Get Vaccinated Before You Travel

What to know

It’s important to plan ahead to get the shots required for all countries you and your family plan to visit.

Before you travel

Protect your child and family when traveling in the United States or abroad by:

family in airport ready to travel
Vaccines can help protect your child and family when traveling.

Avoid getting sick or coming back home and spreading the disease to others.

Vaccinate at least a month before you travel

See your doctor when you start to plan your trip abroad. It's important to do this well in advance.

Find out which vaccines are recommended or required for the countries you plan to visit.

Time-saving Tip‎

Save time by getting routine vaccines during the same doctor visit. Use CDC's vaccine assessment tools and discuss the results with your doctor. They tell you which U.S. recommended vaccines adults and children might need.

Last-minute travelers

When traveling to another country be aware your doctor may not carry a travel vaccine and you may have to visit a medical clinic.

Many travel vaccines require multiple shots or take time to become fully effective. But some multiple-dose vaccines (like hepatitis A) can still give you partial protection after just one dose. Some can also be given on an "accelerated schedule," meaning doses are given in a shorter period of time.