travel vaccine info

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Vaccines for Travelers

Vaccines protect travelers from serious diseases. Depending on where you travel, you may come into contact with diseases that are rare in the United States, like yellow fever. Some vaccines may also be required for you to travel to certain places.

Getting vaccinated will help keep you safe and healthy while you’re traveling. It will also help make sure that you don’t bring any serious diseases home to your family, friends, and community.

On this page, you'll find answers to common questions about vaccines for travelers.

Which vaccines do I need before traveling?

The vaccines you need to get before traveling will depend on few things, including:

Where you plan to travel . Some countries require proof of vaccination for certain diseases, like yellow fever or polio. And traveling in developing countries and rural areas may bring you into contact with more diseases, which means you might need more vaccines before you visit.
Your health . If you’re pregnant or have an ongoing illness or weakened immune system, you may need additional vaccines.
The vaccinations you’ve already had . It’s important to be up to date on your routine vaccinations. While diseases like measles are rare in the United States, they are more common in other countries. Learn more about routine vaccines for specific age groups .

How far in advance should I get vaccinated before traveling?

It’s important to get vaccinated at least 4 to 6 weeks before you travel. This will give the vaccines time to start working, so you’re protected while you’re traveling. It will also usually make sure there’s enough time for you to get vaccines that require more than 1 dose.

Where can I go to get travel vaccines?

Start by finding a:

Travel clinic
Health department
Yellow fever vaccination clinic

Learn more about where you can get vaccines .

What resources can I use to prepare for my trip?

Here are some resources that may come in handy as you’re planning your trip:

Visit CDC’s travel website to find out which vaccines you may need based on where you plan to travel, what you’ll be doing, and any health conditions you have.
Download CDC's TravWell app to get recommended vaccines, a checklist to help prepare for travel, and a personalized packing list. You can also use it to store travel documents and keep a record of your medicines and vaccinations.
Read the current travel notices to learn about any new disease outbreaks in or vaccine recommendations for the areas where you plan to travel.
Visit the State Department’s website to learn about vaccinations, insurance, and medical emergencies while traveling.

Traveling with a child? Make sure they get the measles vaccine.

Measles is still common in some countries. Getting your child vaccinated will protect them from getting measles — and from bringing it back to the United States where it can spread to others. Learn more about the measles vaccine.

Find out which vaccines you need

CDC’s Adult Vaccine Quiz helps you create a list of vaccines you may need based on your age, health conditions, and more.

Take the quiz now !

Get Immunized

Getting immunized is easy. Vaccines and preventive antibodies are available at the doctor’s office or pharmacies — and are usually covered by insurance.

Find out how to get protected .

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COVID-19 travel advice

Lower your risk of COVID-19 as you travel for a safe and fun adventure.

Successful travel starts with being prepared for the unexpected. Coronavirus disease 2019, known as COVID-19, is now a part of standard travel planning.

As you choose a destination, travel group or event, add COVID-19 to the list of things to research. When packing for yourself or anyone you're caring for on the trip, consider COVID-19 prevention and testing.

No one wants to plan for the worst. But having a plan in case you catch the COVID-19 virus while traveling can save time if you need medical care.

To start, it can help to ask these basic questions as you make plans.

Am I up to date with my COVID-19 vaccine?

Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccine helps prevent serious illness, the need for hospital care and death due to COVID-19 .

If you need a vaccine, plan to get it at least a few weeks before you travel. Protection from the vaccine isn't immediate.

Am I, a travel companion or a person I live with at high risk of serious COVID-19 illness?

Many people with COVID-19 have no symptoms or mild illness. But for older adults and people of any age with certain medical conditions, COVID-19 can lead to the need for care in the hospital or death.

If you or those around you are at high risk of serious COVID-19 illness, take extra safety measures during or after travel.

Ask a healthcare professional if there are any specific actions you should take.

Does my destination, tour group or event need proof that I had a COVID-19 vaccine? Do I need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test?

The country you travel to may not need to know your COVID-19 status. But you might need the information for other reasons.

Events, venues or tour groups might require proof that you are COVID-19 negative or are up to date on a COVID-19 vaccine. Check before you go so you have all the paperwork you need.

What's the plan if I get COVID-19 on my trip?

No one wants to get sick while traveling. But in case you do, it helps to know where you can get medical care and whether you'll be able to stay apart from others while you have symptoms.

Put together a COVID-19 kit with rapid home tests, masks, a thermometer, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Before you leave, gather health information from your healthcare professional. Make sure it gives the details on any health conditions you're managing and medicine you take.

COVID-19 spread during travel

The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person. When the virus is spreading, spending time indoors with a crowd of people raises your risk of catching it. The risk is higher if the indoor space has poor airflow.

The coronavirus is carried by a person's breath.

The virus spreads when a person with COVID-19 breathes, coughs, sneezes, sings or talks. The droplets or particles the infected person breathes out could possibly be breathed in by other people if they are close together or in areas with low airflow.

The virus carried by a person's breath can land directly on the face of a nearby person, after a sneeze or cough, for example. And people may touch a surface that has respiratory droplets and then touch their faces with hands that have the coronavirus on them.

Clean hands

While you travel, one way to lower your risk of COVID-19 is to clean your hands often.

Wash your hands after using the bathroom, before making food or eating, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. If you touch something that others regularly touch, such as an elevator button or a handrail, make sure to clean your hands afterward.

Also, try to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Wearing a face mask is another way to lower your risk of COVID-19 .

Travel brings people together from areas where viruses may be spreading at higher levels. Masks can help slow the spread of respiratory viruses in general, including the COVID-19 virus.

Masks help the most in places with low airflow and where you are in close contact with other people. Also, masks can help if viruses are spreading at high levels in the places you travel to or through.

Masking is especially important if you or a companion have a high risk of serious COVID-19 illness. Choose the most protective mask that fits well and is comfortable.

Get the COVID-19 vaccine

As the virus that causes COVID-19 changes, COVID-19 vaccines are updated, so stay up to date with the recommended shots.

Know when the COVID-19 virus is spreading in your area

Check with health agencies in the area to see where the COVID-19 virus is spreading. Information about the spread of the virus may include the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 or the number of people who test positive for the disease.

Keep some space around you

Choose outdoor activities and keep some distance between yourself and others. Poor airflow plus lots of people crowded together equals a higher chance you'll come in contact with the virus that causes COVID-19 .

If you can, try to avoid spending time with people who have COVID-19 symptoms or who are sick.

There will likely be times during travel when you don't have a choice about how close you are to others. Here are some tips for air travel, public transportation and lodging.

The risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from air travel is thought to be low.

Air in the plane's cabin changes over quickly during the flight, being replaced every few minutes in some planes. Airplane air also is often filtered. So germs, including viruses, are trapped before they spread.

The air flowing down from vents above the seats in each row may help keep germs from spreading. Seats also may act as a barrier to germ spread on a plane, unless the person who is ill is sitting close to you.

You can help lower your risk by spreading out to keep distance between you and others when you can and cleaning your hands regularly.

Wearing a mask in crowded areas, such as security lines and bathrooms, can help protect you from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Trains, buses and cars

Trains and buses may have good airflow and air filtering. But check before you travel so you know what to expect. When a vehicle is crowded, wear a face mask and take other steps, such as cleaning your hands.

Taxis and private cars used for ride-sharing may not have air filtering. But in most cases, rolling down a window could be an option to improve airflow.

Rental car companies may post their cleaning policies on the internet, or you can ask directly when you book the vehicle.

Hotels and other lodging

Cleaning protocols at hotels, vacation rentals and other lodging have largely returned to the way they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have questions about how hosts or businesses protect guests, contact them directly. In public areas of hotels, take steps to lower your risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 .

Put safety first

Despite your planning, an illness may delay or cancel your trip. Stay home if you or anyone you're traveling with has:

Symptoms of COVID-19 , such as fever or new loss of taste or smell.
Taken a COVID-19 test and is waiting for results.
Been diagnosed with COVID-19 .

Keep watch for serious symptoms of COVID-19 , such as trouble breathing or chest pain. If you or a person you're taking care of has symptoms that worry you, get help.

Once the fever is gone and symptoms are getting better, you may choose to travel. But for about five days after feeling better, you could still give others the virus that causes COVID-19 . Take extra actions to protect the people around you.

Wear a mask.
Keep your distance from others, especially when indoors.
Clean your hands regularly.
Keep the air flowing by turning on fans or opening windows when you can.

If you start to feel worse or your fever comes back, avoid being around others again until you feel better.

Stay flexible

With COVID-19 vaccinations, testing and treatment, events and travel are back to typical levels in many places. But as waves of COVID-19 outbreaks happen, it's important to stay flexible with your plans. Knowing whether the COVID-19 virus is spreading in your area or in places where you're traveling can help you make decisions about whether to go and what to put on your agenda.

Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html. Accessed May 15, 2024.
Understanding how COVID-19 vaccines work. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.html. Accessed May 15, 2024.
People with certain medical conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html. Accessed May 15, 2024.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Travel advice for the general public. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-travel-advice-for-the-general-public. Accessed May 15, 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19. In: CDC Yellow Book 2024. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/infections-diseases/covid-19. Accessed May 15, 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obtaining health care abroad. In: CDC Yellow Book 2024. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/health-care-abroad/health-care-abroad. Accessed May 15, 2024.
Goldman L, et al., eds. COVID-19: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, community prevention, and prognosis. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Elsevier; 2024. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 16, 202.
Taking steps for cleaner air for respiratory virus prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/air-quality.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
How COVID-19 spreads. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
COVID-19 overview and infection prevention and control priorities in non-U.S. healthcare settings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/non-us-settings/overview/index.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
Hygiene and respiratory viruses prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/hygiene.html. Accessed May 14, 2024.
About handwashing. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
Masking during travel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/masks. Accessed May 16, 2024.
Masks and respiratory virus prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/masks.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
How to protect yourself and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
About physical distancing and respiratory viruses. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/physical-distancing.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
How can ventilation reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 on airplanes? World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-travel-advice-for-the-general-public. Accessed May 16, 2024.
Bielecki M, et al. Air travel and COVID-19 prevention in the pandemic and peri-pandemic period: A narrative review. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2021; doi:10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101915.
Symptoms of COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
Preventing spread of respiratory viruses when you're sick. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.

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Fact Sheets

Frequently Asked Questions: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S.

Updated Date: April 21, 2022

Since January 22, 2022, DHS has required non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon request.  On April 21, 2022, DHS announced that it would extend these requirements. In determining whether and when to rescind this order, DHS anticipates that it will take account of whether the vaccination requirement for non-U.S. air travelers remains in place.

These requirements apply to non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for essential or non-essential reasons. They do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.

Effective November 8, 2021, new air travel requirements applied to many noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily. These travelers are also required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. All air travelers, including U.S. persons, must test negative for COVID-19 prior to departure. Limited exceptions apply. See  CDC guidance  for more details regarding air travel requirements.

Below is more information about what to know before you go, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions about cross-border travel.

Entering the U.S. Through a Land Port of Entry or Ferry Terminal

Q. what are the requirements for travelers entering the united states through land poes.

A:  Before embarking on a trip to the United States, non-U.S. travelers should be prepared for the following:

Possess proof of an approved COVID-19 vaccination as outlined on the  CDC  website.
During border inspection, verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status. 
Bring a  Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative  compliant border crossing document, such as a valid passport (and visa if required), Trusted Traveler Program card, a Department of State-issued Border Crossing Card, Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Tribal Card when entering the country. Travelers (including U.S. citizens) should be prepared to present the WHTI-compliant document and any other documents requested by the CBP officer.

 Q. What are the requirements to enter the United States for children under the age of 18 who can't be vaccinated?

A:  Children under 18 years of age are excepted from the vaccination requirement at land and ferry POEs.

Q: Which vaccines/combination of vaccines will be accepted?

A:  Per CDC guidelines, all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and authorized vaccines, as well as all vaccines that have an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO), will be accepted.

Accepted Vaccines:

More details are available in CDC guidance  here .
2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose COVID-19 vaccine;
2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series;
2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial;
2 weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart.

Q. Is the United States requiring travelers to have a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated for border entry purposes?

A:  No. The CDC guidance for “full vaccination” can be found here.

Q: Do U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land POEs and ferry terminals?

A:  No. Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs). Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation.

Q: Is pre- or at-arrival COVID testing required to enter the United States via land POEs or ferry terminals?

A: No, there is no COVID testing requirement to enter the United States via land POE or ferry terminals. In this respect, the requirement for entering by a land POE or ferry terminal differs from arrival via air, where there is a requirement to have a negative test result before departure.

Processing Changes Announced on January 22, 2022 

Q: new changes were recently announced. what changed on january 22.

A:  Since January 22, 2022, non-citizens who are not U.S. nationals or Lawful Permanent Residents have been required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States at land ports of entry and ferry terminals, whether for essential or nonessential purposes. Previously, DHS required that non-U.S. persons be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States for nonessential purposes.  Effective January 22, all non-U.S. individuals, to include essential travelers, must be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request. DHS announced an extension of this policy on April 21, 2022.

Q: Who is affected by the changes announced on January 22?

A: This requirement does not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. It applies to other noncitizens, such as a citizen of Mexico, Canada, or any other country seeking to enter the United States through a land port of entry or ferry terminal.

Q: Do U.S. citizens need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land port of entry or ferry terminals?

A: Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. Citizens, U.S. nationals or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation. 

Q: What is essential travel?

A:  Under the prior policy, there was an exception from temporary travel restrictions for “essential travel.” Essential travel included travel to attend educational institutions, travel to work in the United States, travel for emergency response and public health purposes, and travel for lawful cross-border trade (e.g., commercial truckers). Under current policy, there is no exception for essential travel.

Q: Will there be any exemptions? 

A: While most non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States will need to be vaccinated, there is a narrow list of exemptions consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Order in the air travel context.

Certain categories of individuals on diplomatic or official foreign government travel as specified in the CDC Order
Children under 18 years of age;
Certain participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials as specified in the CDC Order;  
Individuals with medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as specified in the CDC Order;
Individuals issued a humanitarian or emergency exception by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
Individuals with valid nonimmigrant visas (excluding B-1 [business] or B-2 [tourism] visas) who are citizens of a country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability, as specified in the CDC Order
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age) as specified in the CDC Order; and
Individuals whose entry would be in the U.S. national interest, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Q: What documentation will be required to show vaccination status?

A:  Non-U.S. individuals are required to be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request regardless of the purpose of travel.

The current documentation requirement remains the same and is available on the CDC website . Documentation requirements for entry at land ports of entry and ferry terminals mirror those for entry by air.

Q: What happens if someone doesn’t have proof of vaccine status?

A: If non-U.S. individuals cannot present proof of vaccination upon request, they will not be admitted into the United States and will either be subject to removal or be allowed to withdraw their application for entry.

Q: Will incoming travelers be required to present COVID-19 test results?

A: There is no COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers at land border ports of entry, including ferry terminals.

Q: What does this mean for those who can't be vaccinated, either due to age or other health considerations? 

A: See CDC guidance for additional information on this topic. Note that the vaccine requirement does not apply to children under 18 years of age.

Q: Does this requirement apply to amateur and professional athletes?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions.

Q: Are commercial truckers required to be vaccinated?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions. These requirements also apply to bus drivers as well as rail and ferry operators.

Q. Do you expect border wait times to increase?

A:  As travelers navigate these new travel requirements, wait times may increase. Travelers should account for the possibility of longer than normal wait times and lines at U.S. land border crossings when planning their trip and are kindly encouraged to exercise patience.

To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of innovative technology, such as facial biometrics and the CBP OneTM mobile application, which serves as a single portal for individuals to access CBP mobile applications and services.

Q: How is Customs and Border Protection staffing the ports of entry? 

A: CBP’s current staffing levels at ports of entry throughout the United States are commensurate with pre-pandemic levels. CBP has continued to hire and train new employees throughout the pandemic. CBP expects some travelers to be non-compliant with the proof of vaccination requirements, which may at times lead to an increase in border wait times. Although trade and travel facilitation remain a priority, we cannot compromise national security, which is our primary mission. CBP Office of Field Operations will continue to dedicate its finite resources to the processing of arriving traffic with emphasis on trade facilitation to ensure economic recovery.

Q: What happens if a vaccinated individual is traveling with an unvaccinated individual? 

A:  The unvaccinated individual (if 18 or over) would not be eligible for admission.

Q: If I am traveling for an essential reason but am not vaccinated can I still enter?

