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What vaccines do you need to travel?

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.

Which travel vaccines are available at Walgreens?

Travel vaccines Walgreens offers include: Yellow Fever, Meningitis, Polio, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, Tick-Borne Encephalitis, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Rabies*.

*Vaccines offered at Walgreens vary by state, age and health conditions. Talk to your local pharmacist about availability.

What other vaccines should I have before traveling?

It’s important to be up-to-date on routine vaccinations before traveling as well—like Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Tetanus, Flu and COVID-19.

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Your COVID-19 Vaccination

What You Need to Know

• COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
• Everyone 5 years and older get 1 updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness .
• Children aged 6 months – 4 years may need more than 1 updated COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date.
• People aged 65 years and older who received 1 dose of any updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Novavax) should receive 1 additional dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the previous updated dose. For more Novavax information, click or tap here .
• Find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster: Search vaccines.gov , text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.

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Where to Go

You can get most recommended vaccines at your doctor’s office, and many recommended vaccines are also available at local pharmacies, health centers, health departments, and travel clinics. Below you’ll find information and tools to help you find out where to get vaccinated near you—and some tips for making an appointment.

Find vaccines near you!

How do I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and free for everyone age 12 and older living in the United States, regardless of insurance or immigration status. To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you:

• Text your zip code to 438829
• Call 1-800-232-0233
• Visit Vaccines.gov

Your doctor’s office

If you have a doctor who you see regularly, you can schedule an appointment to talk about vaccines you and your family may need — and to get vaccinated.

Many local pharmacies offer most recommended vaccines for adults, as well as some travel vaccines. If you plan on getting vaccinated at a pharmacy, consider calling ahead to:

• Find out if the pharmacy has the vaccine you need . This is an especially good idea if you need a travel-related vaccine.
• Ask what you will need to pay . Many vaccines are covered by health insurance. But if you don’t have insurance, try calling a few pharmacies and ask what they charge for vaccines — prices can vary.

Health centers

Federally funded health centers provide a variety of health care services, including vaccination. You can go to a health center even if you don’t have health insurance — and some may offer sliding fees based on your income.

Use the Health Center Finder to find a list of health centers near you.

State and local health departments

State and local health departments are a great resource for finding out where to get vaccinated. They may also have information about state vaccine requirements and free and low-cost vaccines, including vaccines for travel.

Click on your state to explore your state health department’s vaccine information.

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Travel clinics

Planning a trip outside the United States? Travel clinics are a great resource for getting pre-travel health advice and vaccines for travelers. Travel clinics have doctors and nurses who specialize in travel health and vaccines. They may also stock vaccines that doctor’s offices and pharmacies don’t have.

Always call a travel clinic before you go — you’ll need an appointment at most of them, and you may need to see a doctor before you get vaccinated. Use the resources below to find a travel clinic.

To find a travel clinic near you, visit:

• International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) — travel medicine specialists
• American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) — infectious disease specialists who may practice travel medicine

Yellow fever clinics

Only certain travel clinics stock the yellow fever vaccine, which is required to travel in some countries. If you need the yellow fever vaccine, find a clinic that offers the yellow fever vaccine .

Learn more about vaccines for travelers .

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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Think Travel Vaccine Guide

As a health care provider, be sure to prepare your globe-trotting patients for travel by providing a quick pretravel risk assessment, consultation, and care. THINK TRAVEL:

• Ask your patients if they plan on any international travel .
• Make sure they are up- to- date on all routine vaccines before their trip.
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Yellow fever
• Japanese encephalitis
• Meningococcal diseases

For destination-specific vaccine recommendations, search CDC’s Destination pages.

Think about...

*Travelers may also need routine (non-travel) vaccines or boosters before travel including influenza; measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); tetanus (Td or Tdap); varicella; pneumococcus; and polio. Check CDC’s Destination Pages for country-specific vaccine recommendations.

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Travel vaccinations

Measles cases are increasing worldwide.

Before travelling, check that you and your family have received the recommended measles vaccinations.

Do not travel if you have symptoms of measles or have been in contact with someone with measles.

If you develop symptoms of measles after your return to Canada, call a health care provider right away.

