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What vaccines do you need to travel?

The vaccines you need will depend on where you’re traveling and what you will be doing during your travels. Walgreens pharmacists are able to assist in helping you determine which vaccines you may need.

Which travel vaccines are available at Walgreens?

Travel vaccines Walgreens offers include: Yellow Fever, Meningitis, Polio, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, Tick-Borne Encephalitis, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Rabies*.

*Vaccines offered at Walgreens vary by state, age and health conditions. Talk to your local pharmacist about availability.

What other vaccines should I have before traveling?

It’s important to be up-to-date on routine vaccinations before traveling as well—like Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Tetanus, Flu and COVID-19.

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Don't Forget These Vaccines When You Travel

Planning an international winter getaway know which shots—from measles to yellow fever—you may need to protect yourself., sharing is nice.

We respect your privacy . All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story.

If you're planning a winter trip to another country, you may be preoccupied with booking airfare and finding lodging, but certain destinations require an extra step of planning: travel vaccines.

You might be tempted to skip the extra doctor's visit, but don't. Last year saw a record number of measles cases in Europe, and the highly contagious illness has continued to spread across the continent throughout 2019. Yellow fever remains a significant concern in South America, and hepatitis A has doctors everywhere—including in the U.S.—on alert. 

You can protect yourself from all three of these illnesses (and more) if you get your shots in time. Here's a quick rundown on the travel vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . 

According to the CDC , most cases of measles in the U.S. result from international travel, when unvaccinated Americans become infected during visits to other countries, then carry the disease back home.

Measles, one of the most contagious of all infectious diseases, is spread through the cough or sneeze of an infected person. Symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. In rare cases, the disease can cause brain swelling and be fatal.

Measles outbreaks have become increasingly common in the past couple of years in the U.S. and other countries.

Europe is of particular concern for travelers. As CDC researchers noted in a  report published in Pediatrics  earlier this year, Europe had a record number of cases—more than 41,000, including 37 deaths—between January and June 2018. According to the Pediatrics report, the Ukraine reported the largest number of cases, but France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Serbia, and the Russian Federation also had a high number. 

But because Europe, a popular travel destination, isn't one that visitors usually think of as having significant risks of infectious disease, they may not consider the need for vaccinations.

In fact, a recent study in JAMA Pediatrics found that not all children are adequately vaccinated against measles before international travel. (The CDC has special recommendations for measles vaccinations for children going overseas.)

In this study, only about 41 percent of infants and preschool-age children who were eligible for pre-travel measles vaccination actually received it. 

And  a study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, published in 2017 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that more than half of all U.S. travelers—not just young kids—who were eligible for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine weren't getting it before leaving the country. 

The CDC advises anyone who isn't protected against measles, either through vaccination or past infection, to get vaccinated before traveling anywhere overseas.

You'll need to see your doctor at least four to six weeks before you leave. That's because it may take that much time to complete a full course of the vaccine and to give your body time to build up immunity in response to the shot. See the CDC's recommendations for travelers of different ages  and Consumer Reports' coverage of when a measles booster is warranted . 

Other Routine Shots

Before any international trip, you should make sure you're up to date on all of your routine vaccines, not only  measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)  but also diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP), varicella (chickenpox), polio, and your yearly flu shot.

Some of these diseases are quite rare in the U.S., thanks to good vaccine coverage of children here. But the CDC says these same diseases can be much more common in other countries, including areas where you wouldn't usually worry about travel-related illnesses. Being current with your routine vaccines will give you the best protection.

Yellow Fever

Yellow fever is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito (the same one that spreads  Zika , dengue, and chikungunya). Although the virus was eradicated from much of the world in the mid-1900s, it has re-emerged in recent years in parts of Africa and South America, including, most recently, Brazil .

Brazil has been suffering through a yellow fever outbreak that's one of the largest the world has seen in decades.

"Since early 2018, a number of unvaccinated travelers to Brazil contracted yellow fever," the CDC notes. "Several have died."

According to the  CDC , the vaccine that's typically used to prevent the yellow fever virus, known as YF-Vax, is currently unavailable due to production delays . To cover the shortage, the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration have turned to a different yellow fever vaccine known as Stamaril.