A:  No, if you are a non-U.S. individual. The policy announced on January 22, 2022 applies to both essential and non-essential travel by non-U.S. individual travelers. Since January 22, DHS has required that all inbound non-U.S. individuals crossing U.S. land or ferry POEs – whether for essential or non-essential reasons – be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request.

Q: Are sea crew members on vessels required to have a COVID vaccine to disembark?

A:  Sea crew members traveling pursuant to a C-1 or D nonimmigrant visa are not excepted from COVID-19 vaccine requirements at the land border. This is a difference from the international air transportation context.

Entering the U.S. via Air Travel

Q: what are the covid vaccination requirements for air passengers to the united states  .

A:  According to CDC requirements [www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html | Link no longer valid], most noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily must be fully vaccinated prior to boarding a flight to the United States. These travelers are required to show proof of vaccination. A list of covered individuals is available on the CDC website. 

Q: What are the COVID testing requirements for air passengers to the United States? 

A:  Effective Sunday, June 12 at 12:01 a.m. ET, CDC will no longer require pre-departure COVID-19 testing for U.S.-bound air travelers.

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Raj Palraj, M.B.B.S., M.D.

Infectious Diseases

9 common questions about vaccines and travel

Immunizations

Person sitting in wooden boat on the water in a tropical location

Travel does more than just transport you to a different place. It can broaden your perspective, increase your happiness, give you a chance to try new things, boost your creativity and help you recharge. Even planning a trip can be an exciting task. The anticipation of mapping an itinerary and scheduling your must-see attractions can bring a lot of joy and happiness.

One of the most important tasks before taking a trip is to make an appointment with a travel medicine specialist. These health care professionals help keep travelers safe and happy before and after their journeys.

Here are answers to common questions about travel medicine:

1. who should make an appointment with a travel medicine specialist.

Anyone planning a trip overseas can benefit from seeing a travel medicine specialist. However, a travel clinic appointment is critical if you are traveling to underdeveloped or developing countries where there's a higher risk of contracting severe communicable illnesses while abroad. It is also important for patients with certain medical conditions that make their immune systems weaker and more vulnerable to infectious diseases.

2. What vaccinations do I need to travel overseas?

All travelers should be vaccinated against the flu and current with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

In addition, it's important to complete the adult vaccination schedule that includes vaccinations for:

Chickenpox (varicella)
Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP)
Pneumococcal
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)

Additional vaccines may be recommended depending on your travel itinerary. For example, hepatitis A vaccination is recommended if you are traveling to Southeast Asia. During your appointment, we can discuss which vaccines are appropriate for your itinerary.

3. Are there travel destinations that have different vaccination recommendations?

Yes. Infectious diseases thrive in different climates. If you travel to a new climate, you may be exposed to diseases to which you don't have any immunity.

Some infections are more prevalent in tropical settings compared to temperate climates. For example, typhoid and hepatitis A are more common in Southeast Asia because these communicable diseases can be spread through contaminated water. Some areas of Africa and South America have a higher prevalence of yellow fever and malaria, which are mosquito-borne infections.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has good information online for travelers for each travel destination.

Recommended vaccines may include:

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Japanese encephalitis
Yellow fever

4. Can my primary care provider give me travel vaccinations?

It depends on your travel destinations and vaccine recommendations. I recommend starting the conversation with your primary care provider and reviewing the CDC recommendations .

If you have a complex itinerary with multiple countries or are traveling to Southeast Asia or Africa, it's better to make an appointment at the travel clinic. I also would recommend patients with organ transplants and immunocompromising conditions seek travel medicine consultation to reduce the risk of illness during travel. During that appointment, we will review your itinerary, provide necessary vaccinations and discuss ways to prevent mosquito-borne or tick-borne diseases.

5. How long before my trip should I go to the travel clinic?

Plan to have an appointment at least four weeks before you travel. Some vaccines require several weeks for immunity to develop, while others require more than one dose of vaccine for full protection.

If your trip is to an underdeveloped or developing country, you may need to schedule an appointment up to two months in advance to receive a complete set of immunizations. This gives your body time to produce the protective antibodies, so you are well protected when you land at your destination.

6. Can I only go to the travel clinic before I travel?

No. The Travel and Tropical Medicine Clinic is available before or after travel. The team can provide consultative services and treatment if you get sick after you return home.

7. I'm going to an all-inclusive resort. Will I have a lower risk of getting sick?

Maybe, but no traveler should take safety for granted. Even in an all-inclusive resort, knowing how food is prepared or the water supply quality is not possible. Mosquitos and other insects could still be a concern. It's important to take all necessary precautions and follow vaccination recommendations when you travel, regardless of your accommodations.

8. How do I lower my risk of malaria when traveling?

Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite. It's spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Prophylactic malaria medications are available and are started before the travel, continued during the stay and for a certain duration after returning home. A travel medicine specialist can review the risks and benefits of all prevention and treatment options.

9. How do I stay healthy while traveling?

Nothing can ruin a trip like illness. Make sure all your vaccinations and boosters are up to date, and get any new vaccinations recommended for your destinations.

Food and water safety is important while traveling. Only eat well-cooked food. Avoid eating from roadside stands and uncooked foods, like salad and raw vegetables. Drink bottled beverages only, including bottled water. This is especially important if you travel in resource-limited regions, such as Southeast Asia or Africa.

Hand hygiene is important at home and overseas. Wash your hands often using soap and hot water. Avoid crowded places, follow respiratory etiquette and consider optional masking. Mosquitos and bugs can transmit parasites and diseases, like yellow fever and malaria. Use mosquito repellents. Mosquito nets may be appropriate in some parts of the world, as well.

As you make travel plans, schedule an appointment with a travel medicine specialist to get the vaccinations and information you need to be healthy and safe on your journey.

Raj Palraj, M.D. , is a physician in Infectious Diseases and Travel and Tropical Medicine in La Crosse , Wisconsin.

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Educating Travelers: Vaccination Resources

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Visit CDC’s Travelers’ Health website for most up-to-date information about recommendations and requirements as well as current disease outbreaks.

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Don't Forget These Vaccines When You Travel

Planning an international winter getaway know which shots—from measles to yellow fever—you may need to protect yourself., sharing is nice.

We respect your privacy . All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story.

If you're planning a winter trip to another country, you may be preoccupied with booking airfare and finding lodging, but certain destinations require an extra step of planning: travel vaccines.

You might be tempted to skip the extra doctor's visit, but don't. Last year saw a record number of measles cases in Europe, and the highly contagious illness has continued to spread across the continent throughout 2019. Yellow fever remains a significant concern in South America, and hepatitis A has doctors everywhere—including in the U.S.—on alert.

You can protect yourself from all three of these illnesses (and more) if you get your shots in time. Here's a quick rundown on the travel vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

According to the CDC , most cases of measles in the U.S. result from international travel, when unvaccinated Americans become infected during visits to other countries, then carry the disease back home.

Measles, one of the most contagious of all infectious diseases, is spread through the cough or sneeze of an infected person. Symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. In rare cases, the disease can cause brain swelling and be fatal.

Measles outbreaks have become increasingly common in the past couple of years in the U.S. and other countries.

Europe is of particular concern for travelers. As CDC researchers noted in a report published in Pediatrics earlier this year, Europe had a record number of cases—more than 41,000, including 37 deaths—between January and June 2018. According to the Pediatrics report, the Ukraine reported the largest number of cases, but France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Serbia, and the Russian Federation also had a high number.

But because Europe, a popular travel destination, isn't one that visitors usually think of as having significant risks of infectious disease, they may not consider the need for vaccinations.

In fact, a recent study in JAMA Pediatrics found that not all children are adequately vaccinated against measles before international travel. (The CDC has special recommendations for measles vaccinations for children going overseas.)

In this study, only about 41 percent of infants and preschool-age children who were eligible for pre-travel measles vaccination actually received it.

And a study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, published in 2017 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that more than half of all U.S. travelers—not just young kids—who were eligible for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine weren't getting it before leaving the country.

The CDC advises anyone who isn't protected against measles, either through vaccination or past infection, to get vaccinated before traveling anywhere overseas.

You'll need to see your doctor at least four to six weeks before you leave. That's because it may take that much time to complete a full course of the vaccine and to give your body time to build up immunity in response to the shot. See the CDC's recommendations for travelers of different ages and Consumer Reports' coverage of when a measles booster is warranted .

Other Routine Shots

Before any international trip, you should make sure you're up to date on all of your routine vaccines, not only measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) but also diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP), varicella (chickenpox), polio, and your yearly flu shot.

Some of these diseases are quite rare in the U.S., thanks to good vaccine coverage of children here. But the CDC says these same diseases can be much more common in other countries, including areas where you wouldn't usually worry about travel-related illnesses. Being current with your routine vaccines will give you the best protection.

Yellow Fever

Yellow fever is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito (the same one that spreads Zika , dengue, and chikungunya). Although the virus was eradicated from much of the world in the mid-1900s, it has re-emerged in recent years in parts of Africa and South America, including, most recently, Brazil .

Brazil has been suffering through a yellow fever outbreak that's one of the largest the world has seen in decades.

"Since early 2018, a number of unvaccinated travelers to Brazil contracted yellow fever," the CDC notes. "Several have died."

According to the CDC , the vaccine that's typically used to prevent the yellow fever virus, known as YF-Vax, is currently unavailable due to production delays . To cover the shortage, the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration have turned to a different yellow fever vaccine known as Stamaril.

This other shot is already approved in more than 70 other countries around the world and is thought to be just as safe and effective as the YF-Vax shot. It's been okayed by the FDA under a special program , but its availability in the U.S. is limited.

If you're traveling to a country where yellow fever is spreading or one that requires all visitors to have a yellow fever shot, be sure to plan ahead. Unlike other travel shots, the yellow fever vaccine is available only at specially designated clinics . Because of the shortage, there will be far fewer clinics than usual.

You definitely don't want to skip this shot. Yellow fever is a serious disease. The CDC estimates that it can be fatal in 15 to 20 percent of cases. Find out where the nearest clinic is ( you can search online here ) and make sure you budget enough time to go.

You should also be sure to apply plenty of insect repellent , which can help protect you from the mosquitoes that spread yellow fever, Zika, and other diseases .

Hepatitis A and B

Hepatitis A is a virus that causes liver disease. It spreads through contaminated food and through physical contact with an infected person, especially if that person doesn't wash his or her hands properly after using the bathroom. It's common among people who travel to developing countries, particularly those who visit rural areas, though it can also be spread in more modern tourist accommodations.

The vaccine to prevent this virus—given in two doses, six months apart—is 100 percent effective, according to the CDC.

Hepatitis B is a different but related virus that passes through blood, semen, and other body fluids. It can disappear after just a few weeks or it can linger for a lifetime, potentially causing liver disease and cancer.

This virus occurs in nearly every part of the world, but it's most common in Asia, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. Travel-related cases are generally rare but can result from unprotected sex, intravenous drug use, and blood transfusions.

The vaccine for hepatitis B is more than 90 percent effective. It's usually given in three doses spread across six months, but ask your doctor for an accelerated schedule if your travel plans require it.

Typhoid fever is a serious disease caused by the bacteria salmonella typhi and is spread through contaminated food and water. In rare cases, it can be fatal. Typhoid is rare in developed countries like the U.S. but common in most of the rest of the world, especially South Asia. The U.S. sees about 300 travel-related cases of typhoid fever every year.

The vaccine for typhoid fever is available as a pill and an injectable. The pill contains live but weakened bacteria and is given in four doses: One capsule is taken every other day for a week. The injectable contains killed bacteria and is given in one dose. Get the injectable at least two weeks before traveling and complete the oral vaccine at least 10 days before.

The CDC concedes that the typhoid vaccine in any form is only about 50 to 80 percent effective. You should still get it before traveling to an endemic region. But you should also take basic precautions with the food you eat while traveling, sticking to bottled water in places where the tap water is questionable, for example.

Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that spreads through the saliva of infected animals. The most common sources of human infection are licks, bites, and scratches from infected dogs. But bats, foxes, raccoons, and mongooses have also been known to pass the disease to humans. Prevention of this disease is especially important because once contracted, it's almost always fatal.

Rabies is found all over the world except in Antarctica. In most developed countries, including the U.S., the risk of human infection is low because the virus is rare in domestic animals. But in much of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, rabies in dogs is still a problem.

If you're traveling to a country where the virus is prevalent in dogs, or if your itinerary will bring you into contact with wild animals like bats and other carnivores, you should consider getting a rabies shot before you travel. It's given in three doses over three weeks.

It's important to note that even if you've had your rabies shots, you should still seek immediate medical treatment if you're bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling. You can't be too careful when it comes to rabies prevention.

There's no vaccine available against malaria, but it's still crucial to plan ahead if you're going to a region where malaria is common. You can take prophylactic medications that will reduce your risk of developing malaria if you're bitten by an infected mosquito.

The recommendations vary depending on what country you're visiting, what time of year you're going, and whether the mosquitoes in your destination have developed resistance to certain antimalarial drugs.

The CDC offers this chart of every country and specific recommendations for preventing malaria in different destinations.

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The Latest Rules on COVID-19 Vaccines and Travel

Proof of vaccination can be as important as your passport.

QR code for verification of immunization after COVID-19 vaccination, passport, facial protective mask on blue background

Sheryl Jean,

Just as people began to resume travel, the super-contagious omicron variant has caused a surge in COVID-19 cases.

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As a result, travelers face renewed restrictions and a doubling down on precautions to reduce the risk of infection.

But while vacation planning was more or less put on hold in the early days of the pandemic, COVID fatigue and a greater sense of security among the vaccinated have made many Americans determined to return to activities that bring meaning and pleasure to their lives. “As we enter year three, people don’t want to miss out on the things that are so important in life, and one of those things is travel,” says Scott Keyes, founder of Scott’s Cheap Flights email subscription service. “People want to have something to look forward to again.”

These days, though, your COVID-19 vaccination status will affect where you can go in the world — and what's safe to do. Keyes and other experts answer some key questions about vaccines and travel.

Do you need to be vaccinated to travel within the U.S.?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends delaying travel until you’re fully vaccinated (two weeks after receiving the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines) to protect yourself from getting COVID-19 and spreading it. Consult your doctor before travel if you have a serious health issue or a weak immune system. (You also shouldn’t travel if you feel sick, tested positive for COVID, are awaiting COVID-19 test results or have been exposed to someone with the virus.)

Hawaii is currently the only state that requires visitors to show proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID test to avoid mandatory quarantine. Travelers must create an online account to enter trip information and upload vaccination or testing data.

Some big cities, including Washington , Chicago, Minneapolis, New York and San Francisco , require people to show proof of vaccination to eat inside a restaurant and attend a concert.

Do you need to be fully vaccinated to cruise?

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Basically, yes. Since most cruises resumed in spring 2021 or later, all major cruise lines require passengers to be fully vaccinated, with few exceptions, but mandates vary by company, ship and destination. In addition, cruisers may need to show proof of full vaccination in the countries they visit or certain onshore venues, including museums and restaurants.

But note that the CDC has advised travelers against taking U.S. or international cruises, even those who are fully vaccinated and have a booster. On Dec. 30 it raised its warning level for cruising to its level 4, or “do not travel,” category, due to an increase in COVID-19 cases aboard ships. Almost all ships have reported cases of COVID onboard (indicated within a color-coded chart on the CDC site).

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Do you need a COVID-19 booster shot to travel?

Most travel does not require a COVID-19 booster , though that may be changing. The governor of Hawaii recently said that state soon may require travelers from other U.S. states and territories to have a booster shot in addition to being fully vaccinated.

And Spain has just announced that starting Feb. 1, it will require all U.S. travelers to prove they’ve been fully vaccinated at least 14 days before their departure to Spain, plus proof of a booster if their final vaccine was more than 270 days earlier.

The CDC recommends that everyone, including people who already have had COVID-19, get a booster shot when eligible in order to travel. A booster may take one to two weeks to reach peak protection.

What are the COVID-19 vaccination rules for international travel?

You can travel internationally if you’re fully vaccinated, according to the CDC, but expect to face various vaccination, testing or quarantine requirements throughout the world.

In France, for instance, you need to be fully vaccinated and offer proof of a negative COVID test. Officials will scan your vaccination data to create a digital health passport with a QR code, which you’ll need to go into any restaurant or museum in France. In Greece, you don’t need to show proof of vaccination to enter the country, but you will need to do so to enter public spaces like restaurants.

Meanwhile, the CDC advises against travel to both countries (among many around the world), due to high COVID-19 rates, regardless of your vaccination status.

That means travel to other countries requires careful planning, and staying up to date on the latest requirements, says Keyes. “There’s not only more bureaucracy and documentation involved, but changing guidance — and changing pretty frequently.”

