Drink in Vanuatu?

Glasses/Contact Lenses

It’s always a good idea to have a spare pair of glasses or spare sets of contact lenses, in case you lose or damage your glasses and/or contact lenses.

Seasickness Pills

If you are going out on dive or fishing trip, or are usually prone to seasickness and are taking the ferry, you may want to pack a few seasickness pills so you enjoy the whole trip!

Prescription Medication

Finally, remember your prescription medication. It’s a good idea to bring medication in the original packaging with the label for whom it is prescribed, just in case you are asked about your medication at the border.

As an extra precaution, get your GP/doctor to sign and date a letter describing your medical conditions and medications, including their generic names, should you need more prescribed medication while in Vanuatu (but we recommend taking enough for your whole trip plus a few extras).

More Health Tips and What to Pack for Vanuatu

That's it for our complete medication packing list for Vanuatu but by no means the end of our advice! Check out the following guides for more handy tips:

Finally, get more essential tips from the 30 Tips for Travelling in Vanuatu LINK#TT068 and The Complete Travel Guide to Vanuatu LINK#TT059.