This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider for guidance based on your individual health needs.
When I traveled to Vietnam earlier this year, I found myself doing something I didn’t expect: triple-checking my own vaccine records. And I say that as a physician who literally talks about immune systems for a living. I knew the basics, but I found myself staring at government websites, travel clinic forms, and message boards wondering: Wait, which ones do I actually need? And do I really need them if I’m mostly drinking coconut coffee and taking photos of lanterns in Hoi An?
Travel today is more accessible than ever, but medical guidance around it can feel confusing, outdated, or contradictory. So let’s make it simple. Below is a clear, realistic guide to the vaccines that matter when you’re planning international travel, whether you’re heading to a safari lodge, a yoga retreat, or a resort getaway focused on cocktails on the beach.
Before thinking about destination-specific vaccines, check your routine immunizations. Nicole Chow Ahrenholz, M.D., a clinical associate professor at the University of Washington, agrees. “Don’t forget the basics,” she says. “You’re far more likely to catch influenza or COVID than something exotic like yellow fever.”
Make sure you’re current on:
- MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)
- Tdap (or Td booster every 10 years) (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis)
- Polio booster (for certain destinations)
- Influenza (annually)
- COVID (annually if >6 months old, biannually if >65)
- Varicella (if you haven’t had chickenpox)
- Shingles (if 50+)
Most travelers are surprised to learn they’re overdue for something. “These are the vaccines that protect you both at home and abroad,” explains George Sakoulas, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and adjunct professor at The University of San Diego Medical Center. “Starting with routine shots gives travelers a clear foundation before adding destination-specific vaccines.”
Read full article at Fodor’s Travel website.