Online resources to consult while planning international travel include:

The CDC map of COVID-19 risk levels, travel recommendations and restrictions by destination.
The website of the U.S. Embassy in your destination country. The U.S. State Department lists U.S. embassies by country at usembassy.gov , and provides a map with country-specific information on COVID-19 restrictions, requirements and risk levels (which are sometimes higher than the CDC’s risk assessments, often due to factors other than COVID).
Your destination’s official government or tourism board website.
Your airline’s website, which should have information about flight requirements and may provide information about the country you plan to visit.

Should you carry your paper vaccination card?

Some travel providers or venues may require your original CDC-labeled paper vaccination card, but many places will accept a digital image (meaning you can just keep a photo of the card on your smartphone).

There is no national registry for electronic health records, but some states, including California and New York, offer digital health passports to help people manage their COVID-19 data. If you received a vaccination outside your home state, it may be difficult to get a digital passport because each state registry is different.

Some private organizations also offer digital health passports or mobile apps. Apple’s Health app, for example, lets you upload your COVID-19 vaccination record and display it in its Wallet app.

The International Airline Travel Association is testing the IATA Travel Pass with more than 50 global airlines, including AeroMexico and Qantas, to store and manage COVID-19 vaccine and other information. The mobile app is free for passengers to use if their airline is part of the pilot program. Many airlines offer similar online tools for their passengers.

What should you do if you lose your vaccination card?

If you carry around your original vaccination card, you risk losing or damaging it. The CDC recommends photographing your card as backup.

If you need a new one , contact your state health department for a replacement, suggests Vicki Sowards, director of clinical resources for Phoenix-based Passport Health, which provides travel medicine and immunizations at more than 270 clinics across North America. You also can contact the site where you received your vaccine.

Once fully vaccinated, can you travel like you did before the pandemic?

No, experts say, because of the various regulations and guidance that’s constantly changing.

It’s still important to wear a face mask, wash your hands frequently, practice social distancing and take other precautions, Sowards says. Masks are still required on public transportation, including airplanes and trains, and inside travel hubs, like airports.

“There’s risk and you have to assess the degree of risk you’re willing to take,” says Abinash Virk, M.D., an infectious disease and travel expert for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “There are people who want zero risk, so they stay home and limit their activities.” But if you’re fully vaccinated, have received the booster and follow CDC guidance, he adds, your risk of contracting COVID-19 (particularly a life-threatening case of it) is relatively low.

Sheryl Jean is a contributing writer who covers aging, business, technology, travel, health and human-interest stories. A former reporter for several daily metropolitan newspapers, her work also has appeared in the Chicago Tribune and The Dallas Morning News and on the American Heart Association's website.

COVID-19 international travel advisories

Visitors to the U.S. do not need to be tested or vaccinated for COVID-19. U.S. citizens going abroad, check Department of State travel advisories for the country you will visit.

COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S.

You do not need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or take a COVID-19 test to enter the U.S. This applies to U.S. citizens and non-citizens.

U.S. citizens traveling to a country outside the U.S.

Find country-specific travel advisories, including COVID-19 restrictions, from the Department of State.

See the CDC's COVID-19 guidance for safer international travel to learn:

If you can travel if you recently had COVID-19
What you can do to help prevent COVID-19

LAST UPDATED: May 31, 2024

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Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

Booster Shots: Pre-Travel Essential Or Excessive?

Last updated Aug 08, 2024
Difficulty Beginner

Category Travel

Vaccinations are an important part of staying healthy while travelling. While some vaccines are routine, others are dependent on your destination and activities. For example, the yellow fever vaccine is the only travel vaccine required in certain regions of the world, specifically in parts of Central Africa and South America. The CDC recommends referring to their travel health page to determine which vaccines are important based on your destination. It is also important to consider where you are staying, how long you are staying, the season in which you are travelling, and what types of food you plan to eat. In addition to these place-based factors, your health status is also important to consider when determining which vaccines to get before travelling. For example, those with a weak immune system may not be able to receive certain live vaccines.

What You'll Learn

Where can i get a booster shot, how much time should i allow before travelling, what are the side effects of a booster shot, how effective are booster shots, how often should i get a booster shot.

If you are wondering where you can get a booster shot, there are several options available to you. Many pharmacies, health clinics, and doctors' offices offer COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. You can use the federal government's website, Vaccines.gov, to search for vaccination sites by entering your ZIP code. Alternatively, you can text your ZIP code to 438829 or call 800-232-0233 to get the same information. If you have a primary care physician, you can also check with their office to see if they are offering COVID-19 vaccinations. For veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs provides COVID-19 vaccinations at VA facilities. You can sign up online or by calling 800-827-1000 to make an appointment.

Additionally, each state has its own resources for finding vaccine locations. For example, in Washington, you can find vaccine locations through the Washington State Department of Health's website, by calling 800-525-0127, or by emailing [email protected] . They also offer a mobile health program called Care-a-Van, which provides free COVID-19 vaccines to those 18 and younger through the Childhood Vaccine Program.

Home Testing: Travel-Ready or Not?

You may want to see also

When planning your travels, it is important to consider your health and how you can stay safe while abroad. Depending on your destination, you may need to get vaccinated against certain illnesses. Staying up to date with your routine vaccinations is crucial, and you should also research any travel vaccines that may be required.

It is recommended that you start thinking about travel health at least one month before you leave. However, if you haven't had any routine vaccines in the past, you may need to allow for more time as it takes time for your body to build immunity after being vaccinated.

Yellow fever vaccine: This must be completed at least 10 days before travel and provides lifelong protection for most people.
Typhoid vaccine (shot): Get this vaccine at least two weeks before travelling, and remember that you'll need a booster every two years if you continue to travel to areas where typhoid is a risk.
Typhoid vaccine (oral capsule): This vaccine, Vivotif, is taken in four separate doses, with the last dose taken at least one week before travel. Boosters are needed every five years.
Hepatitis A vaccine: This vaccine is given as two injections at least six months apart. If you don't have time for the second shot before travelling, the first shot will still provide partial protection.
MMR vaccine: This routine vaccine for children can be given to adults and teens who haven't been vaccinated before. Two doses should be administered at least 28 days apart.

Additionally, if you are planning to get a COVID-19 booster shot before travelling, the CDC recommends getting the updated booster at least two months after your second primary vaccine shot or after receiving a previous booster.

Remember to always consult with your healthcare provider or local pharmacy to determine which vaccines are necessary for your specific travel plans and to receive guidance on the timing of your vaccinations.

Travel Tips: Kyoto to Shirakawa-go

Like all medicines, the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines can cause side effects. It is normal to experience side effects after a vaccine, as it shows that your body's immune system is learning how to protect itself from the disease. However, not everyone gets side effects, and most side effects are mild and normally last only a day or two.

Very Common Side Effects

Very common side effects in the first day or two include:

Pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site
Muscle pain

Uncommon Side Effects

An uncommon side effect is swollen glands in the armpit or neck, on the same side as the arm where you received the vaccine. This can last for around 10 days. If it lasts longer, speak to your healthcare professional.

Very Rare Side Effects

Cases of inflammation of the heart (myocarditis or pericarditis) have been reported very rarely after the coronavirus vaccine, mostly in younger men and within several days of vaccination. If you experience feelings of a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart after vaccination, seek medical advice urgently.

Maintaining Your Progress: Tips for Keeping Your Gains While Traveling

Booster shots are effective in preventing severe cases of COVID-19, lowering the chances of hospitalisation and death. A study of over 78,000 urgent care and emergency department visits and 15,500 hospitalisations found that boosted individuals who contracted COVID-19 were 56% less likely to require emergency care and 57% less likely to be hospitalised.

The effectiveness of boosters does wane over time. A CDC study found that the vaccine effectiveness of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine decreased to about 43% two to four months after vaccination. However, the vaccines continue to provide some protection over time. The CDC also found that, in September 2023, making its vaccine recommendation universal could prevent 400,000 hospitalisations and 40,000 deaths in the US over the next two years.

The updated COVID-19 vaccines are expected to protect against recent strains of the virus, including the XBB.1.5 subvariant of Omicron and the current dominant strain in the US, JN.1. While the vaccines are not expected to prevent all cases of COVID-19, they aim to reduce severe illness, hospitalisation, and death from infection.

The CDC recommends that people who are 65 or older receive their second dose of the updated vaccine at least four months after the first dose. Those who are immunocompromised should get the additional dose earlier—at least two months after the first one.

Exploring the Guidelines: Travelling to America with a DUI

The frequency with which you should get a booster shot depends on the type of vaccine and your age group. For example, if you are a healthy adult, the CDC recommends getting the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster at least two months after your second primary vaccine shot or after receiving a previous booster. These are known as bivalent boosters, which work against both the original strain of the virus and the original Omicron variant.

The Novavax booster can be taken at least two months after the second primary vaccine shot. If the Pfizer or Moderna booster is unavailable, you can get a Novavax monovalent booster if you finished your primary vaccine series more than six months ago and haven't received any other boosters.

For the Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine, which is only approved for those aged 18 and older, you can get the updated booster made by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna at least two months after your primary vaccine shot.

Additionally, the specific booster you need may depend on your travel destination. For instance, the yellow fever vaccine is required for certain regions of Central Africa and South America, and it offers lifelong protection for most people. In contrast, typhoid vaccine boosters are recommended every 2 to 5 years.

It's important to consult official guidelines and healthcare professionals for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding booster shots, especially as recommendations may change over time.

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My bags were packed, then I got COVID. What should I do? Travel options to weigh.

I just tested positive for COVID-19. Should I travel anyway?

Variations of that question are spiking on Google Search ( as we experience a significant surge in both summer travel and new coronavirus cases.

If you travel for work or pleasure and haven’t yet dealt with the question of whether to fly with COVID-19, chances are at some point you will.

President Joe Biden just tested positive while campaigning in Las Vegas. Several Tour de France riders are also dealing with the latest bout of COVID-19. And I picked it up earlier this month during a recent cross-country trip, testing positive just two days before I was supposed to fly to Alaska to help my parents − ages 79 and 85 − move out of their recently sold family home.

Ethically, I didn’t feel right about getting on a plane knowing I had COVID-19 and certainly couldn’t show up to my parent's house with the virus. But the last-second scramble to rebook the trip, with our dog, my husband, and my parents still needing my help, was super-stressful.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Should I fly if I just tested positive for COVID?

Technically, you can fly sick − no one is going to stop you at the gate and swab your nose − but you shouldn’t.

Just because the airlines no longer require you to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test ahead of your international flight, as they sometimes did during the earlier years of the pandemic, doesn’t mean travel should be a germ free-for-all.

“I suggest that you not fly,” Vicki Sowards, director of nursing resources at Passport Health, wrote via email. “You can expose the other travelers on your flight, and the process of traveling can contribute to fatigue and an increase in symptoms.”

If you know you have COVID-19, or think you might, you should not get on a plane, according to health experts, the CDC , and everyone who weighed in on my social media pages this past week.

“Should you travel if you have COVID? Absolutely not. Other people are immunocompromised, so essentially, you could kill innocent people,” says 56-year-old Nick Longo from Corpus Christi, Texas. Longo travels outside America “at least once a year” and flies within the U.S. frequently. “Do I think a lot of people are flying with it right now? Yes. People who don't care about others are (flying).That's why it spread.”

Mike Hensley, 54, of Northern California, agrees.

“It's a simple answer,'' he wrote. "No. You should not travel. That's how viruses spread quickly. But yes, I am sure people are traveling while positive because they think it's a seasonal allergy or cold, have convinced themselves they don't feel that bad, or are already on the upswing (and don't know/care about how viruses work) or are simply just selfish and don't care about the people they are exposing.”

I’ve been on a dozen planes over the past few months, and anecdotally, it’s true that a lot of people are sniffling, sneezing and coughing − with nary a mask in sight.

Another traveler told me she knew three people who flew to Europe from California even though they had COVID-19. She and her parents, on the other hand, changed their travel plans last month when they came down with the virus, delaying their flight until they had tested negative for three days.

Should I wear a mask on the plane?

The CDC , World Health Organization , Mayo Clinic and many other medical professionals agree masks help lower the risk of respiratory virus transmission, especially in tight quarters, like planes, trains, buses and automobiles. Officials say N95 masks are the most effective.

Anecdotally, there seems to be a lot of people choosing to fly unmasked − either knowing they have COVID-19 or not testing to find out when they have symptoms. There’s no doubt people are tired of masks and the pandemic, and many are likely treating COVID-19 like the seasonal flu or a cold − something they’ll just have to deal with when they get it.

Some people even wrote on my social media pages that when it comes to travel, they are not concerned about passing the virus on to others because they feel it's a risk people knowingly take when they get on a plane these days.

That last sentiment struck a nerve with me because I suspect that's how I contracted COVID-19 two Julys in a row, right after cross-country work trips that coincided with peak summer travel and virus spikes.

What should you do if you are COVID-positive right before a planned trip?

Even though I’m vaccinated and received my last booster in December 2023, I have some risk factors and got so sick from COVID-19 last summer that I couldn’t do much of anything for about two weeks.

I initially thought I was experiencing seasonal allergies and waited a few days before testing. By the time I did, I was already pretty sick. I had extreme headaches, head and chest congestion, muscle aches and fatigue, and I lost my sense of taste and smell for almost two months.

This summer was different. Even though I barely had a tickle in the back of my throat, I was tired and achy and knew something was off, so I took a test right away. When it came back positive, I started on Paxlovid immediately and pushed the trip to Alaska back.

I didn’t fly until my test was negative, and I still wore a mask the entire time I was on the plane. (I didn’t eat or drink the entire flight.) I will continue to wear one indoors until every last symptom (I still have slight sniffles) goes away, even though I’ve now met the latest guidelines of having two negative tests 48 hours apart. It’s not worth the risk of getting my parents − or anyone else − sick.

I admit, I’ve gotten much more lax about masking up on planes this past year. I often feel a little self-conscious being one of the only people wearing one, but getting sick isn’t worth it. I plan to wear one on all upcoming flights.

What are the latest CDC guidelines?

I have several friends who, as long as they are feeling well enough, are expected to put on a mask and go back into the office for work, even with COVID-19. What exactly are the rules now?

The latest CDC guidelines , updated in March, say you can go back to your normal activities if you meet two requirements:

You have been fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications) .
Your symptoms are improving overall.

You might still be contagious, however, and the CDC recommends that for at least five days after resuming your routine, you:

Wash your hands frequently.
Practice physical distancing (especially from people with risk factors from respiratory illness).
Take additional steps for cleaner air .

In addition to the CDC guidelines, the FDA recommends “2 negative antigen tests for individuals with symptoms or three antigen tests for those without symptoms, performed 48 hours apart” before you go back to being around people.

Travel insurance: What are the most affordable options?

What if I can’t afford to quarantine or be sick away from home?

The costs of flight changes, extended stays, and even additional time away from work add up. Does that mean you should stop traveling? No, but you should have a COVID-19 plan that protects others, Richard Martinello , medical director of infection prevention at Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut, told Outside Magazine recently.

Martinello urges people to consider the moral and ethical ramifications of putting other people in harm’s way, “like not drunk driving,” he said. “Putting yourself in prolonged close contact with fellow travelers when you are knowingly sick, whether with COVID or any other contagious virus, is irresponsible. You never know who you’re sitting next to on a plane. If they’re immune-compromised, even a cold could push them over the edge to serious illness.”

Be sure to check your airline’s COVID-19 policies before you buy your ticket. Many still waive change fees for travelers who need to reschedule because they have the virus. For even more protection, book a ticket that can be changed or credited if you have to cancel your flight, and look into travel insurance .

I almost always fly Alaska Airlines and usually pay a little extra to make my trip 100% refundable, no matter what. I didn’t do that for this latest flight (to save $280 for my husband and me) and ended up paying one $37 change fee for the difference in ticket prices between the day I was supposed to fly and the day I did. Many airlines will also give you full credit for a future flight if you have to cancel because of illness.

How can I stay safe while traveling?

Passport Health’s Vicki Sowards says being prepared is vital. She urges travelers to get vaccinations like COVID-19 boosters before travel and pack a first aid kit, including any medications they use when they’re ill.

“You want optimal health when going on the ‘trip of a lifetime,’” she said. Because COVID-19 spreads through airborne particles and droplets, “take a mask and sanitizer on the plane, just in case you have a seatmate or other traveler close by who is coughing and appears to be ill. Use hand sanitizer before eating or when you know you will be touching your face.”

Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech columnist and on-air correspondent. The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected] .