This other shot is already approved in more than 70 other countries around the world and is thought to be just as safe and effective as the YF-Vax shot. It's been okayed by the FDA under a special program , but its availability in the U.S. is limited. 

If you're traveling to  a country where yellow fever is spreading  or one that requires all visitors to have a yellow fever shot, be sure to plan ahead. Unlike other travel shots, the yellow fever vaccine is available only at  specially designated clinics . Because of the shortage, there will be far fewer clinics than usual.

You definitely don't want to skip this shot. Yellow fever is a serious disease. The CDC estimates that it can be fatal in 15 to 20 percent of cases. Find out where the nearest clinic is ( you can search online here ) and make sure you budget enough time to go.

You should also be sure to apply plenty of insect repellent , which can help protect you from the mosquitoes that spread yellow fever, Zika, and other diseases .

Hepatitis A and B

Hepatitis A is a virus that causes liver disease. It spreads through contaminated food and through physical contact with an infected person, especially if that person doesn't wash his or her hands properly after using the bathroom. It's common among people who travel to developing countries, particularly those who visit rural areas, though it can also be spread in more modern tourist accommodations.

The vaccine to prevent this virus—given in two doses, six months apart—is 100 percent effective, according to the CDC. 

Hepatitis B is a different but related virus that passes through blood, semen, and other body fluids. It can disappear after just a few weeks or it can linger for a lifetime, potentially causing liver disease and cancer.

This virus occurs in nearly every part of the world, but it's most common in Asia, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. Travel-related cases are generally rare but can result from unprotected sex, intravenous drug use, and blood transfusions.

The vaccine for hepatitis B is more than 90 percent effective. It's usually given in three doses spread across six months, but ask your doctor for an accelerated schedule if your travel plans require it. 

Typhoid fever is a serious disease caused by the bacteria salmonella typhi and is spread through contaminated food and water. In rare cases, it can be fatal. Typhoid is rare in developed countries like the U.S. but common in most of the rest of the world, especially South Asia. The U.S. sees about 300 travel-related cases of typhoid fever every year. 

The vaccine for typhoid fever is available as a pill and an injectable. The pill contains live but weakened bacteria and is given in four doses: One capsule is taken every other day for a week. The injectable contains killed bacteria and is given in one dose. Get the injectable at least two weeks before traveling and complete the oral vaccine at least 10 days before. 

The CDC concedes that the typhoid vaccine in any form is only about 50 to 80 percent effective. You should still get it before traveling to an endemic region. But you should also take basic precautions with the food you eat while traveling, sticking to bottled water in places where the tap water is questionable, for example.

Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that spreads through the saliva of infected animals. The most common sources of human infection are licks, bites, and scratches from infected dogs. But bats, foxes, raccoons, and mongooses have also been known to pass the disease to humans. Prevention of this disease is especially important because once contracted, it's almost always fatal. 

Rabies is found all over the world except in Antarctica. In most developed countries, including the U.S., the risk of human infection is low because the virus is rare in domestic animals. But in much of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, rabies in dogs is still a problem. 

If you're traveling to a country where the virus is prevalent in dogs, or if your itinerary will bring you into contact with wild animals like bats and other carnivores, you should consider getting a rabies shot before you travel. It's given in three doses over three weeks. 

It's important to note that even if you've had your rabies shots, you should still seek immediate medical treatment if you're bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling. You can't be too careful when it comes to rabies prevention. 

There's no vaccine available against malaria, but it's still crucial to plan ahead if you're going to a region where malaria is common. You can take prophylactic medications that will reduce your risk of developing malaria if you're bitten by an infected mosquito.

The recommendations vary depending on what country you're visiting, what time of year you're going, and whether the mosquitoes in your destination have developed resistance to certain antimalarial drugs.

The CDC offers this chart of every country and specific recommendations for preventing malaria in different destinations.

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Traveling Abroad This Summer? You May Need One of These Vaccines First

A few years ago, I was surprised when my mother-in-law informed me that I should get vaccinated for typhoid and yellow fever ahead of a family trip to the Caribbean. At the time, I didn’t know that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) often recommends that you protect yourself against certain illnesses when traveling abroad. (Sometimes countries even require proof of specific vaccinations.)

