Travel Vaccinations: Which Shots You Need for Every Region of the World

Why Travel Vaccinations Matter

Every year, thousands of travelers return home with preventable illnesses because they skipped pre-trip health planning. Diseases like typhoid, hepatitis A, and yellow fever are rare in developed countries but remain common in many popular travel destinations across Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central and South America.

Travel vaccinations serve two purposes. First, they protect you from potentially serious or fatal diseases. Second, some are legally required for entry into certain countries. Without proof of vaccination, you can be denied boarding on a flight or turned away at a border.

This guide breaks down which vaccines you need based on where you are traveling, when to start the vaccination process, how much it costs, and where to get the shots.

Understanding Vaccine Categories

The CDC classifies travel vaccines into three categories:

Routine Vaccines

These are the vaccines every adult should have regardless of travel plans. Before any international trip, make sure you are current on:

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): Two doses, usually given in childhood. If you are unsure of your status, a blood titer test can confirm immunity.
• Tdap/Td (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis): Booster every 10 years
• Varicella (Chickenpox): Two doses if you never had the disease
• Polio (IPV): Standard childhood series, with a one-time adult booster recommended for travel to certain countries
• Influenza: Annual flu shot
• COVID-19: Updated booster per current CDC guidance

Required Vaccines

These vaccines are mandated by specific countries as a condition of entry:

• Yellow Fever: The only vaccine commonly required by law for entry into certain countries. Proof is documented on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (the "yellow card").
• Meningococcal Meningitis: Required for Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia
• Polio booster: Required for travelers leaving certain countries where polio is endemic (Afghanistan, Pakistan)

Recommended Vaccines

These are not legally required but strongly advised by the CDC based on disease risk at your destination:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Rabies (pre-exposure)
• Cholera

Region-by-Region Vaccine Guide

Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Laos)

This is one of the most visited regions by Western tourists, and it carries significant disease risk outside major cities.

Recommended vaccines:

• Hepatitis A: Essential. Transmitted through contaminated food and water. A single dose provides protection within 2-4 weeks; a booster at 6-12 months gives lifetime protection.
• Typhoid: Strongly recommended, especially if eating street food or traveling outside major cities. Available as an injection (one dose, effective for 2 years) or oral capsules (4 doses over a week, effective for 5 years).
• Japanese Encephalitis: Recommended for stays longer than one month, especially in rural areas during monsoon season. Requires two doses given 28 days apart. Cost: $300-$400 per dose.
• Hepatitis B: Recommended if you might need medical treatment, get tattoos or piercings, or have intimate contact. Three-dose series over 6 months, or accelerated 3-dose series over 21 days.
• Rabies (pre-exposure): Recommended for travelers spending time outdoors in rural areas, cyclists, and anyone who might encounter dogs or monkeys. Three doses over 21-28 days. Cost: $250-$400 per dose. Pre-exposure vaccination does not eliminate the need for post-exposure treatment but reduces it from five shots to two.

Malaria risk: Present in rural areas of all countries listed. Not typically a risk in major cities like Bangkok, Hanoi, or Bali's tourist areas. See the malaria section below.

Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda)

Africa carries the broadest range of travel health risks. Preparation here is critical.

Required vaccine:

• Yellow Fever: Required for entry into many Sub-Saharan countries. The vaccine is a single dose that provides lifetime protection (the 10-year booster requirement was removed in 2016, though some border officials may not be aware of this change). You must receive the vaccine at an authorized Yellow Fever vaccination center and obtain the official yellow card. Cost: $150-$300.

Recommended vaccines:

• Hepatitis A and Typhoid: Essential for all travelers
• Hepatitis B: Strongly recommended
• Meningococcal Meningitis: Recommended for travel to the "meningitis belt" across the Sahel region, especially during dry season (December through June). Countries include: Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia.
• Rabies (pre-exposure): Recommended due to limited availability of post-exposure treatment in many African countries. If bitten by a rabid animal in a remote area, you may need to evacuate to receive treatment.
• Cholera: Consider for travelers to areas with active outbreaks. Oral vaccine (Vaxchora) provides approximately 80% protection. Single dose, cost: $100-$250.
• Polio booster: Recommended for some African destinations, particularly if the country has reported recent cases.

Malaria risk: High throughout most of Sub-Saharan Africa except at high altitudes. Prophylaxis is essential. See the malaria section below.

South Asia (India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh)

Recommended vaccines:

• Hepatitis A: Essential
• Typhoid: Essential, particularly in India where typhoid is endemic
• Hepatitis B: Recommended
• Japanese Encephalitis: Recommended for stays over one month, especially during and after monsoon season
• Rabies (pre-exposure): Strongly recommended for India, where rabies from dog and monkey bites is a serious concern. India has the highest number of human rabies deaths globally.
• Cholera: Consider for travel during flood season or to areas with active outbreaks

Malaria risk: Present in most of India (except high-altitude areas like Ladakh), Nepal's Terai region, and Sri Lanka's rural areas.