Attacks on Walz’s Military Record

By Robert Farley , D'Angelo Gore and Eugene Kiely

Posted on August 8, 2024 | Updated on August 12, 2024 | Corrected on August 9, 2024

Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino .

In introducing her pick for vice presidential running mate, Kamala Harris has prominently touted Tim Walz’s 24 years of service in the Army National Guard. Now, however, GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance and the Trump campaign are attacking Walz on his military record, accusing the Minnesota governor of “stolen valor.”

We’ll sort through the facts surrounding the three main attacks on Walz’s military record and let readers decide their merit. The claims include:

Vance claimed that Walz “dropped out” of the National Guard when he learned his battalion was slated to be deployed to Iraq. Walz retired to focus on a run for Congress two months before his unit got official word of impending deployment, though the possibility had been rumored for months.
Vance also accused Walz of having once claimed to have served in combat, when he did not. While advocating a ban on assault-style weapons, Walz said, “We can make sure that those weapons of war that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at.” Update, Aug. 12: The Harris campaign says that Walz “misspoke.”
The Republican National Committee has criticized Walz for misrepresenting his military rank in campaign materials. The Harris campaign website salutes Walz for “rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major.” Walz did rise to that rank, but he retired as a master sergeant because he had not completed the requirements of a command sergeant major.

A native of West Point, Nebraska, Walz joined the Nebraska Army National Guard in April 1981, two days after his 17th birthday. When Walz and his wife moved to Minnesota in 1996, he transferred to the Minnesota National Guard, where he served in 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery.

“While serving in Minnesota, his military occupational specialties were 13B – a cannon crewmember who operates and maintains cannons and 13Z -field artillery senior sergeant,” according to a statement released by Army Lt. Col. Kristen Augé, the Minnesota National Guard’s state public affairs officer.

According to MPR News , Walz suffered some hearing impairment related to exposure to cannon booms during training over the years, and he underwent some corrective surgery to address it.

On Aug. 3, 2003, “Walz mobilized with the Minnesota National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery … to support Operation Enduring Freedom. The battalion supported security missions at various locations in Europe and Turkey. Governor Walz was stationed at Vicenza, Italy, during his deployment,” Augé stated. The deployment lasted about eight months.

“For 24 years I proudly wore the uniform of this nation,” Walz said at a rally in Philadelphia where he was announced as Harris’ running mate on Aug. 6. “The National Guard gave me purpose. It gave me the strength of a shared commitment to something greater than ourselves.”

Walz’s Retirement from the National Guard

In recent years, however, several of his fellow guard members have taken issue with the timing of Walz’s retirement from the National Guard in May 2005, claiming he left to avoid a deployment to Iraq.

Vance, who served a four-year active duty enlistment in the Marine Corps as a combat correspondent, serving in Iraq for six months in 2005, advanced that argument at a campaign event on Aug. 7.

“When the United States of America asked me to go to Iraq to serve my country, I did it,” Vance said. “When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him, a fact that he’s been criticized for aggressively by a lot of the people that he served with. I think it’s shameful to prepare your unit to go to Iraq, to make a promise that you’re going to follow through and then to drop out right before you actually have to go.”

In early 2005, Walz, then a high school geography teacher and football coach at Mankato West High School, decided to run for public office. In a 2009 interview Walz provided as part of the Library of Congress’ veterans oral history project, Walz said he made the decision to retire from the National Guard to “focus full time” on a run for the U.S. House of Representatives for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District (which he ultimately won in 2006). Walz said he was “really concerned” about trying to seek public office and serve in the National Guard at the same time without running afoul of the Hatch Act , which limits political speech by federal employees, including members of the National Guard.

Federal Election Commission records show that Walz filed to run for Congress on Feb. 10, 2005.

On March 20, 2005, Walz’s campaign put out a press release titled “Walz Still Planning to Run for Congress Despite Possible Call to Duty in Iraq.”

Three days prior, the release said, “the National Guard Public Affairs Office announced a possible partial mobilization of roughly 2,000 troops from the Minnesota National Guard. … The announcement from the National Guard PAO specified that all or a portion of Walz’s battalion could be mobilized to serve in Iraq within the next two years.”

According to the release, “When asked about his possible deployment to Iraq Walz said, ‘I do not yet know if my artillery unit will be part of this mobilization and I am unable to comment further on specifics of the deployment.’ Although his tour of duty in Iraq might coincide with his campaign for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional seat, Walz is determined to stay in the race. ‘As Command Sergeant Major I have a responsibility not only to ready my battalion for Iraq, but also to serve if called on. I am dedicated to serving my country to the best of my ability, whether that is in Washington DC or in Iraq.'”

On March 23, 2005, the Pipestone County Star reported, “Detachments of the Minnesota National Guard have been ‘alerted’ of possible deployment to Iraq in mid-to-late 2006.”

“Major Kevin Olson of the Minnesota National Guard said a brigade-sized contingent of soldiers could be expected to be called to Iraq, but he was not, at this time, aware of which batteries would be called,” the story said. “All soldiers in the First Brigade combat team of the 34th Division, Minnesota National Guard, could be eligible for call-up. ‘We don’t know yet what the force is like’ he said. ‘It’s too early to speculate, if the (soldiers) do go.’

“He added: ‘We will have a major announcement if and when the alert order moves ahead.’”

ABC News spoke to Joseph Eustice, a retired command sergeant major who served with Walz, and he told the news organization this week that “he remembers Walz struggling with the timing of wanting to serve as a lawmaker but also avoiding asking for a deferment so he could do so.”

“He had a window of time,” Eustice told ABC News. “He had to decide. And in his deciding, we were not on notice to be deployed. There were rumors. There were lots of rumors, and we didn’t know where we were going until it was later that, early summer, I believe.”

Al Bonnifield, who served under Walz, also recalled Walz agonizing over the decision.

“It was a very long conversation behind closed doors,” Bonnifield told the Washington Post this week. “He was trying to decide where he could do better for soldiers, for veterans, for the country. He weighed that for a long time.”

In 2018, Bonnifield told MPR News that Walz worried in early 2005, “Would the soldier look down on him because he didn’t go with us? Would the common soldier say, ‘Hey, he didn’t go with us, he’s trying to skip out on a deployment?’ And he wasn’t. He talked with us for quite a while on that subject. He weighed that decision to run for Congress very heavy. He loved the military, he loved the guard, he loved the soldiers he worked with.”

But not all of Walz’s fellow Guard members felt that way.

In a paid letter to the West Central Tribune in Minnesota in November 2018, Thomas Behrends and Paul Herr — both retired command sergeants major in the Minnesota National Guard — wrote, “On May 16th, 2005 he [Walz] quit, leaving the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion and its Soldiers hanging; without its senior Non-Commissioned Officer, as the battalion prepared for war. His excuse to other leaders was that he needed to retire in order to run for congress. Which is false, according to a Department of Defense Directive, he could have run and requested permission from the Secretary of Defense before entering active duty; as many reservists have.”

“For Tim Walz to abandon his fellow soldiers and quit when they needed experienced leadership most is disheartening,” they wrote. “When the nation called, he quit.”

Walz retired on May 16, 2005. Walz’s brigade received alert orders for mobilization on July 14, 2005, according to the National Guard and MPR News . The official mobilization report came the following month, and the unit mobilized and trained through the fall. It was finally deployed to Iraq in the spring of 2006.

The unit was originally scheduled to return in February 2007, but its tour was extended four months as part of President George W. Bush’s “surge” strategy , the National Guard reported. In all, the soldiers were mobilized for 22 months.

Responding to Vance’s claim that Walz retired to avoid deploying to Iraq, the Harris-Walz campaign released a statement saying, “After 24 years of military service, Governor Walz retired in 2005 and ran for Congress, where he was a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform – and as Vice President of the United States he will continue to be a relentless champion for our veterans and military families.”

Walz on Carrying a Weapon ‘in War’

Vance also called Walz “dishonest” for a claim that Walz made in 2018 while speaking to a group about gun control.

“He made this interesting comment that the Kamala Harris campaign put out there,” Vance said, referring to a video of Walz that the Harris campaign posted to X on Aug. 6. “He said, ‘We shouldn’t allow weapons that I used in war to be on America’s streets.’ Well, I wonder, Tim Walz, when were you ever in war? What was this weapon that you carried into war given that you abandoned your unit right before they went to Iraq and he has not spent a day in a combat zone.”

In the video , Walz, who was campaigning for governor at the time, talked about pushing back on the National Rifle Association and said: “I spent 25 years in the Army and I hunt. … I’ve been voting for common sense legislation that protects the Second Amendment, but we can do background checks. We can do [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] research. We can make sure we don’t have reciprocal carry among states. And we can make sure that those weapons of war that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at.”

But, as Vance indicated, there is no evidence that Walz carried a weapon “in war.”

Update, Aug. 12: In an Aug. 10 statement to CNN, the Harris campaign told CNN that Walz “misspoke.”

“In making the case for why weapons of war should never be on our streets or in our classrooms, the Governor misspoke,” campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt said in the statement. “He did handle weapons of war and believes strongly that only military members trained to carry those deadly weapons should have access to them.”

As we said, Augé, in her statement, said Walz’s battalion deployed “to support Operation Enduring Freedom” on Aug. 3, 2003, and “supported security missions at various locations in Europe and Turkey.” During his deployment, Walz was stationed in Vicenza, Italy, and he returned to Minnesota in April 2004, Augé said. There was no mention of Walz serving in Afghanistan, Iraq or another combat zone.

In the 2009 interview for the veterans history project, Walz said he and members of his battalion initially thought they would “shoot artillery in Afghanistan,” as they had trained to do. That didn’t happen, he said, explaining that his group ended up helping with security and training while stationed at an Army base in Vicenza.

“I think in the beginning, many of my troops were disappointed,” Walz said in the interview. “I think they felt a little guilty, many of them, that they weren’t in the fight up front as this was happening.”

In an Aug. 8 statement addressing his claim about carrying weapons “in war,” the Harris campaign noted that Walz, whose military occupational specialties included field artillery senior sergeant, “fired and trained others to use weapons of war innumerable times” in his 24 years of service.

Walz’s National Guard Rank

The Republican National Committee has criticized Walz for saying “in campaign materials that he is a former ‘Command Sergeant Major’ in the Army National Guard despite not completing the requirements to hold the rank into retirement.”

Walz’s biography on the Harris campaign website correctly says that the governor “served for 24 years” in the National Guard, “rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major.”

Walz’s official biography on the Minnesota state website goes further, referring to the governor as “Command Sergeant Major Walz.”

“After 24 years in the Army National Guard, Command Sergeant Major Walz retired from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in 2005,” the state website says.

Walz did serve as command sergeant major , but Walz did not complete the requirements to retire with the rank of command sergeant, Augé told us in an email.

“He held multiple positions within field artillery such as firing battery chief, operations sergeant, first sergeant, and culminated his career serving as the command sergeant major for the battalion,” Augé said. “He retired as a master sergeant in 2005 for benefit purposes because he did not complete additional coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.”

This isn’t the first time that Walz’s National Guard rank has come up in a campaign.

In their 2018 paid letter to the West Central Tribune, when Walz was running for governor, the two Minnesota National Guard retired command sergeants major who criticized Walz for retiring before the Iraq deployment also wrote: “Yes, he served at that rank, but was never qualified at that rank, and will receive retirement benefits at one rank below. You be the judge.”

Correction, Aug. 9: We mistakenly said a 2007 “surge” strategy in Iraq occurred under President Barack Obama. It was President George W. Bush.

Editor’s note: In the interest of full disclosure, Harris campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt was an undergraduate intern at FactCheck.org from 2010 to 2011.

Editor’s note: FactCheck.org does not accept advertising. We rely on grants and individual donations from people like you. Please consider a donation. Credit card donations may be made through our “Donate” page . If you prefer to give by check, send to: FactCheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 202 S. 36th St., Philadelphia, PA 19104.

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Safety & Availability (Biologics)

Important Information for Human Cell, Tissue, and Cellular and Tissue-based Product (HCT/P) Establishments Regarding the Recall of Certain Saline and Sterile Water Medical Products by Nurse Assist

April 26, 2024.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising establishments that manufacture human cells, tissues and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps) about a recall of products that may have been used in manufacturing HCT/Ps. FDA is posting this information in response to questions from manufacturers about the recall.

Summary of the Issue

On November 6, 2023, Nurse Assist, LLC announced a recall of the following water-based medical products because the products may not be sterile and may potentially be contaminated with bacteria which could cause serious or life-threatening infections:

0.9% Sodium Chloride Irrigation USP (100 mL bottles, 250 mL bottles, 500 mL bottles, 1000 mL bottles, 3.1oz spray can, 7.1oz spray can, 3 mL syringes, 5 mL syringes, and 10mL syringes);
Sterile Water for Irrigation USP (100 mL bottles, 250 mL bottles, 500 mL bottles, 1000 mL bottles, 120 mL cups, 10 mL syringes, and 30 mL syringes).

These products were sold under the following brands: Nurse Assist, Cardinal, Covidien, Halyard Owens Minor, Idexx, Mac Medical, McKesson, Medichoice Owens Minor, Medline, Sol, SteriCare, Trudell, and Vyaire. The recalled products may be available as individual units or may be included as part of a kit.

Refer to the Nurse Assist, LLC recall announcement for the list of products.

Considerations for Manufacturers of HCT/Ps

Check your supply of saline (0.9% sodium chloride) and sterile water medical products to determine whether you have any of the recalled products in your inventory.
Do not use these recalled products and follow the recommendations in the company’s recall announcement .
Be aware that these recalled products may be available as individual units or may be included as part of a kit.
If you have questions about this recall, contact Nurse Assist, LLC by phone at 800-649-6800 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm (CST) or by e-mail at [email protected] .

Risk Mitigation Strategies

HCT/P establishments must recover, process, store, label, package, and distribute HCT/Ps in a way that prevents the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable disease (21 CFR 1271.145). Establishments must not make available for distribution an HCT/P that is contaminated or that otherwise does not meet release criteria designed to prevent communicable disease transmission (21 CFR 1271.265(c)(2)).

Establishments that have used the recalled products described above to manufacture their HCT/Ps should consider performing a risk assessment to evaluate and identify the potential for introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable disease. The risk assessment considerations include, but are not limited to, the type of HCT/P, processing and processing controls, and any mitigating step(s) to minimize the potential for contamination of the final product.

Reporting to FDA

If you determine that a distributed HCT/P manufactured using the recalled products is contaminated, an HCT/P deviation report is required under 21 CFR 1271.350(b) [ FDA Industry Systems ]. Questions concerning HCT/P deviation reporting may be sent to [email protected] .

If you receive information of an adverse reaction associated with use of an HCT/P manufactured using the recalled products, an HCT/P adverse reaction report may be required under 21 CFR 1271.350(a) [ Form FDA 3500A - Mandatory Reporting ]. Questions concerning reporting HCT/P adverse reactions may be sent to [email protected] .

Report any adverse events related to the use of other FDA-regulated products to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program. To file a report, use the MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form . The completed form can be submitted online or via fax to 1-800-FDA-0178. FDA monitors these reports and takes appropriate action necessary to ensure the safety of medical products in the marketplace.

If you have questions, you may contact FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at [email protected] .

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Section 2 - Interactions Between Travel Vaccines & Drugs
Section 2 - Travelers’ Diarrhea

Yellow Fever Vaccine & Malaria Prevention Information, by Country

Cdc yellow book 2024.

Author(s): Mark Gershman, Rhett Stoney (Yellow Fever) Holly Biggs, Kathrine Tan (Malaria)

The following pages present country-specific information on yellow fever (YF) vaccine requirements and recommendations, and malaria transmission information and prevention recommendations. Country-specific maps are included to aid in interpreting the information. The information in this chapter was accurate at the time of publication; however, it is subject to change at any time due to changes in disease transmission or, in the case of YF, changing entry requirements for travelers. Updated information reflecting changes since publication can be found in the online version of this book and on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travelers’ Health website. Recommendations for prevention of other travel-associated illnesses can also be found on the CDC Travelers’ Health website .

Yellow Fever Vaccine

Entry requirements.

Entry requirements for proof of YF vaccination under the International Health Regulations (IHR) differ from CDC’s YF vaccination recommendations. Under the IHR, countries are permitted to establish YF vaccine entry requirements to prevent the importation and transmission of YF virus within their boundaries. Certain countries require proof of vaccination from travelers arriving from all countries ( Table 5-25 ); some countries require proof of vaccination only for travelers above a certain age coming from countries with risk for YF virus transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines areas with risk for YF virus transmission as countries or areas where YF virus activity has been reported currently or in the past, and where vectors and animal reservoirs exist.