It was easy to get the shots I needed: I asked my doctor for her input; she said, “Yep, go get them”; and after a quick trip to my local pharmacy, I was ready for my trip. But I started thinking about all the places I had traveled to without being properly immunized, and, oh, how I spiraled. How did I not know? How did I not get sick! Or, wait—was not getting the hepatitis A shot actually why I got such bad abdominal pain in Egypt….

Anyway, I learned my lesson, and now I’m here to tell you that if you live in the United States and have summer vacation plans—whether to Mexico, across the pond to Europe, or in Asia or Africa—there’s a good chance you’d benefit from at least one protective measure against illness. Below, we’ll dive into what you should know about the most common vaccines recommended for travelers.

How to make an immunization plan before you travel

First, check out the CDC’s destinations page , where you can look up countries and find the exact treatments they recommend you get. (It sincerely couldn’t be simpler.) Do this way ahead of time—some vaccines take a couple weeks to fully kick in, and others require multiple doses spaced out in specific increments. If you put it off (it happens!), check out the CDC’s guide for last-minute travelers —you can get vaccinated for some diseases on an hastened schedule, or at least learn the best preventive habits to lessen the risk of contracting anything.

No matter where you’re going, you might want to talk to a travel medicine specialist who can whip up a preventative plan for you. Ask a primary care doctor for advice or check out the International Society of Travel Medicine , where you can find a global directory of clinics specializing in safe travel.

If you can’t find your immunization records and don’t know which ones you’ve gotten, go ahead and get additional doses anyway. There’s no harm in getting an extra dose of most immunizations, Maura Sammon, MD , an associate professor of clinical emergency medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, tells SELF. As a rule of thumb: “If you’re not sure, get it,” she says.

What diseases to be aware of and protect yourself against before your trip

Okay, on to the illnesses and preventive measures to have on your radar! Here’s what to know about how to keep yourself safe during your exciting international travels.

Recommended if you’re traveling to: Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the western Pacific, and the Caribbean

When to get vaccinated: At least a month before your trip

Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are two very different diseases, both of which can hurt the liver, but there’s a combined hep A/hep B vaccine that you can get if you haven’t been immunized against either one (or just don’t know what you’ve been vaxxed for in the past). You can get this on an expedited schedule too, if you’re up against the clock: Typically this shot is given over the course of six months, but in a pinch, three doses can be administered in 21 days. There are also shots specifically for hep A and hep B, respectively, if you know you’ve been vaccinated for one, but not the other.

In terms of what these diseases are, let’s start with hepatitis A . It’s a very contagious liver infection that’s transmitted through contaminated food and water or contact with an infected person. The symptoms, such as fatigue, nausea, and jaundice, can last up to two months (and, for some unlucky people, up to six months). Pretty much every country in the world recommends travelers get this shot (which, by the way, requires two doses given six months apart, but even one dose provides strong protection). “It is the most recommended vaccine for travel,” Dr. Sammon says.

Hepatitis B is a much more serious liver infection that can be deadly. It’s spread through bodily fluids (like blood, semen, or vaginal fluids), most commonly through sexual contact with someone who’s infected (there are an estimated 350 million hepatitis B carriers globally). It can also be transmitted through sharing personal care items (like a razor or toothbrush) or getting a tattoo or piercing from unsterilized equipment.

Hep B is not as common as hep A, but it’s much more serious. Though many people will get better in a few weeks, some will get chronic hepatitis B, which can lead to issues like liver failure or cancer . It’s particularly important for people who expect to have any sexual contact or medical procedures abroad to get vaccinated for hep B first, Dr. Sammon adds, so talk to your doctor to gauge your risk—but no matter what, “I would recommend that you get it if it’s on the CDC list for your destination,” she says. The good news: Hepatitis B is entirely preventable by vaccines.

Recommended if you’re traveling to: Eastern and southern Asia (especially Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh), Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the Middle East

When to get vaccinated: At least two weeks before your trip

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection that causes a sky-high fever along with weakness, headaches , and gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea and constipation. If you’re treated early, you can recover swiftly, but there’s one issue: The infection is often not recognized quickly because it resembles other common illnesses, says Dr. Sammon, adding that it can be fatal.