Central and South America (Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador)

Required vaccine:

• Yellow Fever: Required or recommended for many countries. Required for: Bolivia, Brazil (certain states), Colombia (certain areas), Ecuador (certain areas), French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela. Not required for Mexico, Central America, Peru (coastal and highland areas), Argentina, or Chile.

Recommended vaccines:

• Hepatitis A: Essential
• Typhoid: Recommended for most destinations, especially when eating street food
• Hepatitis B: Recommended
• Rabies (pre-exposure): Consider for jungle treks, cave exploration, or extended rural travel
• Cholera: Consider for Haiti and areas with active outbreaks

Malaria risk: Present in Amazon basin areas of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Generally not a risk in Mexico's tourist areas, Costa Rica's Central Valley, or Argentina's urban areas.

East Asia (China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia)

Recommended vaccines:

• Hepatitis A: Recommended for China and Mongolia
• Typhoid: Recommended for China and Mongolia
• Japanese Encephalitis: Recommended for rural areas of China during summer months
• Rabies (pre-exposure): Consider for China, particularly rural areas

Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan have healthcare infrastructure comparable to Western countries, and routine vaccines are generally sufficient for urban travel to these destinations.

Middle East and North Africa (Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, UAE, Oman)

Recommended vaccines:

• Hepatitis A: Recommended for all destinations in this region
• Hepatitis B: Recommended
• Typhoid: Recommended for Egypt, Morocco, and areas outside major tourist zones
• Rabies (pre-exposure): Consider for rural Morocco and Egypt
• Meningococcal Meningitis: Required for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia

Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan

Routine vaccines are generally sufficient for travel to Western Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. No special travel vaccines are typically recommended for these regions. Ensure your routine vaccines (MMR, Tdap, varicella) are up to date.

Yellow Fever Certificate: The One Vaccine That Can Get You Denied Entry

Yellow Fever vaccination deserves special attention because it is the only vaccine commonly enforced at international borders.

Countries that require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination for all arriving travelers:

Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, French Guiana, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Togo

Countries that require proof only if arriving from a Yellow Fever-endemic country:

Australia, Bahrain, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and many others.

This means that if your flight itinerary routes you through a Yellow Fever country (even on a layover), you may need the certificate to enter your final destination. Check transit requirements carefully when booking multi-stop itineraries.

How to get the Yellow Fever vaccine:

1. It must be administered at an authorized Yellow Fever Vaccination Center. Not all clinics offer it.
2. Use the CDC's clinic finder at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellow-fever-vaccination-clinics/search to locate one near you.
3. The vaccine costs $150-$300 depending on the clinic.
4. It takes 10 days to become effective. You must receive it at least 10 days before arriving in a country that requires it.
5. The official yellow card is your proof. Keep it with your passport.

Malaria Prevention

Malaria is not prevented by a vaccine but by prophylactic medication taken before, during, and after travel to malaria-endemic areas.

Common Antimalarial Medications

Medication	Dosing	Start	During	After	Side Effects	Cost (generic)
Atovaquone-Proguanil (Malarone)	Daily	1-2 days before	Daily	7 days after	Minimal; mild GI upset	$3-$8/day
Doxycycline	Daily	1-2 days before	Daily	28 days after	Sun sensitivity, GI upset	$0.50-$2/day
Mefloquine (Lariam)	Weekly	2-3 weeks before	Weekly	4 weeks after	Vivid dreams, anxiety, rare neuropsychiatric effects	$3-$5/week
Chloroquine	Weekly	1-2 weeks before	Weekly	4 weeks after	Minimal; only effective in limited areas	$1-$2/week

Which one to choose: Atovaquone-Proguanil (Malarone) is the most commonly prescribed for short trips due to its minimal side effects and short pre/post-trip dosing. Doxycycline is the cheapest option. Mefloquine's weekly dosing is convenient for long trips but carries a risk of neuropsychiatric side effects. Chloroquine is only effective in Central America and the Caribbean, where malaria strains remain sensitive to it.

In addition to medication, use DEET-based insect repellent (30-50% concentration), sleep under permethrin-treated bed nets in high-risk areas, and wear long sleeves and pants during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

When to Start the Vaccination Process

Timing matters. Some vaccines require multiple doses spaced weeks apart, and some take time to build immunity. Here is a timeline:

Timeframe Before Trip	Action
6-8 weeks	Schedule a travel health consultation. Begin multi-dose series (Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies, Hepatitis B).
4-6 weeks	Get Yellow Fever vaccine (requires 10 days for validity). Start antimalarial medication if using mefloquine.
2-4 weeks	Get Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and other single-dose vaccines.
1-2 weeks	Start antimalarial medication if using Malarone or Doxycycline.
Day of departure	Pack medications, insect repellent, and vaccination records.