Unless issued a medical waiver by a yellow fever vaccine provider, travelers must comply with entry requirements for proof of vaccination against YF.

WHO publishes a list of YF vaccine country entry requirements and recommendations for international travelers approximately annually. But because entry requirements are subject to change at any time, health care professionals and travelers should refer to the online version of this book and the CDC Travelers’ Health website for any updates before departure.

CDC Recommendations

CDC’s YF vaccine recommendations are guidance intended to protect travelers from acquiring YF virus infections during international travel. These recommendations are based on a classification system for destination-specific risk for YF virus transmission: endemic, transitional, low potential for exposure, and no risk ( Table 2-08 ). CDC recommends YF vaccination for travel to areas classified as having endemic or transitional risk (Maps 5-10 and 5-11 ). Because of changes in YF virus circulation, however, recommendations can change; therefore, before departure, travelers and clinicians should check CDC’s destination pages for up-to-date YF vaccine information.

Duration of Protection

In 2015, the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices published a recommendation that 1 dose of YF vaccine provides long-lasting protection and is adequate for most travelers. The recommendation also identifies specific groups of travelers who should receive additional doses, and others for whom additional doses should be considered (see Sec. 5, Part 2, Ch. 26, Yellow Fever ). In July 2016, WHO officially amended the IHR to stipulate that a completed International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis is valid for the lifetime of the vaccinee, and YF vaccine booster doses are not necessary. Moreover, countries cannot require proof of revaccination (booster) against YF as a condition of entry, even if the traveler’s last vaccination was >10 years ago.

Ultimately, when deciding whether to vaccinate travelers, clinicians should take into account destination-specific risks for YF virus infection, and individual risk factors (e.g., age, immune status) for serious YF vaccine–associated adverse events, in the context of the entry requirements. See Sec. 5, Part 2, Ch. 26, Yellow Fever , for a full discussion of YF disease and vaccination guidance.

Table 2-08 Yellow fever (YF) vaccine recommendation categories 1

Malaria prevention.

The following recommendations to protect travelers from malaria were developed using the best available data from multiple sources. Countries are not required to submit malaria surveillance data to CDC. On an ongoing basis, CDC actively solicits data from multiple sources, including WHO (main and regional offices); national malaria control programs; international organizations; CDC overseas offices; US military; academic, research, and aid organizations; and the published scientific literature. The reliability and accuracy of those data are also assessed.

If the information is available, trends in malaria incidence and other data are considered in the context of malaria control activities within a given country or other mitigating factors (e.g., natural disasters, wars, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic) that can affect the ability to control malaria or accurately count and report it. Factors such as the volume of travel to that country and the number of acquired cases reported in the US surveillance system are also examined. In developing its recommendations, CDC considers areas within countries where malaria transmission occurs, substantial occurrences of antimalarial drug resistance, the proportions of species present, and the available malaria prophylaxis options.

Clinicians should use these recommendations in conjunction with an individual risk assessment and consider not only the destination but also the detailed itinerary, including specific cities, types of accommodations, season, and style of travel, as well as special health conditions (e.g., pregnancy). Several medications are available for malaria prophylaxis. When deciding which drug to use, consider the itinerary and length of trip, travelers’ previous adverse reactions to antimalarials, drug allergies, medical history, and drug costs. For a thorough discussion of malaria and guidance for prophylaxis, see Sec. 5, Part 3, Ch. 16, Malaria .

Afghanistan

Entry requirements : None

CDC recommendations : Not recommended

All areas <2,500 m (≈8,200 ft) elevation (April–December)
Chloroquine
P. vivax (primarily)
P. falciparum (less commonly)
Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3

Other Vaccines to Consider

See Health Information for Travelers to Afghanistan

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission 1

No malaria transmission

See Health Information for Travelers to Albania

See Health Information for Travelers to Algeria

American Samoa (US)

See Health Information for Travelers to American Samoa

See Health Information for Travelers to Andorra

Entry requirements : Required for arriving travelers ≥9 months old

CDC recommendations : Recommended for all travelers ≥9 months old

P. falciparum (primarily)
P. malariae , P. ovale , and P. vivax (less commonly)

See Health Information for Travelers to Angola

Anguilla (U.K.)

See Health Information for Travelers to Anguilla (U.K.)

See Health Information for Travelers to Antarctica

Antigua and Barbuda

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1

See Health Information for Travelers to Antigua and Barbuda

CDC recommendations : Recommended for travelers ≥9 months old going to Corrientes and Misiones Provinces. Generally not recommended for travel to Formosa Province or to designated areas of Chaco, Jujuy, and Salta Provinces. Not recommended for travel limited to provinces and areas not listed above.

Related Maps

Map 2-01 Yellow fever vaccine recommendations for Argentina & neighboring countries

See Health Information for Travelers to Argentina

See Health Information for Travelers to Armenia

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥9 months old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1 Entry will be denied if a valid vaccination certificate cannot be provided.

See Health Information for Travelers to Aruba

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1 Travelers arriving from the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador are exempt from this requirement.

See Health Information for Travelers to Australia

See Health Information for Travelers to Austria

See Health Information for Travelers to Azerbaijan

Azores (Portugal)

See Health Information for Travelers to Azores

Bahamas, The

See Health Information for Travelers to The Bahamas

See Health Information for Travelers to Bahrain

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1

Districts of Chittagong Hill Tract (Bandarban, Khagrachari, and Rangamati); and the following districts: Chattogram (Chittagong) and Cox’s Bazar (in Chattogram [Chittagong] Division); Mymensingh, Netrakona, and Sherpur (in Mymensingh Division); Kurigram (in Rangpur Division); Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj, and Sylhet (in Sylhet Division)
No malaria transmission in Dhaka (the capital)
P. falciparum (90%)
P. vivax (10%)
P. malariae (rare)

See Health Information for Travelers to Bangladesh

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1 Travelers arriving from Guyana or Trinidad & Tobago are exempt from this requirement, unless an outbreak is occurring.

See Health Information for Travelers to Barbados

See Health Information for Travelers to Belarus

See Health Information for Travelers to Belgium

Rare transmission
No malaria transmission in Belize City or on islands frequented by tourists (e.g., Ambergris Caye)
P. vivax (primarily)
None (insect bite precautions / mosquito avoidance only) 4

See Health Information for Travelers to Belize

Entry requirements : Required for all arriving travelers ≥9 months old

P. falciparum (primarily)
P. malariae , P. ovale, and P. vivax (less commonly)

See Health Information for Travelers to Benin

Bermuda (U.K.)

See Health Information for Travelers to Bermuda (U.K.)

Rare cases in rural areas <1,700 m (≈5,500 ft) elevation in districts along the southern border shared with India
P. falciparum (less commonly)
None (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4

See Health Information for Travelers to Bhutan

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1

CDC recommendations : Recommended for travelers ≥9 months old going to areas <2,300 m (≈7,550 ft) elevation, east of the Andes Mountains: the entire departments of Beni, Pando, Santa Cruz, and designated areas in the departments of Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, and Tarija. Not recommended for travel limited to areas >2,300 m (≈7,550 ft) elevation and any areas not listed above, including the cities of La Paz (administrative capital) and Sucre (constitutional [legislative and judicial] capital).

All areas <2,500 m (≈8,200 ft) elevation
No malaria transmission in La Paz (administrative capital)
P. vivax (99%)
P. falciparum (1%)
Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, primaquine 5 , tafenoquine 3

Map 2-02. Yellow fever vaccine recommendations for Bolivia & neighboring countries

See Health Information for Travelers to Bolivia

See Health Information for Travelers to Bonaire

Bosnia and Herzegovina

See Health Information for Travelers to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes transits through countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1

Districts/ subdistricts of Bobirwa, Boteti, Chobe (including Chobe National Park), Ghanzi, Mahalapye, Ngamiland (Ngami), North East (including its capital, Francistown), Okavango, Serowe/ Palapye, and Tutume
Rare cases or sporadic foci of transmission in districts/ subdistricts of Kgalagadi North, Kgatleng, Kweneng, and Southern
No malaria transmission in Gaborone (the capital)
P. malariae , P. ovale , and P. vivax (less commonly)
Districts/subdistricts of Bobirwa, Boteti, Chobe (including Chobe National Park), Ghanzi, Mahalapye, Ngamiland (Ngami), North-East (including its capital, Francistown), Okavango, Serowe/Palapye, and Tutume: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3
Areas with rare cases or sporadic foci of transmission: no chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4

See Health Information for Travelers to Botswana

CDC recommendations : Recommended for travelers ≥9 months old going to the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Distrito Federal (including the capital city, Brasília), Espírito Santo,* Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraná,* Piauí, Rio de Janeiro (including the city of Rio de Janeiro and all coastal islands),* Rio Grande do Sul,* Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina,* São Paulo (including the city of São Paulo and all coastal islands),* Tocantins, and designated areas of Bahia*. Vaccination is also recommended for travelers going to Iguaçu Falls. Not recommended for travel limited to any areas not listed above, including the cities of Fortaleza and Recife *In 2017, in response to a large YF outbreak in multiple eastern states, CDC expanded its vaccination recommendations for travelers going to Brazil. The expanded YF vaccination recommendations for these states are preliminary. For updates, refer to the CDC Travelers’ Health website.

All areas in the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Rondônia, and Roraima
Present in the states of Maranhão, Mato Grosso, and Pará, but rare cases in their capital cities (São Luis [capital of Maranhão], Cuiabá [capital of Mato Grosso], Belém [capital of Pará])
Rural and forested areas in the states of Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, São Paolo, and Tocantins
No malaria transmission in the cities of Brasília (the capital), Rio de Janeiro, or São Paolo
No malaria transmission at Iguaçu Falls
P. vivax (90%)
P. falciparum (10%)
Areas with rare cases: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4
Map 2-03 Yellow fever vaccine recommendations for Brazil & neighboring countries
Map 2-04 Malaria prevention in Brazil

See Health Information for Travelers to Brazil

British Indian Ocean Territory; includes Diego Garcia (U.K.)

See Health Information for Travelers to British Indian Ocean Territory (U.K.)

No human malaria
Rare transmission of P. knowlesi 6 in primarily forested or forest-fringe areas
P. knowlesi 6 (100%)
None (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4

See Health Information for Travelers to Brunei

See Health Information for Travelers to Bulgaria

Burkina Faso

Entry requirements : Required for all arriving travelers ≥9 months old

CDC recommendations : Recommended for all travelers ≥9 months old.

P. malariae , P. ovale , and P. vivax (less commonly)

See Health Information for Travelers to Burkina Faso

Burma (Myanmar)

All areas <1,000 m (≈3,300 ft) elevation, including Bagan
Rare transmission in areas >1,000 m (≈3,300 ft) elevation
Chloroquine and mefloquine
P. vivax (60%)
P. falciparum (40%)
P. knowlesi 6 , P. malariae , and P. ovale (rare)
Areas <1,000 m (≈3,300 ft) elevation in the regions of Bago and Tanintharyi, and in the states of Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, and Shan: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, tafenoquine 3
Areas <1,000 m (≈3,300 ft) elevation in all other areas: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3
Areas >1,000 m (≈3,300 ft) elevation: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4

See Health Information for Travelers to Burma (Myanmar)

Entry requirements : Required for all arriving travelers ≥9 months old.

CDC recommendations : Recommended for all travelers ≥9 months old.

See Health Information for Travelers to Burundi

Present throughout the country
No (or negligible) malaria transmission in the cities of Phnom Penh (the capital) and Siem Reap
No (or negligible) malaria transmission at the main temple complex at Angkor Wat
P. vivax (80%)
P. falciparum (20%)
P. knowlesi 6 (rare)
Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, tafenoquine 3

See Health Information for Travelers to Cambodia

Entry requirements : Required for all arriving travelers ≥1 year old.

See Health Information for Travelers to Cameroon

See Health Information for Travelers to Canada

Canary Islands ( Spain )

See Health Information for Travelers to Canary Islands (Spain)

No indigenous cases reported since 2018
Previously, rare cases on Santiago (São Tiago) Island and Boa Vista Island
Previously, chloroquine
Previously, P. falciparum (primarily)

See Health Information for Travelers to Cape Verde

Cayman Islands (U.K.)

See Health Information for Travelers to Cayman Islands (U.K.)

Central African Republic

Entry requirements : Required for all arriving travelers ≥9 months old .

See Health Information for Travelers to Central African Republic

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥9 months old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1

CDC recommendations : Recommended for travelers ≥9 months old going to areas south of the Sahara Desert. Not recommended for travel limited to areas in the Sahara Desert.

See Health Information for Travelers to Chad

See Health Information for Travelers to Chile

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥9 months old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1 Travelers with itineraries limited to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) or Macao SAR are exempt from this requirement.

See Health Information for Travelers to China

Christmas Island (Australia)

See Health Information for Travelers to Christmas Island (Australia)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia)

See Health Information for Travelers to Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia)

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from Angola, Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, or Uganda; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in any of these countries.

CDC recommendations : Recommended for all travelers ≥9 months old except as follows. Generally not recommended for travel limited to the cities of Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena, or Medellín. Not recommended for travel limited to areas >2,300 m (≈7,550 ft) elevation, the archipelago department of San Andrés and Providencia, or the city of Bogotá (the capital).

All areas <1,700 m (≈5,600 ft) elevation
No malaria transmission in the cities of Bogotá (the capital), Cartagena, or Medellín
P. falciparum (50%)
P. vivax (50%)

Map 2-05 Yellow fever vaccine recommendations for Colombia & neighboring countries

See Health Information for Travelers to Colombia

P. malariae and P. vivax (rare)

See Health Information for Travelers to Comoros

Congo, Republic of the (Congo-Brazzaville)

Entry requirements : Required for all arriving travelers ≥9 months old.

See Health Information for Travelers to Congo, Republic of the

Cook Islands (New Zealand)

See Health Information for Travelers to Cook Islands (New Zealand)

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥9 months old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1 Included in this requirement are travelers arriving from Tanzania and Zambia, and designated areas of: Colombia (the entire country, except the cities of Barranquilla, Bogotá, Cali, Cartagena, and Medellín, and the archipelago department, San Andrés and Providencia); Ecuador (the provinces of Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Sucumbíos, and Zamora-Chinchipe, and excluding the rest of the country); Paraguay (the entire country, except the city of Asunción); Peru (the entire country, except the cities of Cusco and Lima, the regions of Cajamarca, Lambayeque, Piura, and Tumbes, and the highland tourist areas of Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail); Trinidad & Tobago (the entire country, except the urban areas of Port of Spain; travelers with itineraries limited to the island of Tobago, and travelers with airport transits or layovers are also exempt from this requirement). Travelers arriving from Argentina and Panama are exempt from this requirement.

Present in the provinces of Alajuela and Limón
Rare to no transmission in other parts of the country
P. falciparum (86%)
P. vivax (14%)
Alajuela and Limón Provinces: Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3
All other areas: None (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4

See Health Information for Travelers to Costa Rica

Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

See Health Information for Travelers to Côte d'Ivoire

See Health Information for Travelers to Croatia

See Health Information for Travelers to Cuba

Curaçao, Netherlands

See other recommended vaccines and medicines for travelers to Curaçao

See Health Information for Travelers to Cyprus

See Health Information for Travelers to Czech Republic

Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa)

CDC recommendations : Recommended for all travelers ≥9 months old

See Health Information for Travelers to Democratic Republic of the Congo

See Health Information for Travelers to Denmark

P. falciparum (60–70%)
P. vivax (30–40%)
P. ovale (rare)

See Health Information for Travelers to Djibouti

See Health Information for Travelers to Dominica

Dominican Republic

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from the following states in Brazil: Espírito Santo, Mina Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in any of these states

Primarily in the provinces near the border with Haiti, and the provinces (including resort areas) of La Altagracia, San Cristóbal, San Juan, and Santo Domingo
In the Distrito Nacional, city of Santo Domingo (the capital), primarily in the La Ciénaga and Los Tres Brazos areas
Rare transmission in other provinces
P. falciparum (100%)
Provinces near the border with Haiti, and the provinces (including resort areas) of La Altagracia, San Cristóbal, San Juan, and Santo Domingo: Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3
All other areas: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4

See Health Information for Travelers to Dominican Republic

Easter Island (Chile)

Entry requirements : Easter Island has not stated its YF vaccination certificate requirements

See Health Information for Travelers to Easter Island (Chile) .

Ecuador, including the Galápagos Islands

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, or Uganda; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in any of these countries .