Typhoid fever spreads through contaminated food and water, and, according to Dr. Sammon, it’s very easy to get. You don’t need to have direct contact with someone who has typhoid—just with the bacteria (which is ubiquitous in certain environments and can be spread through drinking or eating something that’s carrying it). The risks of contracting typhoid are greater if you plan to eat in rural areas or in someone’s home, where there may not be strict handwashing guidelines, says Dr. Sammon.

Typhoid immunization comes in a pill form (a weakened version of the bacteria that provides protection for five years) or a shot (protection lasts for two to three years).

Recommended if you’re traveling to: Western and northern Europe and northern and eastern Asia

When to get vaccinated: At least six months before your trip

If you’re headed to western or central Europe (think: Scandinavia) between April and November, when ticks are the most active, there’s a chance you’ll need this shot —especially if you have plans to hike , camp , or do outdoor activities in forested areas outside of major cities. If you’re gonna stick to urban areas, you can probably skip it: “If you’re going to the city and you’re not going to be out taking hikes in forested areas, it would not be recommended,” says Dr. Sammon.

The majority of people who contract this infection, which affects the central nervous system, don’t feel sick, but it can lead to fever, aches, and GI issues. In certain people, it can cause brain and spinal cord swelling and death. Unfortunately, unlike Lyme disease —in which it can take up to two days of a tick latching onto a human for the disease to be transmitted—tick-borne encephalitis can spread immediately after a tick bites, making the shot all the more crucial.

Recommended if you’re traveling to: Africa and South America

When to get vaccinated: At least 10 days before travel

Yellow fever is a viral infection that’s transmitted by mosquitoes predominantly in Africa and Central and South America. Dr. Sammons says yellow fever used to be much more common than it is today, but it’s still definitely worth getting the shot (one jab will give you lifelong protection) if you’re headed to one of the places where it’s prevalent .

Most people who contract yellow fever won’t get sick or, if they do, will have mild symptoms, such as fever or body aches. A small percentage of people (about 12%) will develop serious issues, including liver failure and kidney failure, says Dr. Sammon. We don’t have an antiviral drug for yellow fever, and symptoms are mainly treated with supportive care, so your best bet is to avoid getting it in the first place.

Recommended if you’re traveling to: Many countries in Africa, the Americas, and Asia

When to start taking the medications: It varies for each drug, but some medication courses start as soon as a day before travel

If you’re going to Mexico, Colombia, or any of the countries flagged here (which are predominantly tropical places), you’ll want to be protected against malaria. This disease isn’t something to mess around with. ”Malaria is probably the most concerning [illness] that people who look at travel medicine worry about,” says Dr. Sammon. People who get it typically get very sick, and in certain cases, it can be life-threatening. It takes just one quick mosquito bite to contract the disease. Fever, headache, and chills are the telltale symptoms. Some types of malaria can be severe (causing convulsions, impaired consciousness, and extreme fatigue) and rapidly fatal, particularly among people who don’t live in an endemic country (a.k.a. travelers), she adds.

The malaria immunization comes in pill form, and you’ll have to take it before your trip, during your trip, and after your trip. There are a few different types of malaria protection drugs that all have varying dosing schedules ( check out the risks and benefits of your options here ). “Go on the CDC website, see if where you’re going requires malaria prophylaxis, and contact a travel medicine specialist,” says Dr. Sammon.

Another big way to protect yourself from illness while traveling

Yes, this is a story about vaccines, but Dr. Sammon insists we include a blurb about mosquito protection. Why? Because mosquito-borne diseases like Zika, dengue, and West Nile virus are a major threat to your health, even in nearby locations like Puerto Rico. Mosquito-borne illnesses are a massive public health threat, yet they’re extremely preventable, Dr. Sammon says.

While yellow fever and malaria have safe, effective immunizations, many other mosquito-borne diseases don’t. Your best bet for staying safe from mosquitos: DEET and picaridin. Dr. Sammon says people are often afraid of DEET because it smells chemical-y, but decades of research have shown that it’s incredibly safe and very effective. Picaridin is a newer alternative that, while not as extensively studied as DEET, is just as effective. These products essentially hide you so the insect can’t smell you. Dr. Sammon recommends dousing yourself in these products when traveling to buggy places.

