Travel vaccination – frequently asked questions (FAQs)

NCIRS fact sheets, FAQs and other resources

Key points

People who are planning to travel internationally may need additional vaccines to protect against infectious diseases they may be exposed to while overseas.
Travellers should consult a healthcare provider at least 6–12 weeks before travel outside of Australia to ensure there is time to receive the recommended vaccines and develop immunity before travel.
Vaccines that are recommended before travel can be thought of in three categories:
- Vaccines scheduled on the National Immunisation Program (NIP): In consultation with their healthcare provider, travellers should ensure they are up to date with this group of vaccines before international travel.
- Vaccines that can be administered before the relevant NIP schedule points: Many vaccines can be given safely and effectively at slightly earlier ages than specified on the NIP Schedule, if needed to provide protection against infectious diseases that are circulating at a higher rate at the traveller’s destination(s). An example is earlier measles vaccine doses for children.
- Other vaccines that are recommended based on the person’s health, itinerary, planned activities and possible exposure to hazards: Healthcare providers should discuss these details with travellers when considering whether or not to recommend specific vaccines.

FAQs

When is the best time to consult an immunisation provider about vaccination before overseas travel?

Travellers are recommended to consult with an immunisation provider at least 6–12 weeks before travel. This helps ensure there is time:

to administer vaccines that require more than 1 dose
for full immunity to develop following vaccination.

People with children from birth to 5 years of age who may be at higher risk of tuberculosis at their destination(s) may need to consider the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine. These parents should consult an immunisation provider at least 3–4 months before intended travel to determine whether referral to a specific BCG clinic may be required to access the vaccine.

State and territory health departments can provide advice on how immunisation providers can refer patients to a BCG clinic. Waiting periods may be required due to service availability.

Where can people access vaccines that are recommended before travel?

Most travel vaccines can be prescribed by a general practitioner and administered at a general practice. Travellers can also seek advice at a specialised travel health clinic.

The yellow fever vaccine can only be prescribed by a registered yellow fever-accredited provider. Details of registered yellow fever vaccination providers across Australia are available from state and territory health departments.

Other vaccines that may be recommended prior to travel for people in specific risk groups include the BCG vaccine (for protection from tuberculosis) and mpox (formerly monkeypox) vaccines. State and territory health departments can advise on how to access these vaccines.

Should children receive childhood immunisations early because of travel?

The National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule is tailored to suit the Australian context. However, many vaccines – for both children and adults – can be given safely and effectively at slightly earlier ages than specified on the NIP Schedule, if needed.

A healthcare provider may suggest a child receives certain vaccines earlier than they are scheduled on the NIP to protect the child from infectious diseases that are circulating at a higher rate overseas, such as measles (see below).

Depending on the timing of vaccination, the early dose(s) may be considered as either the scheduled NIP dose or an additional dose – meaning all the remaining scheduled NIP doses will still be needed when the child returns to Australia. This is because giving certain vaccines at a younger age may provide a lower level of protection over time.

How early can infants who will be travelling overseas receive the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine?

The first dose of the MMR vaccine is routinely given at 12 months of age in Australia, but the vaccine may be recommended for infants as young as 6 months of age – particularly those travelling overseas to areas where measles outbreaks are occurring.

If this first dose of an MMR vaccine is given between 6 and 11 months of age, it is considered an additional dose to the 2 scheduled doses on the NIP and the 2 scheduled doses will still be required after the child reaches 12 months of age. For more details, see the Australian Immunisation Handbook.

For children recommended an early dose of an MMR-containing vaccine, the combination measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine is not recommended if the child is receiving an MMR-containing vaccine for the first time, because it is associated with a higher rate of fever and febrile seizures if given as a first dose at this age. A single antigen (monovalent) varicella vaccine can be given to infants as young as 9 months of age and should be given separately to the MMR vaccine, preferably in a different limb.

How early can babies receive the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine for travel?

The Varilrix® brand of the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine is approved for use from 9 months of age and can be given to infants travelling to destinations where there is a high risk of varicella.

However, if the first dose of a varicella-containing vaccine is given between 9 and 12 months of age, it needs to be repeated later – preferably at 18 months of age, when varicella is included in the MMRV combination vaccine scheduled at that age on the NIP.

For children recommended a varicella vaccine before travel, the combination MMRV vaccine is not recommended if the child is receiving an MMR-containing vaccine for the first time. However, the MMR and monovalent varicella vaccines can be given on the same day as two separate injections, preferably in different limbs.

Which vaccines can be considered for children who will be travelling internationally?

The following table lists vaccines that can be considered for children who will be travelling overseas and the minimum ages at which they can be administered.

Check the relevant disease chapter of the Australian Immunisation Handbook for further details on minimum age recommendations.

Vaccine	Age range at which vaccine can be administered
	Birth	6 weeks	2 months	4 months	6 months	9 months	12 months	2 years	5 years
BCG	Yes
Rabies*	Yes^*
Meningococcal ACWY	No	Yes^{^}					Yes
Meningococcal B	No	Yes^{^#}	Yes
Japanese encephalitis	No		Yes
Influenza	No				Yes
MMR	No				Yes^{^}		Yes
Varicella (chickenpox)	No					Yes^{^}		Yes
Yellow fever	No					Yes
Hepatitis A	No						Yes
Typhoid	No							Yes
Cholera	No							Yes
COVID-19	No								Yes

^*Rabies vaccines can be used from birth but are a lower priority in children who are not yet starting to walk, due to lower risk of animal bites.
^{^}Lighter shading denotes earlier administration than scheduled on NIP
^#Funded under the NIP for certain children only

What should be done if a child has missed some of their scheduled childhood vaccines while overseas?

