Where to Get Vaccines for Travel (and Which Ones You Need)

My husband and I are serious travel junkies. Our hobby is seeing the world, from visiting wineries to attending international sporting events.

As a physician, our journeys have made me savvy to the travel vaccines or medications needed to stay safe around the world. Patients often ask me where to get vaccines for travel… and how to find out exactly what shots they need.

I already know that, when we plan our trip to Antarctica (the only continent we’ve not yet visited), my husband and I won’t even need travel vaccines: It’s too cold there to sustain viruses and other bugs!

But based on my travel experience, here’s some advice if you’re visiting any of the other six continents:

Understand Exactly What Vaccines You’ll Need

When planning your trip, consult the CDC’s Travelers’ Health website. It’s the authoritative resource for information on travel vaccines, global health alerts, and how to stay in fine form for travel.

The CDC is highly cautious and tends to recommend every vaccine applicable to your travel region. Consider the site’s advice and decide what makes sense based on where you’re going and what you’ll do.

For example, my husband and I are planning a trip to Egypt, and a look at the CDC website yields the following:

• Rabid dogs are common there, so the CDC advises a rabies vaccine. But since we’ll be on a cruise for most of our trip, we’re not likely to sustain a bite from a rabid animal. So, we may opt out of a rabies shot.
• The CDC references a polio resurgence in certain regions due to decreased immunization practices. Since there is no treatment for polio and the disease carries a 1:200 risk of irreversible paralysis, getting a polio vaccine is a worthwhile consideration for a trip to Egypt.
• The CDC’s site also notes that contaminated water in various parts of Egypt could cause leptospirosis or schistosomiasis, so sticking with bottled drinking water seems advisable. The site also provides detailed advice about insect bites and communicable diseases — all valuable insights.

Get Vaccinated by Your Physician or Pharmacist

When considering where to get vaccines for travel, many people choose to patronize a specialized travel clinic. But that’s generally not the most cost-effective source.

Vaccines can be pricey (typically $100 to $300 per dose), and most travel clinics don’t accept medical insurance. So, depending on how many vaccines are advised for the region you’re visiting, you may spend as much as $500 or more out of pocket.

Local health departments or community centers sometimes offer vaccines, too, but likely not all those needed for travel halfway around the world.

Most insurance providers, however, do cover vaccines.

With insurance, getting vaccinated may cost you little or nothing, either at your doctor’s office (if the specific vaccine is on hand there) or at a local pharmacy. When patients wonder where to get vaccines for travel, we often refer them to their usual pharmacy. Since the COVID pandemic, many pharmacies don’t require a prescription or even an appointment to administer vaccines.

Understand What Your Employer Covers

For employees who travel frequently on business, many employers sponsor programs to provide their staff with necessary shots. Larger companies may also have in-house healthcare providers who see that employees traveling for company business get the vaccines they need.

Or, if your company recommends a pricey local travel clinic, confirm that the company will cover your visit, shots, and medications. Your employer should cover whatever cost is involved with getting you medically ready for business travel.

Allow Plenty of Time Before Your Trip to Get What You Need

Several months before your trip, check the CDC’s recommendations for your destination, then chat with your Signature Healthcare physician about that advice and your specific travel itinerary.

To ensure you’re well-prepared, the doctor will help you determine what vaccines and medication you need, particularly given your overall health and current fitness.

Where you’ll be within a particular country makes a difference. Just indicating that you’re “going to the Philippines” doesn’t give your primary care doctor the necessary details for accurate travel advice.

In what part of the country will you travel? Where are you staying? Will your activities put you in contact with contaminated water and/or soil?

Take South America, for example. Yellow fever is endemic in certain parts of Ecuador, so a vaccination is recommended for some visitors. However, there’s no yellow fever at sea level in the Galapagos, so there’s no need to get vaccinated for that popular destination.

Depending on your destination, your primary care doctor may advise other precautions, such as malaria prophylaxis. They’ll also ensure you’re well-supplied with your regular medications and anything else you might need throughout the trip.

Lastly, when you know what shots are required for your trip, don’t procrastinate! Some vaccines must be given in a series of doses over a couple of months, and others must be administered a certain length of time before you depart to take effect properly.

Don’t wait until three weeks before your departure to reach out to your physician. You might miss your window of opportunity.

Stay Travel-Healthy

Wherever and whenever you travel, you want to feel your best and stay healthy throughout your trip.

If you need to know where to get vaccines for travel, or you’re contemplating a trip somewhere exotic, I’m happy to help you stay healthy at your destination. Reach out!