Another option is permethrin , an insecticide that repels mosquitoes. You can buy permethrin-treated clothing or soak your clothes in the liquid , wash them, and wear them knowing you’re well-protected for six washes, says Dr. Sammon.

All told: There are plenty more diseases out there that you may want to be vaccinated or otherwise protect yourself against, depending on where you’re going, which is why it’s worth setting up an appointment with a travel medicine doctor if you’re not sure where to start. At the very least, check out what the CDC says and talk to a pharmacist. Just don’t be like me, naively traveling without realizing the next meal, drink, or mosquito could very quickly derail my entire trip—and my health even after I get home.

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Travel Vaccine Program

Infectious disease – travel vaccine program , what our travel vaccine program provides.

• Required and recommended immunizations 
• Prescriptions to prevent malaria, traveler's diarrhea and altitude sickness 
• International Certification of Vaccination (ICV) 
• Stamps for yellow fever, as required for entry into some countries 
• Letters of exemption for those with medical contraindications to vaccinations 
• Record of immunizations for your primary care provider

Infectious Disease Specialists

Renown's specialized travel medicine providers have an extensive understanding of infectious disease and immunization needs based on geography, culture, and climate. Your individual travel needs will be considered, and customized advice will be offered based on health history, risk factors, travel destination, and itinerary.

In addition, you'll receive recommended immunizations and prescriptions on the same day. Bon voyage!

Please note that Renown's Travel Vaccine Program is not affiliated with the University of Nevada's Travel Medicine Program.

• Recommended Vaccines
• Prescription Medications
• Hepatitis A 
• Hepatitis B 
• Influenza (available September-June) 
• Japanese Encephalitis 
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) 
• Meningococcal Meningitis (MenACWY) 
• Polio (IPV- injectable) 
• Rabies 
• Tetanus, Diphtheria (Td) 
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) 
• Typhoid Fever (injectable) 
• Varicella (chicken pox) 
• Yellow Fever (Now available)
• Anti-malarial
• Traveler’s diarrhea
• Altitude sickness
• Motion sickness

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Available travel vaccines

The following vaccinations are available for people travelling abroad.

Cholera vaccination

Vaccination against  cholera isn't routinely needed for most travellers.

But in some cases it may be recommended for aid workers and people likely to have limited access to medical services – for example, people working in refugee camps or after natural disasters.

Most cases of cholera are confined to regions of the world with poor sanitation and water hygiene, such as parts of:

• South America

The vaccine is usually given as a drink in 2 separate doses, taken 1 to 6 weeks apart.

Children aged 2 to 6 years old should have a third dose taken 1 to 6 weeks after the second dose.

You should make sure you have the final dose of this vaccine at least a week before you travel.

A single booster dose or full revaccination is usually recommended if you have previously been vaccinated against cholera and you're planning to travel to an area where the infection is common.

Diphtheria vaccination

A combined vaccination that protects against diphtheria , polio and tetanus is routinely given to all children in the UK.

You should make sure you and your children are up-to-date with your routine vaccinations before travelling.

Further booster doses are usually only recommended if you're going to visit parts of the world where diphtheria is widespread and your last vaccination dose was more than 10 years ago.

Diphtheria is more common in parts of the world where fewer people are vaccinated, such as:

• Central and Southeast Asia
• Eastern Europe

Additional doses of the vaccination are given in a single 3-in-1 Td/IPV (tetanus, diphtheria and polio) injection.

Hepatitis A vaccination

Vaccination against  hepatitis A is recommended if you're travelling to countries where there are poor levels of sanitation and hygiene, and hepatitis A is common.

Ask your GP, pharmacy or travel clinic if you should have the hepatitis A vaccine if you're travelling to:

• Sub-Saharan and North Africa
• the Middle East
• South and Central America

The vaccination against hepatitis A is usually given as a single initial injection, with a second dose 6 to 12 months later. Two doses should protect you for at least 25 years.

You should preferably have the initial dose at least 2 weeks before you leave, although it can be given up to the day of your departure if needed.

Jabs that offer combined protection against hepatitis A and hepatitis B or typhoid are also available if you're likely to also be at risk of these conditions.

