Vaccines & travel health.
Required vs recommended vaccines for every AIM destination. Color coded for clarity. Always confirm current requirements with a travel clinic at least 6–8 weeks before departure.
Country-by-country guide
Required vaccines (red) are needed for entry. Recommended vaccines (blue) are advised by the CDC. Malaria prophylaxis (purple) is prescription-only and depends on itinerary.
Central America
Guatemala
None for direct entry from US
Recommended for rural areas below 1,500m
Dengue and Zika present; no vaccine available. Screwworm myiasis outbreak reported 2025-2026.
Nicaragua
None for direct entry from US
Recommended in some rural areas
Dengue risk year-round. Cholera vaccine recommended for aid workers/long-stay.
Costa Rica
None for direct entry from US
Limited risk in Limón province only
Generally low health risk. Screwworm myiasis cases reported.
Honduras
None for direct entry from US
Recommended in rural areas
Dengue, Zika, and chikungunya present.
Mexico
None for direct entry from US
Limited risk in some southern/rural areas
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever alert (Dec 2025). Dengue present.
Caribbean
Dominican Republic
None for direct entry from US
Recommended for all travelers to rural areas
Dengue, Zika present. Cholera risk in some areas.
South America
Colombia
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED if traveling to jungle/rural areas below 2,300m; may be required for entry from endemic countries
Recommended below 1,700m elevation (excl. Bogotá)
YF vaccine strongly recommended by CDC for most areas. Level 2 CDC travel notice for YF in South America (2025-2026).
Ecuador
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED for travelers arriving from YF-endemic countries; CDC recommends for areas east of Andes below 2,300m
Recommended below 1,500m (excl. Quito, Guayaquil)
Altitude sickness risk in highlands. YF vaccine recommended for Amazon basin.
Peru
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED for travelers to jungle areas below 2,300m; required if arriving from endemic country
Recommended in Amazon basin and rural areas below 2,000m
Altitude sickness risk at high elevations. YF vaccine critical for Amazon/jungle.
Bolivia
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED for travelers ≥1 year arriving from endemic countries; strongly recommended for lowland areas
Recommended in areas below 2,500m
Severe altitude sickness risk in La Paz (3,640m). YF endemic in lowlands.
Argentina
Yellow Fever — Required if arriving from YF-endemic country. CDC recommends for Misiones/Corrientes provinces
Not generally required (no significant risk)
Patagonia: hypothermia/altitude risk, not vaccine-related. Most of Argentina is low risk.
Chile
None — no YF requirement even from endemic countries
None — no malaria transmission
Very low infectious disease risk. Easter Island has dengue risk.
Southern Africa
South Africa
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED if arriving from or transiting through a YF-endemic country (even airport transit >12hrs)
Recommended in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal border areas
CRITICAL: If routing through East Africa first, YF certificate is mandatory for SA entry. African Tick-Bite Fever risk.
Eswatini (Swaziland)
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED if arriving from a YF-endemic country
Risk in eastern lowlands (Big Bend, Mhlume, Simunye, Tshaneni)
Routinely paired with South Africa. Same YF transit rule applies.
Lesotho
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED if arriving from a YF-endemic country
None — no malaria risk
High altitude (all land above 1,400m). Accessed via South Africa.
East Africa
Rwanda
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED for travelers from YF-endemic countries; temperature screening on arrival
Recommended throughout the country
Rwanda is NOT on the WHO YF risk list (low potential only). In the meningitis belt — meningitis vaccine recommended Dec-June.
Kenya
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED if arriving from a YF-endemic country (incl. other East African nations)
Recommended in most areas except Nairobi and highlands >2,500m
Kenya IS on the WHO YF risk list. Polio booster recommended (circulating poliovirus). Meningitis belt country.
Uganda
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED for ALL travelers ≥9 months regardless of origin
Recommended throughout the country
STRICTEST YF requirement — universal, not just from endemic countries. Meningitis belt. Polio booster recommended.
Tanzania
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED if arriving from or transiting (≥12hrs) through a YF-endemic country
Recommended throughout the country below 1,800m
If routing Kenya→Tanzania, YF certificate REQUIRED. Dengue risk in Dar es Salaam. Circulating poliovirus.
Southeast Asia
Thailand
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED if arriving from a YF-endemic country
Recommended for rural border areas (Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia borders)
Japanese Encephalitis vaccine recommended for stays >1 month or rural areas. Dengue year-round.
Cambodia
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED if arriving from a YF-endemic country
Recommended in most rural areas (not Phnom Penh or around Tonlé Sap)
Japanese Encephalitis endemic. Rabies risk high with stray dogs. Dengue present.
Philippines
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED if arriving from a YF-endemic country
Recommended in rural areas below 600m (not Metro Manila)
Typhoid and dengue very common. Rabies risk. Japanese Encephalitis in rural areas.
Malaysia
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED if arriving from a YF-endemic country
Recommended in rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak (Borneo)
Japanese Encephalitis in rural areas. Dengue common in urban areas.