Minimum lead time: If you are in a rush, most single-dose vaccines (Hepatitis A, Typhoid injection) provide protection within 2-4 weeks. But for the best coverage, start 6-8 weeks before departure.

Costs: With and Without Insurance

Without Insurance

Vaccine	Typical Cost per Dose	Doses Needed
Hepatitis A	$75-$150	2 (second dose at 6-12 months)
Typhoid (injection)	$75-$125	1
Typhoid (oral)	$50-$75	4 capsules over 1 week
Yellow Fever	$150-$300	1
Japanese Encephalitis	$300-$400	2
Rabies (pre-exposure)	$250-$400	3
Hepatitis B	$50-$100	3
Meningococcal	$100-$200	1
Cholera (Vaxchora)	$100-$250	1

A trip to Sub-Saharan Africa requiring Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Rabies, and antimalarials could cost $800-$1,500 in vaccinations alone without insurance.

With Insurance

Many health insurance plans cover routine vaccines (Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tdap) at no cost under preventive care. However, most plans do not cover travel-specific vaccines like Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, or Rabies pre-exposure unless your primary care provider codes the visit as preventive rather than travel-specific.

Tips for reducing costs:

• County health departments often offer vaccines at reduced rates
• Costco and Sam's Club pharmacies tend to have lower prices than dedicated travel clinics
• Passport Health (passporthealthusa.com) is a nationwide chain of travel clinics with transparent pricing
• Military travel clinics provide free vaccinations for active duty service members and dependents

Where to Get Travel Vaccinations

Travel Health Clinics

Dedicated travel health clinics are the gold standard. They specialize in pre-trip consultations and maintain current knowledge of disease outbreaks and regional risks. Expect to pay a consultation fee of $50-$100 on top of vaccine costs.

• Passport Health: Over 270 locations across the US. Offers all travel vaccines including Yellow Fever. Book at passporthealthusa.com.
• Travel Medicine Alliance: Network of independent travel medicine providers.
• University hospital travel clinics: Many academic medical centers operate travel health services with infectious disease specialists.

Primary Care Provider

Your regular doctor can administer most travel vaccines except Yellow Fever (which requires an authorized center). This may be the cheapest option if your insurance covers preventive vaccinations through your PCP.

Pharmacies

CVS MinuteClinic, Walgreens, and Costco pharmacies offer select travel vaccines including Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, and Tdap. They do not offer Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, or Rabies.

CDC Resources

The CDC's Travelers' Health website (wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel) is the definitive resource for destination-specific health recommendations. Enter your destination to get a complete list of recommended vaccines, medications, and health precautions.

Children's Travel Vaccines

Children traveling internationally need the same destination-specific vaccines as adults, with a few considerations:

• Hepatitis A: Approved for children 12 months and older. For infants under 12 months traveling to high-risk areas, an off-label dose can be given, but it does not count toward the routine series.
• Typhoid injection: Approved for children 2 years and older. Oral typhoid is approved for 6 years and older.
• Yellow Fever: Approved for children 9 months and older. Avoid travel to Yellow Fever-endemic areas with infants under 9 months.
• Japanese Encephalitis: Approved for children 2 months and older.
• Rabies: No minimum age restriction. Recommended for children traveling to high-risk areas since children are more likely to approach animals and less likely to report a bite.
• Malaria prophylaxis: Atovaquone-Proguanil is approved for children weighing 5 kg (11 lbs) or more. Dosing is weight-based.

Important: Schedule a pediatric travel health consultation at least 8 weeks before departure for children, as vaccine spacing requirements may be more restrictive.

Plan a Healthy Trip With TripGenie

Health preparation is just one part of trip planning. TripGenie helps you build comprehensive day-by-day itineraries for destinations around the world. While TripGenie handles the logistics of where to go, what to see, and how to get around, you can use this guide to handle the health side of the equation. Together, you will be prepared for a safe and memorable journey.

Pre-Trip Health Checklist

• Scheduled travel health consultation 6-8 weeks before departure
• Checked CDC Travelers' Health page for destination-specific recommendations
• Received all recommended vaccines with enough lead time for immunity to develop
• Obtained Yellow Fever certificate if traveling to or through endemic areas
• Filled antimalarial prescription if needed
• Packed copies of vaccination records alongside your passport
• Purchased insect repellent with 30-50% DEET
• Reviewed travel insurance policy for medical evacuation coverage
• Located hospitals and clinics at your destination in advance

Travel vaccinations are an investment in your health and peace of mind. The cost and time required are minor compared to the risk of contracting a serious illness far from home. Start early, follow the recommendations, and travel safely.