What Vaccines You Need Depending on Where You're Going in 2026

Only a small number of vaccines are legally mandatory to enter a country (mainly yellow fever in parts of Africa and South America, and the meningococcal vaccine for those traveling to Saudi Arabia for religious purposes); the rest — hepatitis A/B, typhoid, rabies — are medical recommendations that aren't checked at the border but reduce real risks depending on the region. A little-known fact: since 2016, the International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever is valid for life under the World Health Organization's International Health Regulations, no longer every 10 years as before.

Another detail that's often overlooked: some countries require the yellow fever certificate even if you only make a layover of several hours in a risk country, even if you won't leave the airport at your final destination.

Mandatory vaccines by region (the ones actually checked at the border)

These are the vaccines that can determine whether you're allowed to enter a country, depending on your region of origin or destination:

Recommended vaccines (not mandatory, but important)

• Hepatitis A and B: recommended for most destinations outside Western Europe, North America, and Oceania.
• Typhoid fever: recommended for extended trips to rural areas of Asia, Africa, and Central/South America.
• Rabies: recommended for long stays in rural areas with exposure to animals.
• Japanese encephalitis: recommended for extended stays in rural areas of Southeast Asia.

The international vaccination certificate: what it is and how long it lasts

The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) is the official document required by immigration authorities to prove yellow fever vaccination. One key detail: the vaccine takes about 10 days to take legal effect from the date it's administered, so getting vaccinated the same day as your flight won't work if you're expecting the certificate to be valid immediately.

Where to get vaccinated before traveling

The yellow fever certificate is only valid if issued by an authorized or certified vaccination center for international travelers, not just any clinic. For multi-dose vaccines (such as hepatitis B), it's recommended to start the schedule 4 to 6 weeks before the trip.

What to do if you get sick with something not covered by a vaccine

No vaccine completely eliminates the risk of getting sick during a trip. Having travel insurance with 24-hour medical assistance, like Assist-365's, lets you access treatment or an online doctor regardless of whether the illness was related to an available vaccine.

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Vaccines by region (general reference)

Region	Vaccine	Status
Sub-Saharan Africa (risk areas)	Yellow fever	Mandatory depending on country and area
South America (Amazon and jungle areas)	Yellow fever	Mandatory or recommended depending on country
Saudi Arabia (Hajj and Umrah)	Meningococcal	Mandatory for pilgrims
Southeast Asia (rural areas)	Japanese encephalitis	Recommended
Destinations with active cholera outbreaks	Cholera	Recommended based on current health alerts
Global (long or rural stays)	Hepatitis A/B, typhoid, rabies	Recommended

Frequently Asked Questions

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