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Vaccine and Travel in 2023
By Ashley Donohoe MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
If you’re planning to travel internationally in 2023, your destination country could require specific vaccines for entry. Even if the country doesn’t have travel vaccine requirements, the area could have disease risks that make getting vaccinated a good health decision.
Here’s what you should know about vaccines and travel in 2023, including which vaccines you might need, how to determine a country’s requirements and where to get vaccinated.
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Vaccination requirements for travel depend on the specific destination and any current outbreaks. Generally, you’re much more likely to encounter required travel vaccines if you’re traveling to developing countries and rural areas in Africa or Asia than if you’re visiting urban destinations in North America or Europe. However, many destinations have disease risks that make it worth considering optional vaccines before taking your trip.
Common types of vaccines travelers may need
Some common travel vaccines include the routine shots you likely already had as a child as well as the COVID-19 vaccine. Others are specific to particular travel regions, including yellow fever, cholera, typhoid and Japanese encephalitis vaccines. Always consult with your doctor to determine your recommended vaccines.
Childhood immunizations
If you’re missing some routine childhood vaccines, you may need to get them before you travel. Your destination can have current outbreaks of diseases that are no longer common in the U.S. Some examples include measles, meningococcal meningitis, hepatitis, chickenpox, polio and pertussis. While such vaccines are usually only recommended, international travel requirements for destinations such as Bangladesh and Afghanistan require proof of vaccination status against meningococcal meningitis and polio.
Have your doctor check your medical records for any missing vaccines or boosters. Keep in mind that some childhood immunizations require a series of doses.
COVID-19 vaccination
While countries requiring a COVID-19 vaccine for international travel is now uncommon, Indonesia is one example where you’ll be denied entry without proof of vaccination. Indonesia’s rules include health screening procedures and a potential COVID-19 test if you have symptoms. While you can enter with just one dose, you must undergo a five-day quarantine at your own expense.
Even if your destination doesn’t require COVID-19 vaccination, the U.S. government still recommends getting vaccinated or boosted before your trip. Along with reducing your health risk, getting vaccinated can prevent inconveniences such as potential tests or quarantines at ports of entry.
Yellow fever vaccination
If your trip itinerary includes South America or Africa, yellow fever is often a risk, and you may need proof of vaccination for travel to many destinations. Other countries can also require proof of vaccination for yellow fever if you’ve recently visited a country where the condition is common.
While not highly prevalent, yellow fever comes from being bitten by an infected mosquito. A mild case includes symptoms such as a fever, body pain, weakness and stomach troubles. However, severe cases can cause internal bleeding and organ failure.
Travelers who are at least nine months old can get the single-dose yellow fever vaccine for protection. Plan to wait at least 10 days before traveling to a destination that requires proof of vaccination. Also, make sure you use a certified travel clinic that can issue the proof of vaccination required by your destination.
Typhoid vaccination
Caused by touching or ingesting something contaminated with bacteria, typhoid fever is common in areas with sanitation concerns. If you’re searching travel booking sites for destinations in Asia, South America, Central America or Africa, these areas may have a higher risk. Other risky areas for typhoid include the Caribbean Islands and Central America.
If you get infected, you’ll most likely get a fever with other potential symptoms, including a rash, headache, stomach issues and cough. You can choose between recommended vaccines in pill and shot forms to reduce the risk.
Suitable for travelers age six or older, the pill form requires four doses taken on alternating days. The single-dose shot works for travelers starting at age two. The waiting period before traveling is one week for the pill and two weeks for the shot.
Cholera vaccination
If you plan to travel to one of many African or Asian countries, the Dominican Republic or Haiti, cholera outbreaks can put you at risk. This infection comes from consuming contaminated water or food and is often found in rural areas. If you get infected, you might experience cholera symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration.
Previously, travelers between two and 64 years old could get the single-dose Vaxchora vaccine in the U.S. for protection. However, this is no longer an option because the manufacturer has stopped making the vaccine. Other cholera vaccines do not have approval for use in the U.S. Your options include getting an approved vaccine abroad or taking precautions to avoid consuming anything potentially contaminated.
Japanese encephalitis vaccination
Common in rural parts of Asia and Australia, Japanese encephalitis is a virus you can catch from mosquitoes. While the condition is rare and usually just causes mild symptoms or none at all, some people develop brain inflammation and related issues such as fevers and headaches. The disease is also fatal for around 25% of those who catch it.
Usually recommended rather than required, the Japanese encephalitis vaccine is ideal for travelers planning extended stays in areas of concern and general travel during the mosquito season. It requires two doses that you’ll get four weeks apart, and you should wait seven days or more before traveling after the final dose. It is available for travelers two months and older.
Where to get vaccinations for traveling
When deciding where to get travel vaccines, keep convenience, cost and availability in mind. Primary care physicians and drugstores provide common travel vaccines, while travel clinics offer specialty vaccines and other helpful services.