CDC recommendations : Recommended for travelers ≥9 months old going to areas <2,300 m (≈7,550 ft) elevation, east of the Andes Mountains, in the provinces of Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Sucumbíos, Tungurahua,* and Zamora-Chinchipe. Generally not recommended for travel limited to areas <2,300 m (≈7,550 ft) elevation, west of the Andes Mountains, in the provinces of Esmeraldas,* Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, and designated areas in the provinces of Azuay, Bolívar, Cañar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Imbabura, Loja, and Pichincha. Not recommended for travel limited to areas >2,300 m (≈7,550 ft) elevation, the cities of Guayaquil or Quito (the capital), or the Galápagos Islands *CDC recommendations differ from those published by WHO .

Areas <1,500 m (≈5,000 ft) elevation in the provinces of Carchi, Cotopaxi, Esmeraldas, Morona-Santiago, Orellana, Pastaza, and Sucumbíos
Rare cases <1,500 m (≈5,000 ft) in all other provinces
No malaria transmission in the cities of Guayaquil or Quito (the capital)
No malaria transmission on the Galápagos Islands
P. vivax (85%)
P. falciparum (15%)
Transmission areas in the provinces of Carchi, Cotopaxi, Esmeraldas, Morona-Santiago, Orellana, Pastaza, and Sucumbíos: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3
All other areas with reported malaria transmission: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4

Map 2-06 Yellow fever vaccine recommendations for Ecuador & neighboring countries

See Health Information for Travelers to Ecuador .

See Health Information for Travelers to Egypt .

El Salvador

See Health Information for Travelers to El Salvador .

Equatorial Guinea

P. malariae, P. ovale , and P. vivax (less commonly)

See Health Information for Travelers to Equatorial Guinea .

CDC recommendations : Generally not recommended for travel to the regions of: Anseba, Debub (also known as South or Southern Region), Gash Barka, Ma’ekel (also known as Ma’akel or Central Region), or Semenawi K’eyih Bahri (also known as Northern Red Sea Region). Not recommended for travel to any areas not listed above, including the Dahlak Archipelago.

All areas <2,200 m (≈7,200 ft) elevation
No malaria transmission in Asmara (the capital)
P. falciparum (80–85%)
P. vivax (15–20%)
P. malariae and P. ovale (rare)

Map 5-10 Yellow fever vaccine recommendations for Africa

See Health Information for Travelers to Eritrea .

See Health Information for Travelers to Estonia .

Eswatini (Swaziland)

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥9 months old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1

Eastern areas bordering Mozambique and South Africa, including the entire region of Lubombo and the eastern half of Hhohho, Manzini, and Shiselweni Regions
P. malariae , P. ovale , and P. vivax (less commonly)

See Health Information for Travelers to Swaziland .

CDC recommendations : Recommended for all travelers ≥9 months old except as follows. Generally not recommended for travel limited to the regions of Afar or Somali.

All areas <2,500 m (≈8,200 ft) elevation, except none in Addis Ababa (the capital)
P. falciparum (80%)
P. vivax (20%)
P. malariae and P. ovale (rare)

Map 2-07 Yellow fever vaccine recommendations for Ethiopia & neighboring countries

See Health Information for Travelers to Ethiopia .

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), UK Overseas Territory (also claimed by Argentina)

See Health Information for Travelers to Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) .

Faroe Islands (Denmark)

See Health Information for Travelers to Faroe Islands (Denmark) .

See Health Information for Travelers to Fiji .

See Health Information for Travelers to Finland .

See Health Information for Travelers to France .

French Guiana

Areas associated with gold mining, primarily the communes near the border with Brazil and Suriname, especially Régina and Saint-Georges-de-l’Oyapock; also, the communes of Kourou, Matoury, and Saint-Élie
No malaria transmission in coastal areas west of Kourou
No malaria transmission in Cayenne City (the capital)
P. falciparum (15%)

See Health Information for Travelers to French Guiana (France) .

French Polynesia, including the Society Islands [Bora-Bora, Moorea & Tahiti]; Marquesas Islands [Hiva Oa & Ua Huka]; and Austral Islands (Tubuai & Rurutu), France

See Health Information for Travelers to French Polynesia (France) .

P. malariae , P. ovale , and P. vivax (less commonly)

See Health Information for Travelers to Gabon .

Gambia, The

See Health Information for Travelers to The Gambia .

See Health Information for Travelers to Georgia .

See Health Information for Travelers to Germany .

P. malariae, P. ovale, and P. vivax (less commonly)

See Health Information for Travelers to Ghana .

Gibraltar (U.K.)

See Health Information for Travelers to Gibraltar (U.K.) .

Rare, local transmission in agricultural areas, associated with imported malaria (May–November)
No malaria transmission in tourist areas
Not applicable
P. vivax (100%)

See Health Information for Travelers to Greece .

Greenland (Denmark)

See Health Information for Travelers to Greenland (Denmark) .

See Health Information for Travelers to Grenada .

Guadeloupe (including Marie-Galante, La Désirade & Îles des Saintes)

See Health Information for Travelers to Guadeloupe .

Guam (U.S.)

See Health Information for Travelers to Guam (U.S.) .

Primarily in the departments of Alta Verapaz, Escuintla, Izabal, Petén, and Suchitapéquez
Few cases reported in other departments
No malaria transmission in the cities of Antigua or Guatemala City (the capital)
No malaria transmission at Lake Atitlán
P. vivax (99%)
P. falciparum  (1%)
Departments of Alta Verapaz, Escuintla, Izabal, Petén, and Suchitapéquez: Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, primaquine 5 , tafenoquine 3
Other areas with reported malaria transmission: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4

See Health Information for Travelers to Guatemala .

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1 Required for all arriving travelers from all countries if traveler is ≥9 months of age and arriving at Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport in Conakry.

See Health Information for Travelers to Guinea .

Guinea-Bissau

See Health Information for Travelers to Guinea-Bissau .

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes >4-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1

Rare cases in the cities of Georgetown (the capital) and New Amsterdam
All areas (except the cities of Georgetown and New Amsterdam): Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3
Cities of Georgetown and Amsterdam: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4

See Health Information for Travelers to Guyana .

All (including Labadee, also known as Port Labadee)
P. falciparum (99%)
P. malariae (rare)
Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3

See Health Information for Travelers to Haiti .

Entry requirements : Required for travelers 1-60 years old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1

Throughout the country and on the island of Roat á n and other Bay Islands
No malaria transmission in the cities of San Pedro Sula or Tegucigalpa (the capital)
P. vivax (93%)
P. falciparum (7%)
Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3

See Health Information for Travelers to Honduras .

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China

See Health Information for Travelers to Hong Kong SAR (China) .

See Health Information for Travelers to Hungary .

See Health Information for Travelers to Iceland .

Arrive within 6 days of leaving an area with risk for YF virus transmission, or
Have been in such an area in transit (exception: passengers and members of flight crews who, while in transit through an airport in an area with risk for YF virus transmission, remained in the airport during their entire stay and the health officer agrees to such an exemption), or
Arrive on a ship that started from or touched at any port in an area with risk for YF virus transmission ≤30 days before its arrival in India, unless such a ship has been disinsected in accordance with the procedure recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), or
Arrive on an aircraft that has been in an area with risk for YF virus transmission and has not been disinsected in accordance with the Indian Aircraft Public Health Rules, 1954, or as recommended by WHO.
Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda
Americas: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago (Trinidad only), Venezuela
Throughout the country, including the cities of Bombay (Mumbai) and New Delhi (the capital)
No malaria transmission in areas >2,000 m (≈6,500 ft) elevation in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, or Sikkim
P. vivax (50%)
P. falciparum (>40%)

See Health Information for Travelers to India .

All areas of eastern Indonesia (the provinces of Maluku, North Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara, Papua, and West Papua), including the town of Labuan Bajo and the Komodo Islands in the Nusa Tenggara region
Rural areas of Kalimantan (Borneo), West Nusa Tenggara (includes the island of Lombok), Sulawesi, and Sumatra
Low transmission in rural areas of Java, including Pangandaran, Sukabumi, and Ujung Kulon
No malaria transmission in the cities of Jakarta (the capital) or Ubud
No malaria transmission in the resort areas of Bali or Java, the Gili Islands, or the Thousand Islands (Pulau Seribu)
Chloroquine ( P. falciparum and P. vivax )
P. falciparum (60%)
P. vivax (40%)

See Health Information for Travelers to Indonesia .

Previously, March-November in rural areas of Fars Province, Sistan-Baluchestan Province, and southern, tropical parts of Hormozgan and Kerman Provinces.
Recent outbreaks in Sistan-Baluchestan Province near the border with Pakistan.
P. vivax (90%)
Sistan-Baluchestan Province along the border with Pakistan: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 2
All other areas with previous transmission: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4

See Health Information for Travelers to Iran .

See Health Information for Travelers to Iraq .

See Health Information for Travelers to Ireland .

See Health Information for Travelers to Israel, including the West Bank and Gaza .

Italy (including Holy See [Vatican City])

See Health Information for Travelers to Italy .

See Health Information for Travelers to Jamaica .

See Health Information for Travelers to Japan .

See Health Information for Travelers to Jordan .

Entry requirements : Required for travelers arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1

See Health Information for Travelers to Kazakhstan .

CDC recommendations : Recommended for all travelers ≥9 months old except as follows. Generally not recommended for travel limited to: the city of Nairobi (the capital); the counties of the former North Eastern Province (Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa); or the counties (except Taita-Taveta) of the former Coast Province (Kilifi, including the city of Malindi; Kwale; Lamu; Mombasa, including the city of Mombasa; Tana River) .

All areas (including game parks) <2,500 m (≈8,200 ft) elevation, including the city of Nairobi (the capital)
Map 2-08 Yellow fever vaccine recommendations for Kenya & neighboring countries
Map 2-09 Malaria prevention in Kenya

See Health Information for Travelers to Kenya .

Kiribati (formerly Gilbert Islands), includes Tarawa, Tabuaeran (Fanning Island), and Banaba (Ocean Island)

See Health Information for Travelers to Kiribati .

See Health Information for Travelers to Kosovo .

See Health Information for Travelers to Kuwait .

See Health Information for Travelers to Kyrgyzstan .

All, except in Vientiane (the capital) where there is no transmission
P. vivax (55%)
P. falciparum (45%)
P. knowlesi 6 , P. malariae, and P. ovale (rare)
Areas bordering Burma (the provinces of Bokeo and Luang Namtha), Cambodia; Thailand (the provinces of Champasak and Salavan); and Vietnam: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, tafenoquine 3
All other areas with malaria transmission: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3

See Health Information for Travelers to Laos .

See Health Information for Travelers to Latvia .

See Health Information for Travelers to Lebanon .

See Health Information for Travelers to Lesotho .

See Health Information for Travelers to Liberia .

See Health Information for Travelers to Libya .

Liechtenstein

See Health Information for Travelers to Liechtenstein .

See Health Information for Travelers to Lithuania .

See Health Information for Travelers to Luxembourg .

Macau Special Administrative Region, China

See Health Information for Travelers to Macau SAR (China) .

All; except in Antananarivo (the capital) where malaria transmission is rare
P. ovale and P. vivax (less commonly)
All areas (except the city of Antananarivo): Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3
Antananarivo: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4

See Health Information for Travelers to Madagascar .

Madeira Islands (Portugal)

See Health Information for Travelers to Madeira Islands (Portugal) .

See Health Information for Travelers to Malawi .

No indigenous cases of human malaria since 2017
Zoonotic transmission of simian malaria occurs in rural, forested areas
No malaria transmission in other areas, including Kuala Lumpur (the capital), in Penang State, on Penang Island, or in George Town (capital of Penang State)
P. knowlesi 6 (primarily)
Previously, P. falciparum , P. malariae , P. ovale , and P. vivax
In rural, forested areas: atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3

See Health Information for Travelers to Malaysia .

See Health Information for Travelers to Maldives .

See Health Information for Travelers to Mali .

See Health Information for Travelers to Malta .

Marshall Islands

See Health Information for Travelers to Marshall Islands .

See Health Information for Travelers to Martinique (France) .

All; except in the regions of Dakhlet Nouadhibou and Tiris Zemmour where there is no transmission

See Health Information for Travelers to Mauritania .

See Health Information for Travelers to Mauritius .

Mayotte (France)

See Health Information for Travelers to Mayotte (France) .

Chiapas and southern part of Chihuahua state
Rare in the states of Campeche, Durango, Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Tabasco
No malaria transmission along the U.S.–Mexico border
Chiapas and southern part of Chihuahua state: Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, primaquine 5 , tafenoquine 3
All other areas with malaria transmission: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4

Map 2-10 Malaria prevention in Mexico

See Health Information for Travelers to Mexico .

Micronesia, Federated States of (including Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei & Yap)

See Health Information for Travelers to Micronesia, Federated States of .

See Health Information for Travelers to Moldova .

See Health Information for Travelers to Monaco .

See Health Information for Travelers to Mongolia .

See Health Information for Travelers to Montenegro .

Montserrat, United Kingdom

See Health Information for Travelers to Montserrat (U.K.) .

See Health Information for Travelers to Morocco .

See Health Information for Travelers to Mozambique .

In the regions of Kavango (East and West), Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi
Rare in other parts of the country
No malaria transmission in Windhoek (the capital)
Kavango (East and West), Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3

See Health Information for Travelers to Namibia .

See Health Information for Travelers to Nauru .

Throughout the country in areas <2,000 m (≈6,500 ft) elevation
No malaria transmission in Kathmandu (the capital) or on typical Himalayan treks
P. falciparum (<10%)

See Health Information for Travelers to Nepal .

Netherlands

See Health Information for Travelers to The Netherlands .

Netherlands Antilles (Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustasius, and St. Maarten)

Entry requirements : See Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustasius, and St. Maarten for yellow fever information.

See Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustasius, and St. Maarten for malaria information.

New Caledonia (France)

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1 In the event of an epidemic threat to the territory, a specific vaccination certificate may be required.

See Health Information for Travelers to New Caledonia (France) .

New Zealand

See Health Information for Travelers to New Zealand .

Región Autónoma Atlántico Norte (RAAN) and Región Autónoma Atlántico Sur (RAAS)
Rare cases in the departments of Boaco, Chinandega, Estelí, Jinotega, León, Matagalpa, and Nueva Segovia
No malaria transmission in Managua (the capital)
P. falciparum (20%)
Región Autónoma Atlántico Norte (RAAN) and Región Autónoma Atlántico Sur (RAAS): Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3

See Health Information for Travelers to Nicaragua .

See Health Information for Travelers to Niger .

CDC recommendations : Recommended for all travelers ≥9 months old.

See Health Information for Travelers to Nigeria .

Niue (New Zealand)

See Health Information for Travelers to Niue (New Zealand) .

Norfolk Island (Australia)

See Health Information for Travelers to Norfolk Island (Australia) .

North Korea

Southern provinces
P. vivax (100%)
Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, primaquine 5 , tafenoquine 3

See Health Information for Travelers to North Korea .

North Macedonia

See Health Information for Travelers to North Macedonia .

Northern Mariana Islands (U.S.), includes Saipan, Tinian, and Rota Island

See Health Information for Travelers to Northern Mariana Islands (U.S.) .

See Health Information for Travelers to Norway .

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥9 months old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission, with the addition of Rwanda and Tanzania; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1

Rare sporadic transmission after importation only
Previously, P. falciparum and P. vivax

See Health Information for Travelers to Oman .

All areas (including all cities) <2,500 m (≈8,200 ft) elevation

See Health Information for Travelers to Pakistan .

See Health Information for Travelers to Palau .

CDC recommendations : Recommended for travelers ≥9 months old going to all mainland areas east of the Canal Zone including Darién Province, the indigenous provinces (comarcas indígena) of Emberá and Kuna Yala (also spelled Guna Yala), and areas of the provinces of Colón and Panamá, east of the Canal Zone. Not recommended for travel limited to the Canal Zone; areas west of the Canal Zone; Panama City (the capital); Balboa district (Pearl Islands) of Panamá Province; or the San Blas Islands of Kuna Yala Province.

The provinces of Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, Colón, Darién, Panamá, and Veraguas
The indigenous provinces (comarcas indígena) of Emberá, Kuna Yala (also spelled Guna Yala) and Ngäbe-Buglé
No malaria transmission in the province of Panamá Oeste, in the Canal Zone, or in Panama City (the capital)
Chloroquine (east of the Panama Canal)
P. vivax (97%)
P. falciparum (3%)
Darién, Emberá, Kuna Yala, and eastern Panamá Provinces : Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, primaquine 5 , tafenoquine 3
Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, Colón, Veraguas, and Ngäbe-Buglé Provinces : Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, primaquine 5 , tafenoquine 3
Map 2-11 Yellow fever vaccine recommendations for Panama & neighboring countries
Map 2-12 Malaria prevention in Panama

See Health Information for Travelers to Panama .

