If you plan to travel outside the country, you may need immunizations to protect yourself against diseases that aren't common in the United States.

See your healthcare provider at least 4-6 weeks before any international travel.

• Find out what vaccines may be recommended or required based on your travel destination.
• Make sure you are up-to-date on all of your routine vaccines. Routine vaccinations protect you from infectious diseases such as measles that can spread quickly in groups of unvaccinated people. Many diseases prevented by routine vaccination are not common in the United States but are still common in other countries.

Special Considerations

Chikungunya virus

• Chikungunya virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Rarely the infection can be spread from a pregnant mother to her fetus, mostly during the second trimester. One chikungunya vaccine (called IXCHIQ) is available in the United States and is approved for use in adults 18 years and older. If you are traveling to an area with risk for chikungunya, talk to your healthcare provider about these factors to help with your decision on vaccination.

Cholera

• The cholera vaccine is not currently a required vaccination for international travel to any other country or territory. The cholera vaccine is recommended for:
  • Travelers visiting areas experiencing cholera outbreaks
  • Travelers during humanitarian crises where there is a high risk of cholera transmission
  • Travelers visiting regions with regular local transmission of cholera.

Hepatitis A

• Hepatitis A vaccine is not currently required for international travel but is strongly recommended for travelers, as hepatitis A is more prevalent in certain countries or regions. Infection can occur even with regular hand washing.
• If you are planning to travel internationally, it is advisable to consult a doctor and get vaccinated as early as possible. However, even late vaccination can reduce the severity of the illness. Full protection requires two or three doses, depending on the type of vaccine.

Japanese Encephalitis

• Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. JE can be prevented through vaccination. One JE vaccine (called IXIARO) is available in the United States and approved for use in children age 2 months old to adults.

Malaria Prophylaxis

• U.S.-based travelers going to an area where malaria spreads, even if they have been infected with malaria in the past, are still at risk for infection. You should discuss with a healthcare provider a detailed itinerary of where you are traveling, your activities, accommodations, and your medical history to understand your risk of malaria and if you need to take medication to prevent malaria.
• There are various options of medications available to prevent malaria and based on the country/countries, the urgency of the trip, and how often you prefer to take medication (daily vs. weekly).
  • If your provider recommends malaria prevention medications, it is important to take them as prescribed, including the period before travel and after you return from travel.
• It is important to take steps to avoid mosquito bites even if you are taking medications as an added layer to prevent malaria

Measles

• Measles is highly contagious, and most measles outbreaks in the United States happen because infected travelers bring it back from other parts of the world. Before international travel, make sure the following people are immunized against measles:
  • Babies 6 months through 11 months of age: 1 dose
  • Children 12 months of age or older: 2 doses separated by at least 28 days
  • Unvaccinated adolescents and adults: 2 doses separated by at least 28 days

Meningitis

• The meningococcal vaccine is required for travelers going on Hajj or Umrah in Saudi Arabia. Additional vaccinations are recommended.

Pre-exposure Rabies

• Rabies pre-exposure vaccination is considered for:
  • Travelers planning to engage in occupational or recreational activities that increase the risk of exposure to potentially rabid animals
  • Travelers who might have difficulty accessing prompt and safe post-exposure prophylaxis
• Please consult with a healthcare provider to determine whether you should receive pre-exposure vaccination before travel. For more information, see country rabies status assessments.

Polio

• Anyone traveling to a polio-affected country needs to be fully vaccinated against polio. Adults need a one-time booster dose of polio vaccine within 4 weeks to 12 months prior to any international travel. This booster should be documented in your yellow International Certificate of Vaccination to avoid delays in transit or over-vaccination in polio-affected countries.
• If you haven't been vaccinated against polio within the previous 4 weeks to 12 months you may be required to get a one-time booster dose of polio vaccine at least by the time of departure.

Typhoid Fever

• The typhoid vaccine is not currently required for international travel to any country or territory. However, it is recommended for:
  • Travelers visiting countries in Africa, Asia, or Latin America where typhoid fever is common. This includes traveling to rural areas or visiting family and friends where typhoid fever occurs.

Yellow Fever

• The Yellow Fever vaccine may be required to enter a country or to return to the United States, depending on your travel destination.

Zika Virus

• Zika virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. Zika virus can also be spread from infected people to their sex partners, or from an infected pregnant mother to her fetus. No vaccine is available to prevent a Zika virus infection.

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a travel health specialist at least one month before you leave. They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. Discussing health concerns as well as your itinerary and planned activities with your provider allows them to give more specific advice and recommendations.

Make sure to bring a copy of your official immunization records with you when you travel.

Share the following information about yourself or your trip with your provider:

• Special conditions such as pregnancy, allergies, or chronic health problems.
• Destinations on your itinerary.
• Type of accommodations (hotels, hostels, short-term rentals).
• Type of travel (cruise, business, adventure travel).
• Timing and length of your trip.
• Planned activities.

Take recommended medicines as directed. If your doctor prescribes medicine for you, take the medicine as directed before, during, and after travel.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites.

• If you are returning from an area with a risk of mosquito-borne diseases, take steps to prevent mosquito bites for at least 3 weeks, even if you don’t feel sick. This ensures that you do not spread viruses to uninfected mosquitoes or other people.
• Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites by:
  • Using EPA-registered insect repellants
  • Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants
  • Controlling mosquitoes inside and outside your home
• Treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin.
• Choose lodging with air conditioning, screens on windows and doors, or use a mosquito net if you are sleeping outdoors.
• Additional information about protecting yourself from mosquito bites while you are traveling is available on the IDOH Mosquito Prevention webpage.

Protect yourself during sex.

• Use condoms or don’t have sex to avoid getting or spreading Zika during sex if you or your partner has traveled to an area with risk of Zika. The amount of time you need to take these steps depends on whether you or your partner has symptoms and whether you or your partner are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Watch for symptoms.

• If you are returning from a country with a risk of mosquito-borne diseases, it is important to monitor any symptoms that may develop. Here is an overview of common mosquito-borne diseases and their associated symptoms.