Global Measles Notice

When travelling outside Canada, you may be at risk for a number of vaccine preventable illnesses.

You should consult a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic preferably six weeks before you travel. This is an opportunity to:

• review your immunization history
• make sure your provincial/territorial vaccination schedule is up-to-date
• discuss any trip-related health concerns you may have
• assess your needs based on where you plan to travel and what you plan to do

You may need additional vaccinations depending on your age, planned travel activities and local conditions. Preventing disease through vaccination is a lifelong process.

Use the reference below to determine which vaccinations may be recommended or required for your destination.

Vaccination recommendations by destination

Yellow fever vaccination.

Some countries require proof that you have received a yellow fever vaccination before allowing you to enter the country. Consult an embassy or consulate of your destination country in Canada for up-to-date information on its entry and exit requirements before you travel abroad.

Other countries may require you to have been vaccinated for yellow fever if you have passed through an area where yellow fever may occur .

Proof of vaccination must be documented on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis . You must carry the original certificate with you.

In Canada, the vaccination is only given at designated yellow fever vaccination centres .

Immunization records

• Download the free CANImmunize app from the iOS App Store or Google Play, and manage your family’s vaccination records on the go.
• Carry copies of your family’s immunization records while you travel and leave the originals at home.
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Travel vaccination advice

If you're planning to travel outside the UK, you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.

Vaccinations are available to protect you against infections such as yellow fever , typhoid and hepatitis A .

In the UK, the  NHS routine immunisation (vaccination) schedule protects you against a number of diseases, but does not cover all of the infectious diseases found overseas.

When should I start thinking about the vaccines I need?

If possible, see the GP or a private travel clinic at least 6 to 8 weeks before you're due to travel.

Some vaccines need to be given well in advance to allow your body to develop immunity.

And some vaccines involve a number of doses spread over several weeks or months.

You may be more at risk of some diseases, for example, if you're:

• travelling in rural areas
• backpacking
• staying in hostels or camping
• on a long trip rather than a package holiday

If you have a pre-existing health problem, this may make you more at risk of infection or complications from a travel-related illness.

Which travel vaccines do I need?

You can find out which vaccinations are necessary or recommended for the areas you'll be visiting on these websites:

• Travel Health Pro
• NHS Fit for Travel

Some countries require proof of vaccination (for example, for polio or yellow fever vaccination), which must be documented on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) before you enter or when you leave a country.

Saudi Arabia requires proof of vaccination against certain types of meningitis for visitors arriving for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.

Even if an ICVP is not required, it's still a good idea to take a record of the vaccinations you have had with you.

Find out more about the vaccines available for travellers abroad

Where do I get my travel vaccines?

First, phone or visit the GP practice or practice nurse to find out whether your existing UK vaccinations are up-to-date.

If you have any records of your vaccinations, let the GP know what you have had previously.

The GP or practice nurse may be able to give you general advice about travel vaccinations and travel health, such as protecting yourself from malaria.

They can give you any missing doses of your UK vaccines if you need them.

Not all travel vaccinations are available free on the NHS, even if they're recommended for travel to a certain area.

If the GP practice can give you the travel vaccines you need but they are not available on the NHS, ask for:

• written information on what vaccines are needed
• the cost of each dose or course
• any other charges you may have to pay, such as for some certificates of vaccination

You can also get travel vaccines from:

• private travel vaccination clinics
• pharmacies offering travel healthcare services

Which travel vaccines are free?

The following travel vaccines are available free on the NHS from your GP surgery:

• polio (given as a combined diphtheria/tetanus/polio jab )
• hepatitis A

These vaccines are free because they protect against diseases thought to represent the greatest risk to public health if they were brought into the country.

Which travel vaccines will I have to pay for?

You'll have to pay for travel vaccinations against:

• hepatitis B
• Japanese encephalitis
• tick-borne encephalitis
• tuberculosis (TB)
• yellow fever

Yellow fever vaccines are only available from designated centres .

The cost of travel vaccines that are not available on the NHS will vary, depending on the vaccine and number of doses you need.

It's worth considering this when budgeting for your trip.

