Travel vaccine cost calculator

Travel vaccines: who actually needs what

Going to Europe or Japan? Your routine vaccinations cover you. Going to sub-Saharan Africa, South America, South or Southeast Asia? You'll want 2–5 additional vaccines at $100–$400 each, plus possible anti-malarial medication. A full Africa-prep vaccination package for one person runs $600–$1,400.

2026 travel vaccine costs (US, uninsured)

• Yellow fever: $190–$325 per shot, 1 dose, lifelong protection. Required for entry in many African and some South American countries.
• Typhoid: $85–$140 injectable (2 years) or $95–$150 oral (5 years).
• Hepatitis A: $110–$180 per dose, 2 doses. Usually covered by insurance.
• Hepatitis B: $100–$170 per dose, 3 doses. Often already done in childhood.
• Japanese encephalitis: $250–$340 per dose, 2 doses for full protection.
• Rabies (pre-exposure): $350–$450 per dose, 3 doses. Recommended for long-term travelers in rural Asia/Africa.
• Meningitis (ACWY): $140–$200. Required for Hajj/Umrah, recommended for sub-Saharan Africa.
• Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis booster: $80–$120. Needed every 10 years.
• Cholera (oral): $280–$350. Rarely required but recommended for aid workers.

Malaria prophylaxis

• Malarone (atovaquone-proguanil): $5–$8/day, start 1 day before, continue 7 days after. Most tolerable.
• Doxycycline: $0.30–$1/day, start 1–2 days before, continue 28 days after. Cheap, causes sun sensitivity.
• Mefloquine (Lariam): once weekly, $10–$15/dose. Psychiatric side effects; less commonly used.
• Primaquine, tafenoquine: less common, specific indications.

Insurance coverage

Routine vaccines (Hep A/B, tetanus, MMR boosters) often covered 100% on US health insurance. Travel-specific vaccines (yellow fever, typhoid, JE, rabies) usually NOT covered and paid out of pocket. Passport Health, Travel Clinics of America, and local public health departments all offer travel-specific vaccinations. Prices vary 40%+ between providers — shop around.

Where to go

Passport Health (national chain), CVS MinuteClinic (some vaccines only), local travel clinics, county health departments (often cheapest). Schedule 6–8 weeks before travel for multi-dose vaccines.

Worked examples: vaccine costs by destination

Example 1 — 2-week Kenya safari, unvaccinated adult. Yellow fever $250 (required for Kenya entry), typhoid $120, Hep A $150 × 2 doses ($300 total, second at 6mo), Tdap if overdue $100, malaria prophylaxis (Malarone) $8/day × 24 days = $192, rabies pre-exposure recommended optional $1,200 for 3 doses. Total: $962-$2,162.

Example 2 — 3-week Thailand + Vietnam beach trip, unvaccinated adult. Yellow fever not required, Hep A $300, typhoid $120, Tdap $100, Japanese encephalitis (rural activities, rice fields) $680 for 2 doses, malaria prophylaxis recommended Doxy for $25 total. Total: $1,225.

Example 3 — 1-week Europe trip, up-to-date routines. No travel vaccines needed. $0 extra. This is why Europe is popular.

Example 4 — 2-week Peru Machu Picchu + Amazon. Yellow fever $250 (required for Amazon entry), typhoid $120, Hep A $150 (if first dose only), malaria Doxy $20 for Amazon portion, altitude medication (Diamox) $30. Total: $570.

Example 5 — Family of 4 going to Tanzania for 10-day safari. Yellow fever × 4 = $1,000. Typhoid × 4 = $480. Hep A × 4 dose 1 = $600. Malarone prophylaxis × 4 × 16 days = $512. Grand total: $2,592. Budget vaccine costs into family safari math; it's 10-12% of safari budget.

Vaccine timing guide

• 8+ weeks before: Hep A/B series, Japanese encephalitis (2 doses 28 days apart), rabies pre-exposure (3 doses over 28 days).
• 4+ weeks before: Yellow fever (10+ days for immunity), oral typhoid (4 doses over 8 days).
• 2+ weeks before: injectable typhoid, MMR/flu/Tdap boosters.
• 1-2 days before: start malaria prophylaxis (Malarone).
• 1-2 weeks before: start Doxycycline malaria prophylaxis.

Where to get travel vaccines 2026

• Passport Health (national chain): full-service, $85-$95 consultation fee plus vaccine costs. Convenient.
• County health departments: often 20-40% cheaper than private clinics. Book 4-6 weeks ahead.
• CVS MinuteClinic / Walgreens: limited vaccine selection (no yellow fever), convenient, insurance-friendly.
• University hospital travel clinics: Johns Hopkins, Mayo, Mass General — authoritative, often priciest.
• Costco/warehouse pharmacies: cheapest for routine (Tdap, flu, Hep A/B). No yellow fever.

Countries requiring yellow fever on entry

• Required if arriving from yellow fever-endemic country: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Botswana, Egypt, India, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines.
• Required for all travelers: Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, DRC, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan.
• Recommended but not required for entry: Brazil (Amazon regions), Colombia (Amazon, Pacific), Peru (Amazon), Venezuela.

FAQ on travel vaccines

• Is travel insurance a substitute for vaccines? No — insurance covers treatment, vaccines prevent disease. Both are necessary for high-risk destinations.
• Can I get vaccines at my doctor's office? Routine yes; travel-specific (yellow fever, JE) usually require designated travel clinics.
• What's the difference between required and recommended? Required = border won't admit you without proof. Recommended = CDC/WHO guidance for health protection, not enforced.
• How long does yellow fever vaccine last? Lifetime for most travelers (WHO updated 2016). Booster rarely needed.
• Are vaccines safe for kids? Most yes, with age-appropriate dosing. Yellow fever minimum 9 months. Malarone age 11+ or weight-dosed.
• Pregnant travelers? Live vaccines (yellow fever, MMR) contraindicated. Consult OB + travel medicine specialist.
• Should I bring malaria prescription just in case? Some travelers carry Malarone for self-treatment if symptoms develop far from medical care. Discuss with travel medicine doctor.
• Does travel insurance cover vaccines? Almost never — preventive care excluded.
• Do I need altitude meds for Peru/Bolivia? Diamox (acetazolamide) recommended for Cusco, La Paz, Lhasa. $15-$30 Rx.
• Can I skip vaccines if I'm only in cities? Urban areas lower risk but not zero. Typhoid, Hep A still recommended in developing world cities.

Troubleshooting: vaccine issues

Issue 1: Yellow fever shortage in US 2016-2022 (Sanofi supply issues, Stamaril substitute). Largely resolved by 2026 but call clinics before scheduling. Issue 2: Traveling in <10 days and yellow fever needed. Very few workarounds — some destinations accept medical waiver if contraindicated. Most require reschedule. Issue 3: Lost yellow fever certificate. Replacement from original issuing clinic (they keep records); emergency replacement at CDC quarantine station some US airports. Issue 4: Pregnancy or immunocompromise. Medical waiver available from travel medicine specialist; most border agents accept. Issue 5: Multi-country trip and different malaria strains. Chloroquine-resistant areas (most of Africa) require Malarone or Doxy; chloroquine still works in Central America, parts of Middle East. Issue 6: Cost too high and paying cash. Public health departments often charge $50-$70 less than private clinics.

Related tools

Pair with travel insurance, safari cost, and visa fees.