Travel vaccines
Travel vaccines: side effects, products and how long they last
Eight vaccines travellers ask about most, with the licensed products, duration of protection and where the side-effect data lives. Counts on the linked pages are reports, not rates.
Typhoid vaccine
Typhim Vi (injection) and Vivotif (oral capsules); protection ~2–5 years; recommended for travel to South Asia and other high-incidence regions.
Products: Vivotif, Typhim Vi · side effects data
Yellow fever vaccine
YF-Vax / Stamaril, single dose with lifetime validity for most travellers under International Health Regulations; required for entry to some countries; live attenuated.
Products: YF-VAX · side effects data
Cholera vaccine
Vaxchora (oral, single dose, U.S.); Dukoral outside the U.S.; for travel to areas with active transmission.
Products: Vaxchora · side effects data
Rabies vaccine
Imovax and RabAvert; pre-exposure series for high-risk travel or occupations, and post-exposure prophylaxis after a bite.
Products: Imovax Rabies · side effects data
Japanese encephalitis vaccine
Ixiaro, two doses; for longer or rural stays in endemic parts of Asia.
Products: Ixiaro · side effects data
Hepatitis A vaccine
Havrix and Vaqta; two doses; the most commonly recommended travel vaccine.
Products: Vaqta, Havrix · side effects data
Meningococcal vaccine
MenACWY required for Hajj/Umrah pilgrims and recommended for the African meningitis belt.
Products: Menveo, Bexsero · side effects data
Polio booster vaccine
A one-time adult IPV booster for travel to countries with circulating poliovirus.
Products: IPOL · side effects data
Common questions
Which travel vaccines have the most reported side effects?
Report counts reflect how many doses are given and how closely a product is watched, not risk: hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines have the most reports simply because they are the most used. Each vaccine page shows the counts next to the dose context and the trial reactogenicity data.
How long does the typhoid vaccine last?
Typhim Vi (injection) is re-dosed every 2 years for continued exposure; Vivotif (oral) every 5 years in U.S. labeling. Both protect against Salmonella Typhi only, not paratyphoid.
Is the yellow fever vaccine required?
Some countries require proof of vaccination for entry under the International Health Regulations; a single dose is now considered valid for life for most travellers. It is a live vaccine with age and immune-status precautions, which the yellow fever page lists.
Reviewed 2026-10-08 · Open Source Medicine Foundation. Check CDC Travelers' Health or your national travel clinic for destination-specific requirements. Not medical advice.