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Planning ahead
Talk to your health care provider or visit a travel clinic at least 6 to 8 weeks before you travel. This is important because some vaccines may take several weeks to become fully effective, and others may require more than 1 dose.
If you leave on short notice, it's still important to talk to your health care provider or visit a travel clinic. Some vaccines that require more than 1 dose, like the hepatitis A vaccine, can still give you partial protection after just 1 dose. Some vaccines can also be given on an accelerated schedule; this means doses are given over a shorter period.
Vaccines for travel
Routine vaccines
No matter where you travel, it is important to ensure your routine vaccines are up to date. Many diseases prevented by routine vaccines, such as measles and polio, are no longer common in Canada but are still common in other countries.
Recommended travel vaccines
Additional vaccines may be recommended depending on the following:
- Your travel destination.
- Your age.
- The risk of disease in the country or countries you are visiting.
- The length of your trip.
- The nature of the travel (for example, if you will stay in urban or remote areas).
- The activities you have planned while traveling.
Here are some examples of vaccines that may be recommended for travel to certain countries:
- Hepatitis A vaccine.
- Meningococcal vaccine.
- Japanese encephalitis vaccine.
- Typhoid vaccine.
- Cholera and travellers’ diarrhea vaccine.
- Yellow fever vaccine.
Required travel vaccines
Some countries require proof of receiving certain vaccines before entering the country. These requirements vary by country. For example:
- Saudi Arabia requires proof of meningococcal vaccination for all travelers arriving for Umrah or pilgrimage (Hajj) and seasonal workers.
- Yellow fever vaccination, documented on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, is required to enter certain countries.
Where to get travel vaccines
Travel vaccines are available from travel clinics, most pharmacies, and some doctors’ offices. You must go to a designated yellow fever vaccination centre for the yellow fever vaccine. There is a charge for most travel vaccines.