Immunisation providers should discuss and plan timing of vaccination – before, during and after travel – with their patients and their parents/carers.

Any doses of scheduled vaccines that a child misses while they are overseas should be discussed with a healthcare provider as soon as possible on return, so that catch-up vaccinations can be organised.

Are there any compulsory travel vaccines?

Different countries around the world have their own laws and follow the International Health Regulations regarding vaccination and proof of vaccination requirements. Travellers should check these requirements or consult with their healthcare provider prior to departure.

The most reliable source of up-to-date information on vaccination requirements is usually the relevant embassy or consulate of the destination country.

Countries may have temporary vaccination requirements in response to outbreaks of infectious diseases. For example, many countries required proof of COVID-19 vaccination for entry for a period of time during the pandemic.

Travellers should also check with airlines and cruise operators if there are vaccination requirements for passengers.

In which countries is yellow fever vaccination compulsory for travellers?

The International Health Regulations set yellow fever vaccination requirements for a range of travel-related situations, and people travelling to (or transiting through) a country or area with a high risk of yellow fever may be required to show proof of yellow fever vaccination on arrival to the high-risk country or subsequent countries on their itinerary.

Similarly, when returning to Australia after having recently visited a country with high risk of yellow fever, travellers may need to go through additional steps at border security if proof of yellow fever vaccination cannot be shown.

It is important to be aware that the geographical areas where proof of yellow fever vaccination is required are different from areas where the vaccine may be recommended due to risk of yellow fever infection.

Travellers should consult with their healthcare provider about yellow fever vaccination requirements.

Which vaccines are compulsory for those who are travelling from Australia to Mecca, Saudi Arabia to participate in pilgrimages?

People who travel from Australia to Mecca for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages are required by Saudi Arabian law to show proof of meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccination within the last 3 years as part of the entry visa application process.

How should people protect themselves from influenza if they are travelling internationally or returning to Australia from overseas?

Influenza vaccination is recommended before overseas travel, especially if it is known that influenza virus is circulating in the destination region.

A northern hemisphere formulation of the annual influenza vaccine may be preferred before travel to the northern hemisphere during its influenza season (usually, October–May), but this is generally unavailable in Australia. The southern hemisphere formulation is considered an acceptable alternative, due to the small differences between the vaccines.

Individuals who have received a current southern hemisphere influenza vaccine earlier in the influenza season and are travelling to the northern hemisphere during its influenza season may receive a second dose of influenza vaccine before travel (ideally, at least two weeks prior to departure).

For people who have recently returned to Australia from travelling or living overseas, vaccination with the influenza vaccine currently available in Australia is recommended, regardless of the time of the year.

More information about influenza vaccination for travellers is available in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.

Are travel vaccines available free of charge in Australia?

Most vaccines specific to overseas travel are not funded under the NIP, but they may be reimbursed through private health insurance. Travellers should seek advice from their private health insurer about any available reimbursements.

The cost of travel vaccines varies depending on the type of vaccine and the place of purchase. Immunisation providers can give information about the cost of these vaccines.

How can a person check or obtain a record of any travel vaccines they have received in the past?

Individuals can access their Immunisation History Statement (IHS) from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). An IHS shows all of the vaccines a person has previously received – including travel vaccines – that have been reported to the AIR.

An individual’s IHS can be accessed:

via the Medicare app
from immunisation providers who can access the IHS via clinic software
via the AIR website
by calling the AIR on 1800 653 809.

More details, including advice for non-Medicare card holders, can be found at this Services Australia page.

A person’s IHS may not display all of the vaccines they have previously received, because it is not mandatory to report all vaccinations and the AIR only started to hold vaccination records for people aged over 7 years from 2016. Individuals may need to contact previous immunisation providers to request records of certain vaccines. They can also ask their provider to ensure all vaccine doses administered are recorded on the AIR.

If travellers are returning to a country where they have spent a significant length of time in the past, are travel vaccines still recommended?

Depending on geographic location and other factors, infectious diseases are still a risk for – and can be common among – travellers returning to a country where they have previously spent a significant length of time.

Accordingly, travel vaccines may still be recommended for these individuals. This is because during their time away, people may lose immunity to certain bacteria or viruses. Different or new strains of infectious organisms that were not present before may also be circulating in the destination country. New vaccines that offer better protection may also be available.

It is important for all people who are travelling internationally to discuss the need for travel vaccines – and find out about any current outbreaks in destination countries – with an immunisation provider.

How can travel vaccines that are recommended but are not registered for use or available in Australia be accessed?

Certain travel vaccines, such as the tick-borne encephalitis or dengue vaccines, are not registered for use in Australia. However, there are pathways for immunisation providers to seek permission to import vaccines from overseas, such as the TGA Special Access Scheme. Many travel clinics can support this process. Vaccines sourced from overseas can be recorded on the AIR.

Are travel vaccines recommended for individuals travelling on cruise ships?

Cruises have been associated with an increased risk of certain infectious diseases, including the common cold, influenza, COVID-19, traveller’s diarrhoea, typhoid, and other gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.

It is important for travellers to discuss the details of their cruise with an immunisation provider – ideally, around 12 weeks prior to departure.

Vaccine recommendations will vary depending on the cruise itinerary and the traveller’s personal medical history and risk factors. Some cruise operators may have their own vaccination requirements for passengers.