Empowering Health > Health Tips > Taking A Trip Abroad? Make Time for Vaccinations

If international travel is on your itinerary, you’ll need to check in with your doctor for a vaccination update. For safety and protection against disease, various vaccinations are required for travel. Your doctor can help with most inoculations or direct you to a travel health clinic for additional assistance.

International travel involves three kinds of vaccinations:

Routine vaccinations are based on your age and health; examples are tetanus, diphtheria and hepatitis B. These need to be up to date.

Recommended vaccinations protect against illnesses that might be present in specific destinations. For example, travelers to Southeast Asia are advised to get vaccinated against typhoid, among other diseases.

Required vaccines are those dictated by international health regulations; presently the only required vaccination is for yellow fever, when traveling to sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America.

To get a head start on your travel plans:

Think ahead. Schedule an appointment with your doctor well in advance of your trip. Six months ahead is ideal; four to six weeks is the minimum. Some vaccines require several doses and you need time to develop full immunity.

Provide details about your destination. Explain where you are going and what you plan to do so your doctor will have the right vaccines for your appointment. Tell your doctor if you will be exposed to animals where you are traveling.

Don’t forget the kids! If you’re traveling with your children, update their immunizations, too.

Our top travel tip: Visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/travel before you visit any country outside the U.S. It provides current information by specific destination.