Other things to consider

There are other things to consider when planning your travel vaccinations, including:

• your age and health – you may be more vulnerable to infection than others; some vaccines cannot be given to people with certain medical conditions
• working as an aid worker – you may come into contact with more diseases in a refugee camp or helping after a natural disaster
• working in a medical setting – a doctor, nurse or another healthcare worker may require additional vaccinations
• contact with animals – you may be more at risk of getting diseases spread by animals, such as rabies

If you're only travelling to countries in northern and central Europe, North America or Australia, you're unlikely to need any vaccinations.

But it's important to check that you're up-to-date with routine vaccinations available on the NHS.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Speak to a GP before having any vaccinations if:

• you're pregnant
• you think you might be pregnant
• you're breastfeeding

In many cases, it's unlikely a vaccine given while you're pregnant or breastfeeding will cause problems for the baby.

But the GP will be able to give you further advice about this.

People with immune deficiencies

For some people travelling overseas, vaccination against certain diseases may not be advised.

This may be the case if:

• you have a condition that affects your body's immune system, such as HIV or AIDS
• you're receiving treatment that affects your immune system, such as chemotherapy
• you have recently had a bone marrow or organ transplant

A GP can give you further advice about this.

Non-travel vaccines

As well as getting any travel vaccinations you need, it's also a good opportunity to make sure your other vaccinations are up-to-date and have booster vaccines if necessary.

Although many routine NHS vaccinations are given during childhood, you can have some of them (such as the MMR vaccine ) as an adult if you missed getting vaccinated as a child.

There are also some extra NHS vaccinations for people at higher risk of certain illnesses, such as the flu vaccine , the hepatitis B vaccine and the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) .

Your GP can advise you about any NHS vaccinations you might need.

Find out about NHS vaccinations and when to have them

Page last reviewed: 16 March 2023 Next review due: 16 March 2026

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Where Americans Are Traveling in 2024: By the Numbers

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Americans are traveling abroad in droves.

The number of U.S. citizens flying to international destinations reached nearly 6.5 million passengers in March, according to the International Trade Administration. That’s the highest March total in over five years and shows that the post-pandemic “revenge travel” trend is the new normal.

It wasn’t just March, which usually sees a spike in international departures for spring break. In every month of 2024 so far, more Americans left the country than last year and 2019. These trends point to a blockbuster summer for overseas travel.

Nearly half of Americans (45%) plan to travel by air and/or stay in a hotel this summer and expect to spend $3,594 on average, on these expenses, according to a survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, conducted online by The Harris Poll and commissioned by NerdWallet.

That's despite rising travel prices that have caused some hesitancy among would-be travelers. About 22% of those choosing not to travel this summer cite inflation making travel too expensive as a reason for staying home, according to the poll.

So where are traveling Americans going? And what does it mean for those looking to avoid crowds of tourists and higher travel prices?

New travel patterns

Nearly every region in the world saw an increase in U.S. visitors in March 2024 compared with March 2023, according to International Trade Administration data. Only the Middle East saw a decline of 9%. Yet not every region saw the same year-over-year bump. U.S. visitors to Asia saw a 33% jump, while Oceania and Central America each saw a 30% increase.

Comparing 2024 with 2023 only tells part of the story, however. The new patterns really emerge when comparing international travel trends to 2019. For example, Central America received 50% more U.S. visitors in March 2024 compared with March 2019. Nearly 1.5 million Americans visited Mexico, up 39% compared with before the pandemic. That’s almost as many visitors as the entire continent of Europe, which has seen a more modest 10% increase since 2019.

Only Canada and Oceania saw fewer visitors in March 2024 than in 2019, suggesting that interest in these locations has not rebounded. Indeed, the trends indicate a kind of tourism inertia from COVID-19 pandemic-era lockdowns: Those destinations that were more open to U.S. visitors during the pandemic, such as Mexico, have remained popular, while those that were closed, such as Australia, have fallen off travelers’ radars.

Price pressures

How these trends play out throughout the rest of the year will depend on a host of factors. Yet, none will likely prove more important than affordability. After months of steadiness, the cost of travel, including airfare, hotels and rental cars, has begun to sneak up again.

About 45% of U.S. travelers say cost is their main consideration when planning their summer vacation, according to a survey of 2,000 Americans by the travel booking platform Skyscanner.

