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.

Vaccine budgets for 3 real trips

10-day Japan for two: $0 required. Recommended: routine immunizations (tetanus, MMR boosters) — free if up-to-date. Hepatitis A+B if food/adventure travel — $300/pp if uninsured. Total realistic: $0–$600 if you're starting from scratch on Hep A+B. Safari Kenya + Tanzania 12-day for two: Yellow fever required for entry (both countries) — $150–$200/pp. Typhoid recommended $100/pp. Hepatitis A+B recommended $300/pp. Malaria pills (Malarone, 14-day course) $70/pp. Optional rabies pre-exposure $800/pp (3-dose series) — usually skip unless trekking remote. Total required + recommended: $620/pp = $1,240 for two. Rwanda gorilla trek + Uganda 10-day for two: Yellow fever required $200/pp. Typhoid $100/pp. Malaria pills $90/pp. Meningitis recommended during dry-season — $150/pp. Cholera optional — $140/pp. Total $580–$720/pp = $1,160–$1,440 for two. Amazon Peru/Brazil 14-day: Yellow fever required many zones $200/pp, typhoid $100/pp, hepatitis A+B $300/pp, malaria pills $90/pp = $690/pp = $1,380 for two.

Per-destination required vs recommended

Africa (Sub-Saharan): yellow fever required for entry (carry International Certificate of Vaccination, aka “yellow card”) in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria. Recommended: hep A+B, typhoid, meningitis (dry season), rabies (adventure). Asia: routine + hep A for most of Southeast Asia. Japanese encephalitis $300 if rural/rice-paddy areas. Rabies if Thailand/Vietnam/Cambodia rural. India: hep A+B, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, rabies. Central/South America: yellow fever for Amazon zones. Typhoid, hep A+B, malaria pills for jungle regions. Middle East: routine + meningitis for Hajj/Umrah (required by Saudi Arabia). Europe, North America, Oceania: no special vaccines beyond routine. Eastern Europe: tick-borne encephalitis recommended if hiking June–August. Polynesia/Micronesia: routine only, dengue awareness (no vaccine approved yet in 2026).

Travel clinic vs primary care vs retail pharmacy

Travel clinic (Passport Health, CVS MinuteClinic travel, university travel clinics): comprehensive but expensive. Initial consultation $80–$150. Yellow fever $180–$220. Typhoid $100. Hep A+B series $300. Malarone $70. Total consultation + all recommended $900–$1,400. Primary care: cheaper if in-network. Most PCPs don't stock yellow fever or Japanese encephalitis — limited utility. Retail pharmacy (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart): stocks hep A+B, typhoid, routine vaccines at 30–40% less than travel clinics. Doesn't stock yellow fever. Military bases (for active duty + dependents): free. Costco pharmacy: offers travel vaccines at cheapest retail prices — check locally. Budget move: routine + hep A+B at Walmart/Costco, yellow fever + specialty at travel clinic.

Insurance and travel cards that offset costs

Most US health insurance partially covers travel vaccines as preventive care — check your plan. Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPOs cover hep A+B, typhoid. Yellow fever rarely covered (exotic category). FSA/HSA fully reimbursable for all travel vaccines. Card-based trip protection: Chase Sapphire Reserve Trip Cancellation includes reasonable medical prep costs for denial-of-boarding scenarios. Amex Platinum Global Medical benefit pays for emergency medical abroad, not pre-trip vaccines. Capital One Venture X: no vaccine coverage. Stack FSA + primary care + retail pharmacy = cheapest legal path. Travel clinic CPT code 99201+ consultation is often covered by insurance as an office visit at in-network $25–$40 copay.

FAQ on travel vaccines (expanded)

Yellow fever card lost? Contact issuing clinic for duplicate — they keep records 10 years. Without card, refused entry to Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, etc. Carry physical card + photo backup. Yellow fever contraindication? Immunocompromised, pregnant, over 60 first-time recipients — medical waiver on letterhead accepted in most countries. Malaria pill options? Malarone (atovaquone-proguanil) $5/pill, daily, start 2 days before. Doxycycline $1/pill, daily, start 1–2 days before, sun sensitivity side effect. Lariam (mefloquine) $10/pill, weekly, psychiatric side effects — avoid. Most travel doctors prescribe Malarone for Africa. Rabies vaccine pre vs post? Pre-exposure 3-dose series $800 doesn't prevent disease — shortens post-exposure treatment from 5 shots to 2. Useful for remote trekkers. Post-exposure in most countries requires evacuation to capital — budget emergency medical insurance. Japanese encephalitis? Recommended for rural Asia 1+ month stays. $300–$400 for 2-dose series. Skip for 10-day Tokyo trip. Hepatitis A vs A+B? A alone $160, A+B combined Twinrix series $300 over 6 months. Both recommended for international travel. Cholera vaccine? Oral Vaxchora $300, modest protection (60% at 10 days). Skip unless cholera-outbreak zone. Typhoid pill vs shot? Vivotif oral capsules $80 (5 doses over 1 week), 50–80% protection for 5 years. Typhim Vi injection $100, single shot, 2 years. Pill cheaper, longer coverage. COVID-19 2026? Most countries no longer require. Some (China, Philippines) still request proof of recent boosters. Meningitis for Hajj? Saudi Arabia requires MCV4 for Hajj/Umrah pilgrims, $150. Tick-borne encephalitis Europe? Recommended for hiking in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic June–August. 3-dose series $250.

Troubleshooting: you're 3 weeks out and haven't started vaccines

Triage by urgency. Yellow fever requires 10 days before travel to Kenya/Tanzania — if inside 10 days, get it now, carry the card anyway; border officials rarely check dates. Hep A single dose is 90% effective at 4 weeks, take it now even if series incomplete. Typhoid oral Vivotif completes in 1 week — start immediately. Rabies pre-exposure 3-dose over 4 weeks — skip if <3 weeks out. Malarone starts 2 days before entry — easy. Japanese encephalitis series takes 4 weeks — skip if <4 weeks. Meningitis protection at 10 days. Prioritized sequence: yellow fever day 1, hep A + typhoid day 2, JE/meningitis days 7 and 21 if schedulable, malaria script 2 days before departure. Passport Health clinics book same-week for this scenario at $200–$400 premium over non-urgent pricing. Travel clinic at airport (JFK, LAX have one-day turnaround yellow fever clinics) = last-resort backup at $300+ premium. Don't arrive in Nairobi without the yellow card — you'll be vaccinated at the airport with questionable sanitation + $50 administrative fee.

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