Hepatitis B vaccination

Vaccination against  hepatitis B is recommended if you're travelling in parts of the world where hepatitis B is common, especially if you'll be doing activities that increase your risk of developing the infection.

Hepatitis B is spread through blood and body fluids. Things like having sex, injecting drugs or playing contact sports on your travels can increase your risk.

Anyone travelling for long periods or who's likely to need medical care while abroad is also at increased risk.

Hepatitis B is found worldwide, but it's more common in parts of:

• Sub-Saharan Africa
• Southern and Eastern Europe

The hepatitis B vaccination generally involves a course of 3 injections. Depending on how quickly you need protection, these may be spread over a period as long as 6 months or as short as 3 weeks.

A combined hepatitis A and hepatitis B jab is also available if you're likely to be at risk of both these conditions while travelling.

Japanese encephalitis vaccination

Vaccination against  Japanese encephalitis  is usually recommended if you're planning a long stay (usually at least a month) in a country where you could get the condition.

It's particularly important if:

• you're visiting during the rainy season or there's a year-round risk because of a tropical climate
• you're going to visit rural areas, such as rice fields or marshlands
• you'll be taking part in any activities that may increase your risk of becoming infected, such as cycling or camping

Japanese encephalitis is found throughout Asia and beyond. The area it's found in stretches from the western Pacific islands in the east, across to the borders of Pakistan in the west.

It's found as far north as Northeastern China and as far south as the islands of the Torres Strait and Cape York in Northeastern Australia.

Despite its name, Japanese encephalitis is now relatively rare in Japan because of mass immunisation programmes.

Find out more about risk areas on the Travel Health Pro website

Vaccination against Japanese encephalitis usually consists of 2 injections, with the second dose given 28 days after the first.

Ideally, you need to have the second dose a week before you leave.

Meningococcal meningitis vaccination

Vaccination against some types of meningococcal meningitis  is usually recommended if you're travelling to areas at risk and your planned activities put you at higher risk – for example, if you're a long-term traveller who has close contact with the local population.

High-risk areas for meningococcal meningitis include:

• parts of Africa
• Saudi Arabia during the mass gatherings of Hajj or Umrah

All travellers to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages are required to show proof of vaccination.

If travelling to a high-risk area, you should be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis with a MenACWY vaccine , also known as the quadrivalent meningococcal meningitis vaccine.

This is a single injection that should be given 2 to 3 weeks before you travel. Babies under a year old need 2 injections.

You should have the MenACWY vaccine before travelling to high-risk areas, even if you had the  meningitis C vaccine as a child.

Read more about the  meningococcal meningitis vaccines .

Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination

The MMR vaccine that protects against measles ,  mumps and  rubella is routinely given to all children in the UK. 

You should make sure you and your children are up-to-date with routine vaccinations, including MMR, before travelling.

If you haven't been fully vaccinated against these conditions or you're not already immune, you should ask about MMR vaccination before you travel.

The MMR vaccine is given as 2 injections. These are usually given when a child is 3 years and 4 months old.

But if vaccination has been missed previously, adults can have the doses 1 month apart, and children can have them 3 months apart if necessary.

Read more about the MMR vaccine .

Polio vaccination

A combined vaccination that protects against diphtheria,  polio and tetanus is routinely given to all children in the UK.

Further booster doses are usually only recommended if you're going to visit parts of the world where polio is, or has recently been, present and your last vaccination dose was more than 10 years ago.

Currently the condition is most common in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but it's also a risk in other regions of the world.

Read more about the  Td/IPV (3-in-1) vaccine .

Rabies vaccination

Vaccination against rabies is advised if you're travelling to an area where you could get rabies, particularly if:

• you're staying for a month or more
• there's unlikely to be quick access to appropriate medical care
• you plan to do activities that could put you at increased risk of exposure to rabies, such as cycling or running

Rabies can be found in many parts of the world. GOV.UK provides a detailed list of countries that have rabies in domestic animals or wildlife .

Vaccination involves a course of 3 injections before you travel, usually given over a period of 28 days.

If you're bitten, licked or scratched by an animal in a country where rabies is a problem, further doses of rabies vaccine (with or without a special anti-rabies injection given around the wound) may be required as emergency treatment.