Papua New Guinea

Chloroquine (both P. falciparum and P. vivax )
P. falciparum (75%)
P. vivax (25%)

See Health Information for Travelers to Papua New Guinea .

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, or Venezuela; this includes this includes >24-hour transits or layovers in those countries 1

CDC recommendations : Recommended for all travelers ≥9 months old except as follows. Generally not recommended for travel limited to the city of Asunción (the capital).

See Health Information for Travelers to Paraguay .

CDC recommendations : Recommended for travelers ≥9 months old going to areas <2,300 m (≈7,550 ft) elevation in the regions of Amazonas, Cusco, Huánuco, Junín, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Pasco, Puno, San Martín, and Ucayali, and designated areas of Ancash (far northeast), Apurímac (far north), Ayacucho (north and northeast), Cajamarca (north and east), Huancavelica (far north), La Libertad (east), and Piura (east). Generally not recommended for travel limited to the following areas west of the Andes: the regions of Lambayeque and Tumbes, and designated areas of Cajamarca (west-central), and Piura (west). Not recommended for travel limited to areas >2,300 m (≈7,550 ft) elevation, areas west of the Andes not listed above, the city of Lima (the capital), and the highland tourist areas (the city of Cusco, the Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu).

All areas of the country <2,500 m (≈8,200 ft) elevation, including the cities of Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado, and only the remote eastern areas in the regions of La Libertad and Lambayeque
No malaria transmission in the following areas: Lima Province; the cities of Arequipa, Ica, Moquegua, Nazca, Puno, or Tacna; the highland tourist areas (the city of Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca); along the Pacific Coast
Map 2-13 Yellow fever vaccine recommendations for Peru & neighboring countries
Map 2-14 Malaria prevention in Peru

See Health Information for Travelers to Peru .

Philippines

Palawan and Mindanao Islands
No malaria transmission in metropolitan Manila (the capital) or other urban areas
P. falciparum (85%)
P. vivax (15%)

See Health Information for Travelers to Philippines .

Pitcairn Islands (U.K.)

See Health Information for Travelers to Pitcairn Islands (U.K.) .

See Health Information for Travelers to Poland .

See Health Information for Travelers to Portugal .

Puerto Rico (U.S.)

See Health Information for Travelers to Puerto Rico (U.S.) .

See Health Information for Travelers to Qatar .

Réunion (France)

See Health Information for Travelers to Réunion (France) .

See Health Information for Travelers to Romania .

See Health Information for Travelers to Russia .

CDC recommendations : Generally not recommended for travel to Rwanda.

See Health Information for Travelers to Rwanda .

Saba, Netherlands

See Health Information for Travelers to Saba .

Saint Barthelemy, France

Saint helena, united kingdom.

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1 *For YF vaccine entry requirements and recommendations and malaria prevention information for Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha archipelago, see: UNITED KINGDOM (including CHANNEL ISLANDS, ISLE OF MAN, ASCENSION ISLAND & TRISTAN DA CUNHA ARCHIPELAGO)

See Health Information for Travelers to Saint Helena (U.K.) .

Saint Kitts (Saint Christopher) & Nevis

See Health Information for Travelers to Saint Kitts and Nevis .

Saint Lucia

See Health Information for Travelers to Saint Lucia .

Saint Martin, France

Saint pierre and miquelon (france).

See Health Information for Travelers to Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France) .

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

See Health Information for Travelers to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines .

Samoa (formerly Western Somoa)

See Health Information for Travelers to Samoa (formerly Western Samoa) .

See Health Information for Travelers to San Marino .

São Tomé and Príncipe

CDC recommendations : Generally not recommended for travel to São Tomé and Príncipe.

See Health Information for Travelers to São Tomé and Príncipe.

Saudi Arabia

Asir and Jazan (also spelled Jizan) Regions near the Yemen border only
No malaria transmission in the cities of Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Riyadh (the capital), or Ta’if
P. vivax (rare)

See Health Information for Travelers to Saudi Arabia .

See Health Information for Travelers to Senegal .

See Health Information for Travelers to Serbia .

See Health Information for Travelers to Seychelles .

Sierra Leone

Entry requirements : Required for all arriving travelers.

See Health Information for Travelers to Sierra Leone .

See Health Information for Travelers to Singapore .

Sint Eustatius, Netherlands

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥6 months old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1

See Health Information for Travelers to Sint Eustatius .

Sint Maarten, Netherlands

See Health Information for Travelers to Sint Maarten .

See Health Information for Travelers to Slovakia .

See Health Information for Travelers to Slovenia .

Solomon Islands

P. vivax (70%)
P. falciparum (30%)
P. ovale (<1%)

See Health Information for Travelers to Solomon Islands .

CDC recommendations : Generally not recommended for travel to the regions of Bakool, Banaadir, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan (also spelled Hiran), Lower Juba (also known as Jubbada Hoose), Middle Juba (also known as Jubbada Dhexe), Lower Shabelle (also known as Shabeellaha Hoose), or Middle Shabelle (also known as Shabeellaha Dhexe). Not recommended for travel to areas not listed above.

P. vivax (5–10%)

See Health Information for Travelers to Somalia .

South Africa

Along the border with Mozambique and Zimbabwe
KwaZulu-Natal Province: uMkhanyakude District; the districts of King Cetshwayo and Zululand (few cases) Limpopo Province: the districts of Mopani and Vhembe; the districts of Capricorn, Greater Sekhukhune, and Waterberg (few cases)
Mpumalanga Province: Ehlanzeni District
Kruger National Park
KwaZulu-Natal Province (uMkhanyakude District); Limpopo Province (the districts of Mopani and Vhembe); Mpumalanga Province (Ehlanzeni District); and Kruger National Park: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3
All other areas with malaria transmission (including the districts of King Cetshwayo and Zululand in KwaZulu-Natal Province, and the districts of Capricorn, Greater Sekhukhune, and Waterberg in Limpopo Province): No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4

Map 2-15 Malaria prevention in South Africa

See Health Information for Travelers to South Africa .

South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands, UK Overseas Territory (also claimed by Argentina)

Entry requirements : South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands has not stated its YF vaccination certificate requirements.

See Health Information for Travelers to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (U.K.) .

South Korea

Entry requirements : Required if traveling from a country with risk of YF virus transmission and ≥1 year of age. 1

Limited to the months of March– December in rural areas in the northern parts of the provinces of Inch’ŏn (also spelled Incheon), Kangwŏn (also spelled Gangwon), and Kyŏnggi (also spelled Gyeonggi), including the demilitarized zone (DMZ)
Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, primaquine 5 , or tafenoquine 3

See Health Information for Travelers to South Korea .

South Sudan

See Health Information for Travelers to South Sudan .

See Health Information for Travelers to Spain .

See Health Information for Travelers to Sri Lanka .

CDC recommendations : Recommended for travelers ≥9 months old going to areas south of the Sahara Desert. Not recommended for travel limited to areas in the Sahara Desert or the city of Khartoum (the capital).

See Health Information for Travelers to Sudan .

Primarily in Sipaliwini District, near the border with French Guiana
Limited transmission in Brokopondo, Marowijne, and Para (near the border with French Guiana)
No malaria transmission in the districts along the Atlantic Coast or in Paramaribo (the capital)
Sipaliwini District near the border with French Guiana: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3
All other areas with malaria transmission: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions / mosquito avoidance only) 4

See Health Information for Travelers to Suriname .

See Health Information for Travelers to Sweden .

Switzerland

See Health Information for Travelers to Switzerland .

See Health Information for Travelers to Syria .

See Health Information for Travelers to Taiwan .

No indigenous cases reported since 2014
Previously, P. vivax (90%)
Previously, P. falciparum (10%)

See Health Information for Travelers to Tajikistan .

CDC recommendations : Generally not recommended for travel to Tanzania.

All areas below 1,800 m (≈5,900 ft) elevation
P. malariae and P. ovale (less commonly)

See Health Information for Travelers to Tanzania .

Primarily the provinces that border Burma, Cambodia (few cases in Buri Ram Province), and Malaysia (few cases in Satun Province) Also, the provinces of Phitsanulok and Ubon Ratchathani (bordering Laos), and Surat Thani (especially in the rural forest and forest-fringe areas of these provinces)
Rare to few cases in other parts of Thailand, including the cities of Bangkok (the capital), Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai, or on the islands of Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Samui, or Phuket
No malaria transmission on the islands of Krabi Province (Ko Lanta, Koh Phi, Koh Yao Noi, Koh Yao Yai) or in Pattaya City
P. falciparum (<20%)
Provinces that border Burma, Cambodia (except Buri Ram Province), and Malaysia (except Satun Province); the provinces of Phitsanulok, Ubon Ratchathani, and Surat Thani: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, tafenoquine 3
All other areas with malaria transmission (including the provinces of Buri Ram and Satun): No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) 4

Map 2-16 Malaria prevention in Thailand

See Health Information for Travelers to Thailand .

Timor-Leste

Rare cases; outbreak in Indonesia border area in mid-2020
Previously, P. falciparum (50%)
Previously, P. vivax (50%)
Previously, P. malariae and P. ovale (each <1%)

See Health Information for Travelers to Timor-Leste (East Timor) .

See Health Information for Travelers to Togo .

Tokelau (New Zealand)

See Health Information for Travelers to Tokelau (New Zealand) .

See Health Information for Travelers to Tonga .

Trinidad and Tobago

CDC recommendations : Recommended for travelers ≥9 months old going to densely forested areas on Trinidad. Not recommended for cruise ship passengers, airplane passengers in transit, or travel limited to Tobago.

See Health Information for Travelers to Trinidad and Tobago .

See Health Information for Travelers to Tunisia .

See Health Information for Travelers to Turkey .

Turkmenistan

See Health Information for Travelers to Turkmenistan .

Turks and Caicos Islands (U.K.)

See Health Information for Travelers to Turks and Caicos Islands (U.K.) .

See Health Information for Travelers to Tuvalu .

See Health Information for Travelers to Uganda .

See Health Information for Travelers to Ukraine .

United Arab Emirates

See Health Information for Travelers to United Arab Emirates .

United Kingdom (including Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Ascension Island & Tristan Da Cunha Archipelago)

See Health Information for Travelers to United Kingdom .

United States of America

See Health Information for Travelers to United States .

See Health Information for Travelers to Uruguay .

See Health Information for Travelers to Uzbekistan .

P. vivax (75%–90%)
P. falciparum (10-25%)

See Health Information for Travelers to Vanuatu .

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from Brazil; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in Brazil

CDC recommendations : Recommended for all travelers ≥9 months old except as follows. Generally not recommended for travel limited to the Distrito Capital or the states of Aragua, Carabobo, Miranda, Vargas, or Yaracuy. Not recommended for travel limited to areas >2,300m (≈7,550 ft) elevation in the states of Mérida, Táchira, or Trujillo; the states of Falcón or Lara; Margarita Island; or the cities of Caracas (the capital) or Valencia .

All areas <1,700 m (≈5,600 ft) elevation and Angel Falls
P. vivax (75%)
P. falciparum (25%)

Map 2-17 Yellow fever vaccine recommendations for Venezuela & neighboring countries

See Health Information for Travelers to Venezuela .

Rural areas only. Rare cases in the Mekong and Red River Deltas
None in the cities of Da Nang, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Nha Trang, and Quy Nhon.
P. falciparum (65%)
P. vivax (35%)
Provinces of Bình Dương, Bình Phước, Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, Gia Lai, Khánh Hòa, Kon Tum, Lâm Đồng, Ninh Thuận, Tây Ninh: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, tafenoquine 3
All other areas with malaria transmission (except Mekong and Red River Deltas): Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine 3
Mekong and Red River Deltas: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions / mosquito avoidance only) 4

See Health Information for Travelers to Vietnam .

Virgin Islands, British

See Health Information for Travelers to Virgin Islands, British .

Virgin Islands, U.S.

See Health Information for Travelers to Virgin Islands, U.S. .

Wake Island, U.S.

See Health Information for Travelers to Wake Island .

All areas <2,000 m (≈6,500 ft) elevation
No malaria transmission in Sana’a (the capital)

See Health Information for Travelers to Yemen .

Entry requirements : Required for travelers ≥1 year of age arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1

CDC recommendations : Generally not recommended for travel to North-Western Province or Western Province. Not recommended for travel to any areas not listed above.

See Health Information for Travelers to Zambia .

See Health Information for Travelers to Zimbabwe .

1 Current as of November 2022. This is an update of the 2010 map created by the Informal WHO Working Group on the Geographic Risk of Yellow Fever.

2 Refers to Plasmodium falciparum malaria, unless otherwise noted.

3 Tafenoquine can cause potentially life-threatening hemolysis in people with glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Rule out G6PD deficiency with a quantitative laboratory test before prescribing tafenoquine to patients.

4 Mosquito avoidance includes applying topical mosquito repellant, sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net, and wearing protective clothing (e.g., long pants and socks, long-sleeve shirt). For additional details on insect bite precautions, see Sec. 4, Ch. 6, Mosquitoes, Ticks & Other Arthropods.

5 Primaquine can cause potentially life-threatening hemolysis in people with G6PD deficiency. Rule out G6PD deficiency with a quantitative laboratory test before prescribing primaquine to patients.

6 P. knowlesi is a malaria species with a simian (macaque) host. Human cases have been reported from most countries in Southwest Asia and are associated with activities in forest or forest-fringe areas. P. knowlesi has no known resistance to antimalarials.

Yellow Fever Maps

2 In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded its YF vaccination recommendations for travelers going to Brazil because of a large YF outbreak in multiple states in that country. Please refer to the CDC Travelers’ Health website for more information and updated recommendations.

3 YF vaccination is generally not recommended for travel to areas where the potential for YF virus exposure is low. Vaccination might be considered, however, for a small subset of travelers going to these areas who are at increased risk for exposure to YF virus due to prolonged travel, heavy exposure to mosquitoes, or inability to avoid mosquito bites. Factors to consider when deciding whether to vaccinate a traveler include destination-specific and travel-associated risks for YF virus infection; individual, underlying risk factors for having a serious YF vaccine–associated adverse event; and destination entry requirements.

The following authors contributed to the previous version of this chapter: Mark D. Gershman, Emily S. Jentes, Rhett J. Stoney (Yellow Fever) Kathrine R. Tan, Paul M. Arguin (Malaria)

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Fact-Checking Claims About Tim Walz’s Record

Republicans have leveled inaccurate or misleading attacks on Mr. Walz’s response to protests in the summer of 2020, his positions on immigration and his role in the redesign of Minnesota’s flag.

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Flowers, candles, and various items placed on the street. A big black and white mural of George Floyd is seen in the background.

By Linda Qiu

Since Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota was announced as the Democratic nominee for vice president, the Trump campaign and its allies have gone on the attack.

Mr. Walz, a former teacher and football coach from Nebraska who served in the National Guard, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 and then as Minnesota’s governor in 2018. His branding of former President Donald J. Trump as “weird” this year caught on among Democrats and helped catapult him into the national spotlight and to the top of Vice President Kamala Harris’s list of potential running mates.

The Republican accusations, which include questions over his military service , seem intended at undercutting a re-energized campaign after President Biden stepped aside and Ms. Harris emerged as his replacement at the top of the ticket. Mr. Trump and his allies have criticized, sometimes inaccurately, Mr. Walz’s handling of protests in his state, his immigration policies, his comments about a ladder factory and the redesign of his state’s flag.

Here’s a fact check of some claims.

What Was Said

“Because if we remember the rioting in the summer of 2020, Tim Walz was the guy who let rioters burn down Minneapolis.” — Senator JD Vance of Ohio, the Republican nominee for vice president, during a rally on Wednesday in Philadelphia

This is exaggerated. Mr. Walz has faced criticism for not quickly activating the National Guard to quell civil unrest in Minneapolis in the summer of 2020 after the murder of George Floyd by a police officer. But claims that he did not respond at all, or that the city burned down, are hyperbolic.

Mr. Floyd was murdered on May 25, 2020, and demonstrators took to the streets the next day . The protests intensified, with some vandalizing vehicles and setting fires. More than 700 state troopers and officers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ mobile response team were deployed on May 26 to help the city’s police officers, according to a 2022 independent assessment by the state’s Department of Public Safety of the response to the unrest.

But the report noted that issues with communication delayed the deployment of the state National Guard.

The mayor, Jacob Frey, asked Mr. Walz to activate the National Guard the night of May 27. An aide to Mr. Frey texted a colleague around 8 p.m. that Mr. Walz was “hesitating,” documents obtained by the local news media show . The Trump campaign cited these records as evidence of Mr. Walz’s refusal to act.

