All About Travel Vaccines

My son took this picture at Costco while I was waiting to receive a Typhoid injection for my upcoming Southeast Asia holiday

When planning a trip to an international destination, it's important to research what medications and vaccines you may need several months before leaving to help prevent any serious illnesses while traveling.

Common Vaccinations for International Travel

A great way to find out about what are common illnesses at your destination is at CDC Travel Health Site. At this site, you can choose from a drop-down list of countries throughout the world, which provides travel health notices, vaccines and medications, non-vaccine preventable diseases, tips on staying healthy and safe, packing list with health-related items to pack as well as guidance when you return home.

Most common vaccines for travel include:

• COVID-19

• Chickenpox

• Cholera

• Flu

• Hepatitis A & B

• Meningitis

• Pneumonia

• Polio

• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)

• Rabies

• Shingles

• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis)

• Typhoid

• Yellow Fever

• Japanese Encephalitis

It's best to make an appointment with your medical provider 4-6 weeks before you leave for your trip. Let your provider know:

• Country and cities you are traveling to

• Type of accommodation you will be staying in (hotel/hostel/tent/villa)

• How long you will be traveling

• Season of your destination

• Foods and activities you're planning to enjoy

• Review current health conditions you have

• Vaccinations and/or medications they recommend in preventing serious illness

Some vaccines may be covered by your insurance while some aren't. Ask which vaccinations are covered and aren't covered by your insurance, and if not covered, a rough estimate of how much it will cost to receive vaccine. If your vaccine isn't covered by insurance, a good resource to receive a discount on the vaccine is Good Rx.

Let's Discuss Malaria

According to CDC, thousands of U.S. citizens return home with malaria. Malaria is transmitted by mosquitos and can lead to serious consequences if not treated promptly. Currently, there are no vaccines available in the United States for malaria; however, there are prescription medications you can take prior to, during and after travel for prevention such as Malarone.

In addition to prescribed medication, you can use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered insect repellents containing DEET. DEET is a highly recommended insect repellent that offers best protection. You can get a DEET insect repellent when you arrive at your destination or prior to your trip.

Other ways to prevent malaria transmission include:

• Wearing loose fitting, long sleeve shirts and bottoms

• Keep windows and doors closed or use mosquito prevent screens

• Sleep in an air-conditioned or well-screened room

Yellow Fever

If you're traveling to certain parts of South America and Central Africa, Yellow Fever vaccination is recommended. After you receive a yellow fever vaccine, you will receive an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, also called a "yellow card" which shows proof of vaccination. To find a clinic where you can receive a yellow fever vaccine, click here.

When & Where to Get Vaccinations

It's best to receive your travel vaccine around 4 weeks before you leave for your trip.

There are several places to get travel vaccines including:

• Medical provider office

• Local pharmacy (i.e. Walgreens, CVS, Costco, Walmart, Target, etc.)

• County public health department

If your local pharmacy doesn't have the vaccine in stock, ask the pharmacist to order it as most pharmacies are glad to order vaccinations.

Travel Insurance

Before leaving for your holiday, check with your health insurance company if your benefits provide coverage during international travel. If your health insurance doesn't provide international coverage, ensure to get travel insurance to provide medical support while traveling and for any issues during travel such as delays and cancellations. Forbes wrote an article with the top 10 travel insurance companies in 2025; you can also search, compare and buy travel insurance here.