Find out more about the rabies vaccine

GOV.UK: Rabies risks for travellers

Tetanus vaccination

A combined vaccination that protects against diphtheria, polio and tetanus is routinely given to all children in the UK.

Further booster doses are usually only recommended if:

• you're travelling to areas where access to medical services is likely to be limited and your last vaccination dose was more than 10 years ago
• you've not had two booster doses

Read more about the Td/IPV (3-in-1) vaccine .

Tick-borne encephalitis vaccination

Vaccination against  tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)  is usually recommended for anyone who plans to live or work in a high-risk area, or hike and camp in these areas during late spring or summer.

The ticks that cause TBE are mainly found in forested areas of central, eastern and northern Europe, although at-risk areas also include eastern Russia and some countries in east Asia, including some regions of China and Japan.

The vaccination requires a course of 3 injections for full protection. The second dose is given 1 to 3 months after the first and provides immunity for about a year.

A third dose, given 5 to 12 months after the second, provides immunity for up to 3 years.

The course can sometimes be accelerated if necessary. This involves 2 doses being given 2 weeks apart.

Booster doses of the vaccine are recommended every 3 years, if necessary.

Tuberculosis (TB) vaccination

The BCG vaccine (which stands for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine) protects against tuberculosis , which is also known as TB.

The BCG vaccine isn't given as part of the routine NHS vaccination schedule. It's given on the NHS only when a child or adult is thought to have an increased risk of coming into contact with TB.

When preparing for travel abroad, the BCG vaccine is recommended for any unvaccinated people under 16 who'll be living or working with friends, family or local people for more than 3 months in a country where TB is common or the risk of multi-drug resistant TB is high.

The BCG vaccine is given as a single injection.

Areas of the world where the risk of TB is high enough to recommend BCG vaccination for previously unvaccinated travellers include:

• parts of South and Southeast Asia

Read more about the BCG vaccine .

Typhoid vaccination

Vaccination against typhoid fever is recommended if you're travelling to parts of the world where the condition is common, particularly if you'll: 

• have frequent or prolonged exposure to conditions where sanitation and food hygiene are likely to be poor
• be staying or working with local people

High-risk areas include:

• parts of South and Central America

Two main vaccines are available for typhoid fever in the UK. One is given as a single injection, and the other is given as 3 capsules to take on alternate days.

It's also possible to have a combined hepatitis A and typhoid jab.

Ideally, the typhoid vaccine should be given at least 1 month before you travel, but it can be given closer to your travel date if necessary.

Booster vaccinations are recommended every 3 years if you continue to be at risk of infection.

Read more about the typhoid vaccine .

Yellow fever vaccination

Vaccination against yellow fever is advised if you're travelling to areas where there's a risk of getting yellow fever.

Some countries require a proof of vaccination certificate before they let you enter the country.

Yellow fever occurs in some areas of tropical Africa and Central and South America. More information about yellow fever and areas where it's found is available on Travel Health Pro .

A single dose of the yellow fever vaccine is thought to provide lifelong protection. For most people, a booster dose is no longer recommended.

You must have a yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days before you travel. You will also need to complete a yellow fever vaccination checklist to make sure you can have the vaccine.

Find out more about the yellow fever vaccination checklist on the Travel Health Pro website

You should be issued with an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis when you have the vaccine. This certificate is valid for life.

Some people cannot have the yellow fever vaccine.

Read more about the  yellow fever vaccine and who can have it .

When to get further advice

Speak to your GP before having any vaccinations if:

• you're planning to get pregnant
• you're pregnant
• you're breastfeeding
• you have an immune deficiency
• you have any allergies

Page last reviewed: 16 March 2023 Next review due: 16 March 2026

Vaccination options for last-minute travellers in need of travel-related prophylaxis against hepatitis A and B and typhoid fever: a practical guide

Affiliation.