Your primary care physician
If you have a primary care physician, you can ask about travel vaccines at your next appointment or schedule a separate visit. The benefit of this route is that your physician already has your medical records and can advise you on what’s missing. If the vaccines are routine, insurance may pay for them.
Be sure to check the availability of less common vaccines and the pricing if insurance won’t cover them. Depending on how busy the physician’s office is, the wait time can be long to get an appointment.
Travel clinics
Particularly if you need the yellow fever vaccine, consider going to a travel clinic that can provide the necessary certification and provide access to hard-to-find travel vaccines. These specialized medical facilities educate travelers on the specific health risks in their target destinations and offer tips on how to avoid and treat diseases abroad. The doctors at travel clinics also specialize in understanding vaccine requirements so that you don’t have your trip disturbed by a missing dose.
If you choose a travel clinic, prepare to book ahead since it can take up to a few months for an appointment due to high demand. And be prepared to pay out of pocket, as these clinics usually don’t take insurance and will want the fees upfront.
Drugstore chains
Drugstore chains such as CVS and Walgreens are good options for getting a convenient appointment time, often having multiple locations near you. They usually offer a wide range of routine vaccinations for adults and children, but travel vaccine availability varies by chain. For example, one drugstore might only offer typhoid vaccines for travelers, but another could have vaccines for Japanese encephalitis and yellow fever available too.
Make sure to research drugstore chains and their selections before you book an appointment. Like with travel clinics, you’ll probably need to pay out of pocket for travel vaccines, but some routine shots may fall under your insurance coverage.
What you should do before traveling
Since vaccine requirements vary by destination, you’ll want to start doing your research far in advance of your planned travel date. This makes it easier to book a vaccine appointment at a provider that has the vaccine you need, as well as obtain any necessary proof of vaccination.
Check your destination country’s vaccination requirements
U.S. government websites make it easy for its citizens to determine vaccine requirements for travel to international destinations. They also provide information about current disease outbreaks and list recommended vaccines for your destination area. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allows you to select your destination from a list to see any applicable travel health notices, which often include outbreak alerts. A list of recommended or required medicines and vaccines will follow.
This list tells you location-specific vaccines for conditions such as yellow fever, as well as routine vaccines for conditions such as measles, the flu and COVID-19. You’ll also see details about a vaccine’s age requirements, the number of doses needed and any special considerations when traveling in certain regions.
You can also visit the U.S. Department of State website for international travel to learn about health and safety information for a particular destination. The page has a search box where you can enter the target country. The country’s page includes a convenient “Quick Facts” box listing any required vaccines, while the “Health” menu shows further details on common diseases for which you should consider vaccination.
Schedule your vaccine appointment well in advance
Once you know which vaccines you need, confirm availability and schedule your appointment as soon as possible. Ideally, you’ll do this at least four to six weeks before your trip since it can take time to get an appointment slot. It’s useful to plan even further ahead if you’ll need a vaccine certificate for travel and need to find a certified travel vaccine clinic.
Keep in mind that the initial appointment may not be the only one. Vaccines involving multiple doses can require you to return several weeks later. This means it’s important to check the dose requirements so that you can make your first appointment several months in advance if necessary.
Ensure that your proof of vaccination is accepted
Check the requirements for your destination country to see what type of proof of vaccination it requires. This often includes obtaining an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) if you need vaccination against yellow fever, meningococcal disease or polio. For proof of vaccination against COVID-19, the country might accept your vaccine card or a state-issued vaccine record. If in doubt, consider asking a travel clinic.
Where can you travel without a vaccine?
While requirements can always change, many popular destinations in North America and Europe require no travel vaccines. These countries include Canada, Germany, France, Mexico, the Bahamas, Britain, Greece and Italy.
In Asia, you can travel to Japan and South Korea without a vaccine. Several other Asian countries, along with many in South America and Africa, only require vaccination if you’ve recently traveled from an area where yellow fever is prevalent. New Zealand also doesn’t require vaccines.
Even if you’re traveling to an area without vaccine requirements, there can still be risks, and you should still research any prevalent diseases in the region. Getting updated on vaccines can offer peace of mind on your trip.
What happens if you fail to get a required vaccination before your trip?
Unless you qualify for an exception, not getting a required vaccination can cause inconveniences, cost you money and put you at risk of getting sick. For example, failing to get a yellow fever vaccine may result in being turned away at the point of entry. This would mean having to pay for a trip back home, likely without getting flight refunds from your airline.
In other cases, you can get tested and quarantined for a certain period at your own expense for the destination to verify that you don’t have a disease. Some destinations may let you receive the vaccination upon arrival, but you shouldn’t rely on this.
Cross all of your travel chores off of your checklist
Now that you understand vaccine and travel requirements, make sure to complete other important travel chores. These include applying for any required visas, booking flights, locating your passport, considering travel insurance and reading up on any travel advisories. Don’t forget to make a packing list, decide on international payment methods and arrange for care for any pets staying behind. It’s also helpful to know how to get a refund in the case of flight cancellations.