Recommended Vaccinations Before Traveling Abroad {Guide}

Post Last Modified – March 28, 2025 ¦ gr8traveltips.com

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Vaccinations You May Require Before Traveling Abroad

Getting your necessary travel vaccinations before traveling abroad, is perhaps one of the most common things overlooked by many travelers. This post is a simple reminder, to be sure your …

Vaccinations Before Traveling Abroad

are complete, before heading off on your vacation. In fact, some countries even require certain vaccinations, in order to enter.

Unless you are a well seasoned traveler, this is definitely something that not everyone thinks about, when making their travel preparations.

First, have a look at this short, but informative video. It outlines some reasons why you should protect yourself with certain travel medications, before leaving on your holidays.

Vaccinations Before Traveling Abroad – YouTube Video

Travel Vaccinations Vary – Depending On Country Visiting

Travel Immunizations

How long you will be away and what you will be exposed to while traveling, makes a big difference. As well, it’s important to know what travel vaccinations you may have had received previously.

There are certain vaccinations before traveling abroad that are definitely recommended, when visiting specific countries. As mentioned above, may even be required,in order to enter that country.

I have included a couple of very good websites that provide travel health information, for any country in the world you may be visiting.
These include;

CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

Vancouver Coastal Health Clinic

These are two excellent websites to visit, for more complete and detailed information on this subject.

The Most Common Vaccinations Before Traveling Abroad

travel shots

Below, is a short list of typical travel vaccines that are recommended for safe guarding you and your family from illness.

Tetanus/Diphtheria – recommended for everyone.

Typhoid – recommended for those visiting foreign countries and not staying at all-inclusive resorts.

Polio – recommended for travel to Africa and Southeast Asia.

Hepatitis A – recommended for foreign travel and Europe.

Hepatitis B – recommended for extended travel in developing countries.

Meningococcus – recommended for travel to developing countries.

Malaria – this is not a travel shot but a medication taken orally.

Rabies – recommended for extended travel where rabies is common.

International Travel Immunizations

I’ve also put together a short list of a few travel immunizations that may be required, and where proof may be needed for visa application purposes;

As you can see, the list can be extensive, depending on where you are traveling to and for how long.

If you are traveling with other family members, it is best to know well before hand, what is recommended and may be required for entry. This, so everyone has time to get their travel shots that may be needed, for your selected travel destination.

Travel Vaccinations Can Be Expensive

travel vaccines

It is very important that you contact your family physician or a local travel medicine clinic, to arrange for the necessary vaccinations for travel. It is recommended this be done at least …

2 to 3 Months Before Leaving Home

Your doctor and/or the travel clinic will advise you of the vaccines recommended, and that may also be required for travel. Be sure to include necessary vaccinations in your overall travel budget.

All Inclusive Cruise Vacations

Perhaps you’re traveling to one of those exciting All Inclusive Vacations to the Caribbean, or perhaps taking a foreign cruise holiday?

It’s important to check beforehand if travel shots are needed to help ensure you stay healthy, while away.
Remember, there are travel vaccines that are typically; routine, recommended or even required.

Come home healthy and happy!

Shots For Safe Travel

In closing, travel shots are a Very Important Safe Guard against disease while traveling. This is certainly not a guarantee against contracting an illness while traveling. It does however, reduce the risk greatly, for contracting an illness that may be noted as a risk in the country you are visiting.

Below, are just a couple of important tips to help keep you and your family healthy on your vacation.

Wash and/or sanitize your hands always before eating;

Be careful of what you drink and eat;

Carry a small travel bottle of reliable hand sanitizer when out & about;

Where did that water in your glass come from?

How was the food prepared that you are about to eat?

Just a few reminders to think about while away, to help safe guard against disease and illness.

Here’s a helpful Safe Food For Travelers Guide travel information pamphlet, that you can download and print for your convenience.

Traveling can be exciting and filled with everlasting memories that will last a lifetime. With a few precautions taken prior to travel, you can minimize the health risk greatly when traveling to foreign destinations.

I’ve also listed a link to the Government of Canada Travel Vaccinations page. This is an excellent resource for all travelers and not just Canadians on reviewing; Vaccinations Before Traveling Abroad.

Travel Health & Safety – Travel Vaccinations

Covid-19 Travel Update

COVID-19 TRAVEL update

Many concerns have been raised regarding your travel insurance coverage relating to this pandemic. It’s vital that you understand and review the; small print on your travel insurance, well before travel!

Many airlines, vacation packages, cruises and so on, had introduced Covid-19 travel protection. This is great, but as one travel expert recently stated;

“You still have to be clear on exactly what that coverage includes!”

Travel Advisory

For example, your local government may have a travel advisory in place for your chosen destination, warning against all but essential travel. This could very well exclude your coverage!

Update

My wife and I returned from a wonderful vacation to Ecuador, when international travel opened up again. For a minimal extra charge added onto our travel medical insurance, we received complete; Covid Protection to cover us while away, should we test positive.

A small extra fee for peace of mind. Above all, be safe and stay safe always and don’t forget to consider your Vaccinations Before Traveling Abroad,

Safe and Healthy Travels!

signature of author and owner Robert Tellier at https://gr8traveltips.com

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