That’s likely to weigh further on U.S. travelers’ appetite for visiting expensive destinations such as Europe, while encouraging travel to budget-friendly countries. It could also depress overall international travel as well, yet so far, Americans seem to be traveling more.

For those looking to avoid crowds while maintaining a budget, Skyscanner travel trends expert Laura Lindsay offered a recommendation many of us might need help finding on a map.

“Albania has been on the radar of travelers looking for something different,” Lindsay said. "Most people have yet to discover it, but flights and tourism infrastructure are in place, and there are fewer crowds in comparison to trending European destinations like Italy, Greece, or Portugal.”

On the flip side, American travelers looking to avoid crowds of compatriots would do well to avoid Japan, which has seen a staggering 50% increase in U.S. tourists between March 2019 and 2024.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

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Moscow Must-See Sites for Visitors: strolling around the Kremlin

The Tretyakov Gallery is Moscow’s national collection of pre-20th century Russian art. Not only is it a fabulous museum, but it provides a crash-course in Russian history and culture. Note in particular how the gold-backed icons and stiff portraits of tsars gave way to landscapes and historical epics as the country’s art flowered in the 18th and 19th centuries.

From the gallery, walk to the end of the lane and cross a little footbridge whose iron trees are adorned with padlocks put there by romantic couples. On the far side is a statue of the painter Ilya Repin and the gardens known as Bolotnaya Square (Marshy Square).

Turn left past the fountain and then right to cross a huge road bridge over the river. The traffic is noisy, but the views toward the Kremlin - with its red brick walls and gold-domed cathedrals - are stunning. On the other side of the bridge, go on through the Alexandrovsky Gardens , beneath the Kremlin walls. Red Square and the Bolshoi Theater are beyond the gates at the far end.

To get a little off the beaten track, turn left through the tunnel behind the statue of galloping horses. This popular bronze fountain is a reminder of the horse guards who used to ride in the huge Manezh building nearby, once an imperial parade ground, now an exhibition hall.

The elegant, neoclassical mansions across the road are part of Moscow State University , founded in 1755. Cross under the road and walk up Bolshaya Nikitskaya Ulitsa to reach the Conservatory [10], heart of many of the city’s musical traditions; concert tickets are often available for sale inside. The statue outside is composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, who taught at the new conservatoire from 1866 and wrote Swan Lake while he worked here; notes from six of his works are wrought into the fence around the monument.

Turn left at the big crossroads to stroll along one of the green alleyways of the busy boulevard ring, a chain of narrow parks along the line of the old city walls. On the left side of this short stretch, you will find the wonderful “ Theater at Nikitsky Gate ,” where you can listen to Russian songs and drink vodka in the courtyard on summer evenings.

Also nearby are the Museum of Eastern Arts , packed with lilac silk and turquoise ceramics, the popular John Donne pub and the Confael chocolate shop , where you can buy an edible postcard of St. Basil’s Cathedral.

The following section of the boulevard starts with a statue of 19th century satirist Nikolai Gogol, who lived nearby, and ends at the white and gold Christ the Savior Cathedral [16], the tallest Orthodox church in the world. Built to commemorate the 1812 victory over Napoleon, the cathedral was demolished by Josef Stalin in the 1930s, but reconstructed 60 years later.

The elegant Akademia restaurant , whose plate glass windows overlook the cathedral, serves up classic Russian dishes such as home-made borsch or sorrel soup with quails’ eggs.

For an old-fashioned dining alternative, the 19th-century style Chemodan restaurant, along Gogolevsky Boulevard (see Review, below) offers a great range of Siberian game, fish and traditional herb and spice “yerofeich” vodkas.

Going around the back of the Christ the Savior Cathedral, there are more great views from the wide pedestrian bridge over the Moscow River. Just across the bridgr, the trendy Strelka Bar is just the place for sunset waterside cocktails and watching the sun set.

Going over the bridge, into Zamoskvorechye again, you can see Zurab Tsereteli’s statue of a nautical Peter the Great. You can stroll through the garden on the left and on into refurbished Gorky Park , now a riverside Wi-Fi paradise of outdoor art and yoga classes, frequented by everyone from grannies and hipsters to young families with strollers.

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