Traveling abroad with your child can be an exciting adventure. You can explore new places, try different foods and learn about other cultures together. But you will also be in contact with new germs.
Before you go, take steps to help protect your child from illnesses that may be more common where you're traveling. Talk with your pediatrician and check whether you need any destination-specific travel vaccines before your trip.
Getting the vaccines your child needs before you travel will give you peace of mind. Your family can enjoy the trip and not worry about getting sick.
Talk with your pediatrician before your tripYour pediatrician is a trusted partner who can help you plan a healthy trip. They will tell you which vaccines will keep your child healthy while they explore and have fun.
Thanks to vaccines, diseases like polio and meningitis are now rare in the United States. In most other countries, the risk of polio is small, but outbreaks can happen when people are not vaccinated. Some vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio and meningitis, may be more common at your travel destination. Fortunately, you can protect yourself by staying up to date on recommended vaccines.
Make an appointment with your pediatrician a few weeks before your trip so there is time for any vaccines needed for international travel.
Make sure routine vaccines are up to date
Ask your pediatrician if your child is up to date on routine vaccines. These may include:
Travel vaccine timing: some shots are given on a different schedule
If your child is under 1 year old, talk with your pediatrician about getting an early dose of the MMR vaccine. The first dose is usually given at 12 months. For travel, it may be given as early as 6 months of age.
Your child may need a flu vaccine before travel, even if it isn’t time for the yearly one. Flu season is different in different parts of the world. In some tropical areas, flu can spread all year.
If you travel to places with more meningitis (like some areas of Africa), your child may need a meningococcal vaccine, no matter how old they are. In the U.S., this shot is recommended for teens and young adults, an age when risk of exposure increases.
Measles outbreaks are a growing problem in many countries, including the United States. Unvaccinated travelers can catch measles and spread it when they return home.
Destination-specific travel vaccines for children
Depending on where you’re going and what you have planned, your child (and your whole family) may need other immunizations.
Keep in mind that your pediatrician may not have these vaccines in their office, so plan ahead. They may need to order them or send you to a special clinic or pharmacy for the shot.
Common travel vaccines include:
- Rabies is rare in the United States, but it’s common in other countries. In some places, it may be hard to get treatment after a bite. A rabies vaccine makes sense if your child will be around dogs or wild animals.
- Mosquitos spread yellow fever in parts of Latin America and Africa. Some countries require getting a yellow fever vaccine to enter.
- The typhoid vaccine can protect you from typhoid fever, a life threatening disease you can get in parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America by consuming contaminated food and water.
- Other vaccines may be recommended based on your trip, such as cholera, Japanese encephalitis or tick-borne encephalitis.
Tip: Bring your child’s vaccine record. Some countries require proof of immunization to enter, especially for yellow fever.
Avoid other illnesses while traveling
There are some illnesses that vaccines can’t prevent. Here are additional steps that can help your child avoid infections while traveling:
Food and water safety tips
Be careful with what you eat and drink to avoid food-borne illness. Travelers' diarrhea is common in some parts of Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Avoid street food and food that is prepared or served in unclean places.
Avoid raw or undercooked meat and raw fruit and vegetables.
Only drink clean or treated water. Choose bottled water or water treated with chlorine or iodine.
Your pediatrician may recommend bringing an antibiotic in case your child gets traveller’s diarrhea.
Carry electrolyte powder packets to prepare a rehydration solution in case of dehydration.
Prevent mosquito-borne illnesses
Protect your child from mosquito bites. Mosquitos can spread serious infections like malaria, dengue, Zika virus and chikungunya.
Have your child wear long-sleeved cotton shirts and long pants.
Use EPA-approved insect repellent with DEET (diethyltoluamide) or Picardin 20% on exposed skin. Put on a light layer and wash it off once your child comes indoors. When sunscreen is needed, apply it first—allow it to dry, then apply insect repellant.
Use bed nets and window screens.
If your pediatrician prescribes malaria medicine, make sure your child takes it exactly as recommended.
International travel checklist for families
✔ Schedule a pediatrician visit, ideally 4–8 weeks before travel (some vaccines may need a travel clinic referral).
✔ Confirm routine vaccines are up to date.
✔ Ask about early or adjusted vaccine schedules.
✔ Check for destination-specific vaccines.
✔ Talk to your doctor if your child needs medicine for motion sickness.
✔ If your destination involves high altitude, ask how to prevent altitude sickness.
✔ Arrange visits to travel clinics or pharmacies if needed.
✔ Pack your child’s immunization record and regular medications.
✔ Bring allergy or asthma medications and electrolyte rehydration packets.
✔ Choose safe food and water options during travel.
✔ Protect against insect bites and sunburn.
Remember
With the right planning, vaccines and precautions, your child can stay safe and healthy while exploring the world. A little preparation goes a long way toward a worry-free family trip. If your child gets sick after returning from travel, please see your doctor.
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About Dr. Padhye
Amruta Padhye, MD, FAAP, is board-certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases. She is the division chief for Pediatric Infectious Diseases at University of Missouri Children's Hospital in Columbia, Mo. Her interests include vaccine preventable diseases and medical education.