• 1 Academic Centre for Travel Medicine and Vaccines, WHO Collaborating Centre for Travel Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Street, London, UK.
• PMID: 17291921
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2003.10.001

Last-minute travellers represent a particular challenge to travel healthcare professionals, as standard vaccination schedules can take a few months to complete. This has led researchers to investigate the value of alternative accelerated schedules and existing schedules among this group, particularly with respect to time taken for an individual to seroconvert, duration of protection and multiple vaccination requirements. This paper reviews the available options for the three most common vaccine preventable diseases among travellers-hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid fever. Studies suggest that even if the first dose of hepatitis A vaccine is given on the day of travel, this will provide adequate protection, and that immunity to typhoid fever can be provided in over 70% of travellers following vaccination 1 week prior to departure. For hepatitis B, an accelerated schedule of 0, 7 and 21-days has been shown to induce early protection, and is considered to be of benefit to the last-minute traveller. Practical guidelines on vaccination options from one week up to one month, as well as one month or more prior to travel are presented. This should provide guidance for travel healthcare professionals, and reassure last-minute travellers that they need not begin their journey unprotected against these three serious infectious diseases.

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Israel, Hamas agree to localized cease-fires for polio vaccines

STORY: The World Health Organization on Thursday said both the Israeli military and the Palestinian militant group Hamas have agreed to abide by three separate, short cease-fires in specific areas of the Gaza Strip to allow for a massive vaccination program to protect children from polio in the war-ravaged enclave.

"A two-round polio vaccination campaign is, will actually starts on the 1st of September..."

The WHO official overseeing the Palestinian Territories said the campaign is due to start Sunday. Each pause in fighting will last three days, with hostilities halted between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. local time each day.

"... and we start in central Gaza for three days, followed by South Gaza and then followed by the north of Gaza."

The campaign comes after the WHO last week confirmed at least one baby has been paralyzed by the type 2 polio virus.

It's the first such case in the territory in 25 years.

The child, Abdul-Rahman, is just days away from his first birthday. He should be learning to walk.

His mother, Nivine Abu Al-Jidyan, says he was born just weeks before the war began and because they had been displaced from one place to another, he did not have all his routine infant vaccinations.

Almost two months ago she noticed something was wrong, when her son couldn’t crawl as usual.

"Suddenly, I found the boy vomiting, he stopped moving and had a fever. He also stopped walking and crawling. I took him to al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital and I was told my son might have polio. He took antibiotics for 15 days and they took some sample from him to Jordan. I got a call from the health ministry saying Abdul Rahman is the only child, and the only detected case of polio until now. It was a shock for me."

Nivine says she’s in shock, especially as she says she’s been told by doctors there is little more they can do for her son.

"He is my only baby boy. It's his right to travel and be treated; it's his right to walk, run and move like before. It's his right to get the proper treatment, travel, get out and get his chance in life. It is unfair that he stays thrown in the tent without care or attention."

Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious virus primarily spread through the fecal-oral route. It can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis.

Cases of polio have declined by 99% worldwide since 1988 thanks to mass vaccination campaigns and efforts continue to eradicate it completely.

The U.N. says it is now preparing to vaccinate an estimated 640,000 children in Gaza.

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7 when Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's subsequent assault on the Hamas-governed enclave has since killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

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Think Travel Vaccine Guide

As a health care provider, be sure to prepare your globe-trotting patients for travel by providing a quick pretravel risk assessment, consultation, and care. THINK TRAVEL:

• Ask your patients if they plan on any international travel .
• Make sure they are up- to- date on all routine vaccines before their trip.
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Yellow fever
• Japanese encephalitis
• Meningococcal diseases

For destination-specific vaccine recommendations, search CDC’s Destination pages.

Think about...

*Travelers may also need routine (non-travel) vaccines or boosters before travel including influenza; measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); tetanus (Td or Tdap); varicella; pneumococcus; and polio. Check CDC’s Destination Pages for country-specific vaccine recommendations.

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Rusmania • Deep into Russia

• Moscow Region

Dubna is a green and pleasant city which has become a "Science City", due to the location of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research here. It is situated at the beginning of the Moscow Canal, which is watched over by a gigantic Lenin statue - the second biggest in the world. The city can easily be visited on a day trip from Moscow .

Top recommendations in Dubna

Moscow canal.

Have a look at the second biggest Lenin Statue in the world, while walking along the Moscow Canal and the coast of the Ivankovo Reservoir to the lighthouse on Lebyazhie Lake.

Tsentralnaya Ulitsa

Walk along Tsentralnaya Ulitsa from the House of Culture to the park at its end with the Defenders of Dubna Monument.

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