Travel vaccines 2026: routine, recommended, required

The essentials in 30 seconds

1

No vaccine is required for most tourist destinations

The exception is yellow fever, required to enter certain countries in Africa and South America.
2

First, update your routine vaccines

Tetanus-diphtheria-polio (Td/Tdap), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), pertussis, hepatitis B. Valid everywhere in the world.
3

Recommended vaccines depend on the region and the trip

Hepatitis A and typhoid for low-hygiene countries, rabies and Japanese encephalitis for long rural stays.
4

Malaria is prevented by medication, not a vaccine

Prescription chemoprophylaxis plus mosquito protection. Essential in sub-Saharan Africa.
5

Plan 4 to 6 weeks ahead

Some vaccines need several spaced doses. Yellow fever is only valid from the 10th day.

Travel vaccines at a glance

Three main categories. The 'Regions concerned' column and the timing are indicative: only a healthcare professional validates your vaccination plan.

Category	Examples	Regions concerned	Timing before departure
Routine (baseline)	Td/Tdap, MMR, pertussis, hepatitis B	All destinations	Up to date before any trip
Recommended	Hepatitis A, typhoid	Asia, Africa, Latin America, low hygiene	2 to 4 weeks
Recommended (higher-risk stay)	Rabies, Japanese encephalitis	Rural areas, long stays	3 to 4 weeks (several doses)
Recommended (context-based)	Meningitis ACWY, tick-borne encephalitis	Sahel, Hajj, Central European forests	2 to 3 weeks
Required	Yellow fever	Sub-Saharan Africa, Amazon basin	10 days minimum (certificate)
Not a vaccine	Malaria (chemoprophylaxis)	Sub-Saharan Africa mainly	Starts before departure, prescription

Official medical sources

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CDC Travelers' Health

Destination-based vaccine recommendations (accessed June 2026)

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World Health Organization (WHO)

International travel and health, International Health Regulations

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Institut Pasteur : Medical center

Travel preparation and vaccines by country (accessed June 2026)

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WHO International Health Regulations (2005)

Yellow fever certificate framework, Annex 7 amendment (2016)

FAQ

Which vaccines are required to travel? +

For the vast majority of tourist destinations, no vaccine is required. The only exception under the International Health Regulations is yellow fever, required to enter certain sub-Saharan African and South American countries, or for travelers arriving from an infected area. An international certificate is then requested.

Which vaccines do you need for Thailand? +

No vaccine is required to enter Thailand from Europe or North America. Keep your routine vaccines up to date (tetanus, MMR). Hepatitis A and typhoid are recommended, especially for long stays or travel outside major cities. Rabies and Japanese encephalitis are worth considering for long rural stays. Confirm with a travel health clinic.

Is the yellow fever vaccine mandatory? +

It is mandatory only to enter certain sub-Saharan African and South American countries, or if you arrive from a risk area. The international certificate has been valid for life since 2016 and becomes effective 10 days after the injection. The vaccine is given only at an authorized travel health clinic.

How long before departure should you get vaccinated? +

See a doctor or a travel health clinic 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Several vaccines require spaced doses (hepatitis B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis) and the body needs one to two weeks to build immunity. Yellow fever is only recognized from the 10th day.

Is there a malaria vaccine for travelers? +

The two existing vaccines (RTS,S and R21/Matrix-M) are recommended by the WHO for children living in endemic areas, not for travelers. For a trip, prevention relies on prescription chemoprophylaxis (atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine) combined with strict mosquito protection.

Where can you get travel vaccines? +

Your family doctor can administer most travel vaccines. For yellow fever and the international certificate, you must go to an authorized travel health clinic (found in university hospitals, at Institut Pasteur in Paris and Lille, in some airports). National health agencies publish the list of centers.

Should you update your routine vaccines before traveling? +

Yes, check that they are current. Tetanus-diphtheria-polio (Td/Tdap), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and pertussis protect everywhere in the world, including against diseases still circulating where vaccination coverage is low. Measles remains active across several continents.

Are travel vaccines reimbursed? +

Routine vaccines on the national schedule are generally covered by public health insurance. Travel-specific vaccines (hepatitis A, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, Japanese encephalitis) are usually at your own expense, sometimes partly covered by private insurance. Expect several tens of euros per vaccine.

Which vaccines do you need for sub-Saharan Africa? +

Update your routine vaccines, plan for hepatitis A and typhoid, and check whether yellow fever is required for the country (often mandatory). Meningitis ACWY is recommended in the Sahel 'meningitis belt'. Malaria chemoprophylaxis is almost always needed. See a travel health clinic.

Marie Laurent

Verified author

Southeast Asia specialist · 12 years experience.

🔄 Updated: June 10, 2026 · ✓ Verified by 4 experts

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