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Vaccines Help Protect Travelers of All Ages

Photo: A boy sleeping on an airplane.

Are you a prepared traveler? As you budget, write to-do lists, and pack, be sure to also check on your vaccination status. Travel – both within the United States and to other countries – can expose you to infectious viruses and bacteria. If you and your loved ones are not protected by up-to-date vaccinations, you are at risk of catching serious diseases.

Check Vaccination Records Before Travel

Vaccines are one of the most important tools you have for preventing certain diseases. If you travel to other countries, it is important to get vaccinated because some diseases that are not common in the United States still exist in other parts of the world. In addition, in the close confines of an airport or airplane, other travelers may unknowingly expose you to disease.

Before you travel, review your vaccination history. Check that you've had all recommended vaccines. And remember that a vaccine's effectiveness may decrease over time. You may need boosters even if you had vaccines when you were younger.

Get the recommended vaccines before you travel. If you're traveling outside the United States, you may need to see a travel medicine specialist. Ideally, set up a visit 4 to 6 weeks before your trip. Most vaccines take time to become effective in your body and some vaccines must be given in a series over a period of days or sometimes weeks. If it's less than 4 weeks before you leave, you should still see your doctor. You might still benefit from shots or medications and other information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling.

Photo: A woman reading.

If you're a parent, double check your child's vaccination records. Some vaccines are recommended at younger ages if children travel outside the United States. Talk to your child's doctor about whether your child needs to get any early vaccines.

Vaccines are readily available in many places, including doctors' offices, health departments, and pharmacies. Getting vaccinated before you travel is an easy way to protect yourself and your loved ones against some diseases. For additional information on smart travel, see Immunization for Travelers [PDF - 89KB].

3 Types of Vaccines for Travelers

There are 3 types of vaccines for travelers: routine, recommended, and required.

Routine Vaccinations

Routine vaccines (for example, measles and rubella) are necessary for protection from diseases that are still common in many parts of the world, even though they may rarely occur in the United States. Be sure you and your loved ones are up to date on these vaccines.

If you're not sure which vaccines are routine, see the recommended schedules:

Recommended Vaccinations

Some vaccines are specifically recommended to protect travelers from illnesses present in other parts of the world and to prevent spreading infectious diseases across international borders. Which vaccines do you need? It depends on several factors including your destination, whether you will be spending time in rural areas, the season of the year, your age, your health status, and your vaccination history.

You can see which vaccines are recommended for international travel on the CDC Travelers' Health website. See the destinations page and look up the country or countries you will visit.

Required Vaccinations

Photo: Travelers pushing a luggage cart.

The only vaccine currently required by International Health Regulations is yellow fever vaccination for travel to certain countries in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America. See Yellow Fever Vaccine Requirements.

Meningococcal vaccination is required by the government of Saudi Arabia for annual travel during the Hajj.

When you travel, be aware of current travel notices and outbreaks. You might need vaccines that are not usually recommended or you might need to take other precautions.


Last syndicated: June 30, 2012
This content is brought to you by: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)