What To Know About Travel Vaccines

Your best bet for staying up-to-date on all travel vaccine information is to keep a close eye on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Depending on your destination, age, health status, etc., the vaccinations you need will vary. No matter where in the world you're going, you'll definitely want to make sure you and your family are up-to-date on all routine U.S. vaccines. Recommended vaccines vary by age, but adults ages 27 to 60 should definitely be up-to-date on the following:

• The seasonal flu (influenza) vaccine (annual). This vaccine is only available in One Medical offices during certain months of the year (typically fall to spring); however, it may be available outside those times at clinics such as Passport Health or your local Department of Health if required for travel.
• The tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccine (once if you did not receive it as an adolescent) and a booster shot every 10 years. Women should also get the Tdap vaccine each time they are pregnant, preferably at 27 through 36 weeks.
• A zoster vaccine (to prevent shingles and complications from shingles) for healthy adults aged 50 years and older
• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine for those born after 1956
• Hepatitis B
• Varicella (chickenpox) for those born after 1980
• Additional vaccines may be recommended for adults because of specific job or school-related requirements, health issues, etc.

For more details on the CDC's recommended Adult Immunization Schedule, click here.

In addition to routine U.S. vaccinations, you'll need to make sure you receive any vaccinations required by the country you're visiting. To determine exactly which vaccines you'll need, visit the CDC's complete list of destinations. Requirements can vary greatly by country - for example, Brazil recommends records of up-to-date routine vaccinations including varicella, Tdaps, influenza, MMR, polio, and shingles, in addition to current COVID-19, typhoid, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B vaccines. The yellow fever vaccine may be recommended depending upon your travel destination. The CDC also recommends that travelers going to certain destinations take prescription medicine to prevent malaria.

Most countries require up-to-date COVID vaccinations, but some have eased restrictions to allow unvaccinated travelers to enter as long as they can provide a negative. COVID-19 test. Some countries, like Spain, currently allow unvaccinated travelers to enter as long as they can provide proof of having recovered from COVID-19 within a certain period of time. The requirements for COVID-19 vaccines and testing vary greatly between countries, so make sure you check the specific requirements of the country you're entering and returning to before you travel.