Mr. Walz has argued that he did not believe Mr. Frey “knew what he was asking for,” and that the mayor did not specify the number of troops, their mission or their abilities.

The city’s police department submitted a written request the night of May 27 for 600 guardsmen. State officials said that the request was not specific enough and that they were waiting for more detail before approving the request, but that city officials were not aware that more detail was needed, according to the 2022 report.

Mr. Frey sent a formal request for troops the morning of May 28, and Mr. Walz activated the National Guard shortly afterward — two days after protests had begun. The Guard tweeted at about 4 p.m. local time that it was ready to respond to the governor’s request.

By that time, one of the city’s police precincts had already been damaged by fire. The Trump campaign also noted that a police officer testified in 2020 that she had heard “thirdhand” that Mr. Walz had said to “give up the precinct”; at the time, a spokesman for Mr. Walz disputed that characterization.

It is also worth noting that Mr. Trump, in a June 2020 phone call with governors, praised Mr. Walz’s response: “Tim Walz. Again, I was very happy with the last couple of days, Tim. You called up big numbers and the big numbers knocked them out so fast.”

“I know him a little bit. I helped him during the riots because his house was surrounded by people that were waving an American flag — doesn’t sound like very bad people. He called me and he was very concerned, very, very concerned that it was going to get out of control. They only had one guard, I guess, it was at the mansion or his house in some form. And he called me. And I said what do you want me to do about it? I was in the White House. He said if you would put out the word that I’m a good person. And I did. I put out the word.” — Mr. Trump in an interview on Fox News on Wednesday

This is misleading. Mr. Trump’s version of events is wrong on several details, and Mr. Walz’s own account noticeably differs.

On April 17, 2020 — more than a month before George Floyd’s murder — hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of Mr. Walz’s residence to protest a stay-at-home order the governor had imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

That morning, Mr. Trump had written on social media, “LIBERATE MINNESOTA!,” along with calls to “liberate” other states under lockdown orders.

That day, Mr. Walz said he had tried unsuccessfully to call Mr. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence to ask “what they think we could have done differently” to respond to the spread of the virus.

Three days later, on April 20, Mr. Trump wrote that he had received a “very nice call” from Mr. Walz and that “good things are happening.”

In a news conference that day, Mr. Walz said that he had a “very good and long conversation” with Mr. Trump on April 18 — after the protesters had left — about the need for more personal protective equipment and testing abilities.

In an interview with Politico in September 2021 published this week, Mr. Walz said that Mr. Trump’s tweet had “brought armed people to my house” and that Mr. Trump had never responded when he asked what “liberate Minnesota” meant.

“Tim Walz went on TV to talk about trying to help illegal aliens climb over the border wall. Tim Walz championed government-issued IDs, driver’s licenses for illegal aliens, which results in countless motorists being killed each and every year. Tim Walz championed free health care for illegal aliens, which will bankrupt America.” — Stephen Miller, a former Trump administration official, in an interview on Fox News on Tuesday

This is exaggerated. Mr. Miller distorted comments Mr. Walz made regarding a border wall. He is correct that Mr. Walz signed legislation allowing unauthorized immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses and giving them publicly subsidized health care coverage through a state program for low-income individuals. But while Mr. Walz championed eligibility expansion, it is unclear whether he supported the health care expansion.

In 2023, Mr. Walz signed legislation expanding driver’s license eligibility to all residents of the state, regardless of immigration status. In a news release , he said he was a “longtime supporter of the bill” and expressed pride at the measure, saying it would make roads safer.

That May, Mr. Walz also signed a budget deal into law that, among other provisions, allowed unauthorized immigrants to enroll in MinnesotaCare , the state’s program for low-income residents. Mr. Walz’s budget had proposed expanding eligibility only to undocumented immigrants under 19, and a local publication reported that he opposed allowing undocumented adults to also have access to the program. His news release at the time did not mention the expansion. Additionally, MinnesotaCare provides subsidized, but not always free insurance. The health care program is funded in part by the state, and the expansion, backed by state money , would not dip into federal coffers and “bankrupt” the country.

Mr. Miller’s comment about Mr. Walz helping immigrants “climb over the border wall” distorts Mr. Walz’s remarks. In an interview last week on CNN , Mr. Walz said that the “United States needs to control its border” but argued that Mr. Trump was “not interested in solving the problem.”

“I always say, let me know how high it is,” he said, wryly expressing the ineffectiveness of a border wall. “If it’s 25 feet, then I’ll invest in the 30-foot ladder factory. That’s not how you stop this.”

He continued, “You stop this using electronics, you stop it using more border control agents, and you stop it by having a legal system that allows for that tradition of allowing folks to come here, just like my relatives did to come here, be able to work and establish the American dream. He’s not interested in that. He wants to demonize.”

“Don’t forget he tried to redesign the Minnesota state flag to look like the Somali national flag. You just can’t get further out there in America.” — Representative Andy Biggs, Republican of Arizona, in an interview on a right-wing streaming platform on Wednesday

False. Minnesota adopted a new flag on May 11, after a monthslong redesign effort and thousands of public submissions. Mr. Walz had little to do with the design, which pays tribute to various facets of the state — not Somalia.

Prompted by criticism that the state’s old flag was offensive to Native Americans and bore too many similarities to other state flags, Minnesota legislators passed a measure in 2023 establishing a commission to redesign the state’s emblems. Mr. Walz signed that legislation into law. The commission received more than 2,000 submissions from the public through October 2023 and decided on a design in December.

The commission — not Mr. Walz — chose and modified a design by Andrew Prekker of Luverne, Minn. Mr. Prekker, who does part-time work in graphic design, said in an interview on local news that he had researched his concept and tried to create imagery that “represented everyone” in the state. Mr. Prekker told PolitiFact that his flag had nothing to do with Somalia.

The new flag has a white eight-point star (representing the North Star, which is the state’s motto, and the many cultures of the state) splashed on a dark blue background (representing the night sky and the shape of the state) on the left and a bright blue field on the right (representing the state’s 11,000 lakes and 6,000 rivers and streams), according to the commission’s final report.

The flag of Somalia features a white five-pointed star on a blue field.

An earlier version of this article misidentified a Minnesota agency that deployed a mobile response team to help quell unrest in Minneapolis after the murder of George Floyd by a police officer. It was the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, not the Department of National Resources.

An earlier version of this article misstated the damage to one of Minneapolis’s police precincts. It was damaged by fire but not burned to the ground.

How we handle corrections

Linda Qiu is a reporter who specializes in fact-checking statements made by politicians and public figures. She has been reporting and fact-checking public figures for nearly a decade. More about Linda Qiu

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Travelers' Health
We have answers. 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: 888-232-6348. CDC Travelers' Health Branch provides updated travel information, notices, and vaccine requirements to inform international travelers and provide guidance to the clinicians who serve them.
Need travel vaccines? Plan ahead.
If yellow fever vaccine is recommended or required for your destination, you'll need to go to a vaccine center authorized to give yellow fever vaccinations. Many yellow fever vaccine centers also provide other pre-travel health care services. Find an authorized US yellow fever vaccine center. Examples of Vaccines
Think Travel Vaccine Guide
Vaccination (2-dose vaccine): Recommended for most travelers. --Administer 2 doses, at least 6 months apart. --At least 1 dose should be given before travel. Consultation: Advise patient to wash hands frequently and avoid unsafe food and water. Hepatitis B. Sexual contact, contaminated needles, & blood products, vertical transmission.
Travel Vaccines to Protect Your Family
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. Before you travel, find out which vaccines you and your family will need. Plan ahead to get the shots required for all ...
Vaccines for Travelers
Vaccines for Travelers. Vaccines protect travelers from serious diseases. Depending on where you travel, you may come into contact with diseases that are rare in the United States, like yellow fever. Some vaccines may also be required for you to travel to certain places. Getting vaccinated will help keep you safe and healthy while you're ...
What Vaccines Do I Need for Travel?
Before you embark on your journey, he suggests making sure you're up to date with routine vaccinations, including vaccines for: COVID-19. Flu. Hepatitis A. Hepatitis B. Tetanus. "People don ...
Vaccines
Vaccines. Vaccination is the administration of agent-specific, but safe, antigenic components that in vaccinated individuals can induce protective immunity against the corresponding infectious agent. Before departure, travelers should have a medical consultation to learn about the risk of disease in the country or countries they plan to visit ...
Your Travel Vaccine Checklist
Below is a list of vaccine-preventable travel-related diseases that are not covered by routine adult vaccinations: Hepatitis A. Hepatitis B. Typhoid and paratyphoid fever. Meningococcal disease ...
Travel Immunizations and Vaccinations for International Tourism
The vaccines you should get depend on where you're going. No matter where you're going, check to make sure you're up to date on all routine vaccines: measles-mumps-rubella, diphtheria-tetanus ...
Fully Vaccinated and Want to Visit the U.S.? Here's What to Know
Nov. 8, 2021. On Monday, the United States lifted travel restrictions for international visitors from 33 countries who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, ending an 18-month ban that has ...
COVID-19 travel advice
The country you travel to may not need to know your COVID-19 status. But you might need the information for other reasons. Events, venues or tour groups might require proof that you are COVID-19 negative or are up to date on a COVID-19 vaccine. Check before you go so you have all the paperwork you need.
Frequently Asked Questions: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S
Effective November 8, 2021, new air travel requirements applied to many noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily. These travelers are also required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. All air travelers, including U.S. persons, must test negative for COVID-19 prior to departure. Limited exceptions apply.
Common travel medicine questions
Pneumococcal. Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) Polio. Shingles. Additional vaccines may be recommended depending on your travel itinerary. For example, hepatitis A vaccination is recommended if you are traveling to Southeast Asia. During your appointment, we can discuss which vaccines are appropriate for your itinerary. 3.
Vaccination Resources for Educating Adult Patients Who Travel
Educating Travelers: Vaccination Resources. Your patients' risk of becoming ill while traveling depends in part on: Visit CDC's Travelers' Health website for most up-to-date information about recommendations and requirements as well as current disease outbreaks. Have your patients use this tool to search for yellow fever vaccine providers.
Travel advice
23 November 2023. Zika information for travelers. 19 November 2022. Vaccination requirements and recommendations for international travellers; and malaria situation per country - 2022 edition. 18 November 2022. Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring yellow fever vaccination (November 2022)
Before You Travel
Know Your Health Status. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a travel health specialist that takes place at least one month before you leave. They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. Discussing your health concerns, itinerary, and planned activities with your provider allows them to give ...
CDC Travel Guidelines: What You Need to Know
What to Know About the C.D.C. Guidelines on Vaccinated Travel. In updated recommendations, the federal health agency said both domestic and international travel was low risk for fully vaccinated ...
Travel Immunizations & Resources
The vaccines you need will depend on where you're traveling and what you will be doing during your travels. Walgreens pharmacists are able to assist in helping you determine which vaccines you may need. Travel vaccines Walgreens offers include: Yellow Fever, Meningitis, Polio, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, Tick-Borne Encephalitis, Hepatitis ...
Don't Forget These Vaccines When You Travel
Unlike other travel shots, the yellow fever vaccine is available only at specially designated clinics. Because of the shortage, there will be far fewer clinics than usual. You definitely don't ...
Things to Know about COVID Vaccines and Travel
The International Airline Travel Association is testing the IATA Travel Pass with more than 50 global airlines, including AeroMexico and Qantas, to store and manage COVID-19 vaccine and other information. The mobile app is free for passengers to use if their airline is part of the pilot program.
COVID-19 international travel advisories
U.S. citizens going abroad, check Department of State travel advisories for the country you will visit. COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S. You do not need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or take a COVID-19 test to enter the U.S. This applies to U.S. citizens and non-citizens.
Booster Shots: Pre-Travel Essential Or Excessive?
Vaccinations are an important part of staying healthy while travelling. While some vaccines are routine, others are dependent on your destination and activities. For example, the yellow fever vaccine is the only travel vaccine required in certain regions of the world, specifically in parts of Central Africa and South America.
Can you fly with COVID? What to do if you test positive.
She urges travelers to get vaccinations like COVID-19 boosters before travel and pack a first aid kit, including any medications they use when they're ill. "You want optimal health when going ...
Destinations
Destinations. Measles cases are increasing globally, including in the United States. The majority of measles cases imported into the United States occur in unvaccinated U.S. residents who become infected during international travel. A list of countries with confirmed measles outbreaks can be found on the Global Measles Travel Health Notice (THN).
Countries with Travel Warnings for American Tourists Right Now
The US Department of State issued updated travel advisories for American tourists traveling to countries worldwide. These are the countries with active travel warnings for American tourists right now.
Attacks on Walz's Military Record
Preempting and exposing vaccination and COVID-19 misinformation. Proyecto de Vacunación/COVID-19 Precaviendo y exponiendo la desinformación sobre el COVID-19 y sus vacunas
Important Information for Human Cell, Tissue, and Cellular and Tissue
If you receive information of an adverse reaction associated with use of an HCT/P manufactured using the recalled products, an HCT/P adverse reaction report may be required under 21 CFR 1271.350(a ...
Yellow Fever Vaccine & Malaria Prevention Information, by Country
CDC recommends YF vaccination for travel to areas classified as having endemic or transitional risk (Maps 5-10 and 5-11). Because of changes in YF virus circulation, however, recommendations can change; therefore, before departure, travelers and clinicians should check CDC's destination pages for up-to-date YF vaccine information.
FTC warns consumers of scammers offering to remove all negative
The truth is that while accurate but negative information cannot be legally removed from a credit report, mistakes can be fixed. ... Half of Travel-Themed Spam Messages Worldwide Are Scams, Bitdefender Antispam Lab Warns July 25, 2024 ... How to keep your Android device immune to malicious vaccine themed apps. Cristina POPOV April 22, 2021
Fact-Checking Claims About Tim Walz's Record
Republicans have leveled inaccurate or misleading attacks on Mr. Walz's response to protests in the summer of 2020, his positions on immigration and his role in the redesign of Minnesota's flag.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S.

Entering the U.S. Through a Land Port of Entry or Ferry Terminal

Q. What are the requirements to enter the United States for children under the age of 18 who can't be vaccinated?

Q: Which vaccines/combination of vaccines will be accepted?

Q. Is the United States requiring travelers to have a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated for border entry purposes?

Q: Do U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land POEs and ferry terminals?

Q: Is pre- or at-arrival COVID testing required to enter the United States via land POEs or ferry terminals?

Processing Changes Announced on January 22, 2022

Q: Who is affected by the changes announced on January 22?

Q: Do U.S. citizens need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land port of entry or ferry terminals?

Q: What is essential travel?

Q: Will there be any exemptions?

Q: What documentation will be required to show vaccination status?

Q: What happens if someone doesn’t have proof of vaccine status?

Q: Will incoming travelers be required to present COVID-19 test results?

Q: What does this mean for those who can't be vaccinated, either due to age or other health considerations?

Q: Does this requirement apply to amateur and professional athletes?

Q: Are commercial truckers required to be vaccinated?

Q. Do you expect border wait times to increase?

Q: How is Customs and Border Protection staffing the ports of entry?

Q: What happens if a vaccinated individual is traveling with an unvaccinated individual?

Q: If I am traveling for an essential reason but am not vaccinated can I still enter?

Q: Are sea crew members on vessels required to have a COVID vaccine to disembark?

Entering the U.S. via Air Travel

Q: What are the COVID testing requirements for air passengers to the United States?

Raj Palraj, M.B.B.S., M.D.

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Here are answers to common questions about travel medicine:

2. What vaccinations do I need to travel overseas?

In addition, it's important to complete the adult vaccination schedule that includes vaccinations for:

3. Are there travel destinations that have different vaccination recommendations?

Recommended vaccines may include:

4. Can my primary care provider give me travel vaccinations?

5. How long before my trip should I go to the travel clinic?

6. Can I only go to the travel clinic before I travel?

7. I'm going to an all-inclusive resort. Will I have a lower risk of getting sick?

8. How do I lower my risk of malaria when traveling?

9. How do I stay healthy while traveling?

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Q: Do U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land POEs and ferry terminals?

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Q: Will there be any exemptions? 

Q: What does this mean for those who can't be vaccinated, either due to age or other health considerations? 

Q: How is Customs and Border Protection staffing the ports of entry? 

Q: What happens if a vaccinated individual is traveling with an unvaccinated individual? 

Q: Are sea crew members on vessels required to have a COVID vaccine to disembark?

Q: What are the COVID testing requirements for air passengers to the United States? 

Once fully vaccinated, can you travel like you did before the pandemic?

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