Health in Panama
- No vaccinations are required
Suggested: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, and typhoid. (This suggestion is for those heading to the jungle and unimproved parts of the country. We do not go there.)
Routine shots such as measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, should be current.
Each traveler will be provided medical travel insurance as part of the travel package. A policy will be provided no less than one week prior to departure. The insurance covers medical and emergency expenses and repatriation (return to the nearest medical facility in the USA)
Adequate medical care can be found in major cities. Excellent health facilities are available in Chitre, but training and availability of emergency responders may be below U.S. standards.
Water Quality: Bottled water and beverages are safe, although, visitors should be aware that many restaurants and hotels serve tap water unless bottled water is specifically requested. We purchase bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth. Tap water is fine for washing and bathing. Visitors should exercise caution when buying food or beverages from street vendors. Only eat fruit that has a peeling that can be removed for the fruit, i.e., banana, orange, pineapple.