If you plan to travel outside of the United States, it’s important to understand the health recommendations and rules of the countries you are traveling to—this includes making sure that you are up to date on any vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and any vaccinations required by the destination country. In addition to recommending that you be current on routine vaccines you have received in the United States, CDC also recommends additional vaccines or medication for illnesses endemic to other parts of the world, such as yellow fever or malaria. In some cases, the country you are visiting may require certain vaccinations prior to entry.
CDC recommends that all travelers stay up to date on the following routine vaccines:
Visit the CDC’s Traveler’s Health pages to learn more about vaccines recommended for travel to your destination and other health issues that may affect travelers’ health.
Keep in mind that some vaccines require more than one dose, and you may not be considered fully vaccinated until at least two weeks after your final dose. Make sure to account for the time it may take to find an organization offering the vaccine and the number of doses you will need.
You may also want to check with the U.S. embassy in the country you are visiting to ensure that you 1) have all the recommended or required vaccines and 2) understand the timeframe in which you will need to get them prior to entering the country.
Learn about your destination on the U.S. Department of State website or find information provided by U.S. embassies usembassy.gov.
Spokane Regional Health District does not provide travel vaccines or medications for the public; however, most travel vaccines are readily available at national and local pharmacies. See the following for more information about common vaccines and medications recommended prior to travel to certain parts of the world and where to find them.
All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please visit CDC’s International Travel page to learn more about COVID-19 vaccine travel requirements. To find a COVID-19 vaccine, visit vaccines.gov.
If you are uninsured, contact Spokane Regional Health District’s Immunization Assessment and Promotion Program at IAPSupport@srhd.org or 509.324.1611 for assistance with finding travel vaccines.