South Asia
Nepal
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED if arriving from a YF-endemic country. Polio — booster recommended (circulating poliovirus nearby)
Recommended in Terai (lowland) areas year-round
Altitude sickness at trekking elevations. JE vaccine recommended. Rabies risk high. Typhoid very common.
India
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED for ALL travelers ≥9 months arriving from YF-endemic countries (India maintains expanded list). Polio — booster recommended
Recommended throughout most of India except high-altitude areas >2,000m
CRITICAL: India has its own expanded YF endemic country list. If routing from Africa/S.America, certificate mandatory. Rabies, typhoid, dengue very high risk.
Sri Lanka
Yellow Fever — REQUIRED if arriving from a YF-endemic country
Limited risk in some areas
Japanese Encephalitis in rural/agricultural areas. Dengue present.
Europe
Albania
None for direct entry from US
None — no malaria risk
Lower food/water hygiene standards than Western Europe. Hep A recommended.
Montenegro
None
None
Similar risk profile to Albania.
Kosovo
None
None
Routine vaccines sufficient for most travelers.
North Macedonia
None
None
Low risk destination.
Romania
None
None
TBE risk in forested areas. TB rates higher than Western Europe.
Poland
None
None
TBE risk in forested/rural areas April-November. Circulating poliovirus noted by CDC.
Moldova
None
None
Refugee ministry context. Higher Hep A/B risk than Western Europe.
Portugal
None
None
Very low risk. Routine vaccines sufficient.
Spain
None
None
Camino de Santiago: physical preparation more critical than vaccination.
France
None
None
Low risk.
Switzerland
None
None
TBE risk for Alpine hikers April-November. Altitude sickness at high passes.
Iceland
None
None
Extremely low infectious disease risk. Hypothermia/environmental hazards are primary concern.
Greece
None
None
Low risk. Routine vaccines sufficient.
Italy
None
None
Low risk. Measles outbreaks occasionally reported.
North Africa
Morocco
None for direct entry from US
None — no malaria risk
Rabies risk from stray animals. Food/water hygiene caution.
East Asia
Japan
None
None
Very low risk. Excellent healthcare. JE only if rural/agricultural areas.
South Korea
None
Vivax malaria risk in DMZ border areas only
Low risk overall. JE recommended for extended rural stays.
Yellow Fever entry matrix
YF certificates must be obtained at least 10 days before entry, are valid for life, and must travel with your passport. Multi-country routes through Africa or South America often trigger YF requirements at the next border, even on a transit.
| Country | Required from all travelers? | Required from endemic countries? | CDC recommends? | Routing alert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | YF Required From ALL Travelers? | YF Required From Endemic Countries? | CDC Recommends YF Vaccine? | Routing Alert |
| Uganda | YES — all travelers ≥9 months | N/A (universal) | YES | STRICTEST requirement. No exceptions. |
| India | NO | YES — India maintains EXPANDED endemic list | Depends on itinerary | If routing from any African or SA country, certificate MANDATORY. |
| South Africa | NO | YES — incl. >12hr airport transit | No (not endemic) | If preceding country is Kenya/Uganda/Tanzania/Rwanda, must have cert. |
| Eswatini | NO | YES | No (not endemic) | Same transit rule as South Africa. |
| Lesotho | NO | YES | No (not endemic) | Accessed via South Africa. |
| Kenya | NO | YES — from endemic countries | YES (endemic area) | Kenya IS on the WHO YF risk list. |
| Tanzania | NO | YES — from endemic or >12hr transit | Low potential only | If routing Kenya→Tanzania, cert REQUIRED. |
| Rwanda | NO | YES — from endemic countries | Low potential only | Not on WHO YF risk list but enforces entry requirement. |
| Colombia | Partial — required for jungle/rural areas | YES | YES — most areas | Level 2 CDC YF alert for South America. |
| Ecuador | NO | YES | YES — east of Andes | Quito/Guayaquil excluded from CDC recommendation. |
| Peru | Partial — required for jungle | YES | YES — Amazon basin | Jungle travel = mandatory. |
| Bolivia | NO | YES — travelers ≥1 yr from endemic | YES — lowlands | La Paz excluded (too high for mosquitoes). |
| Argentina | NO | YES | Only Misiones/Corrientes | Most of country is low risk. |
| Chile | NO | NO | NO | No YF requirement whatsoever. |
| Thailand | NO | YES | No (not endemic) | Common transit from Africa triggers this. |
| Cambodia | NO | YES | No (not endemic) | — |
| Philippines | NO | YES | No (not endemic) | — |
| Malaysia | NO | YES | No (not endemic) | — |
| Nepal | NO | YES | No (not endemic) | — |
| Sri Lanka | NO | YES | No (not endemic) | — |
| Guatemala | NO | NO | No | — |
| Nicaragua | NO | NO | No | — |
| Costa Rica | NO | NO | No | — |
| Honduras | NO | NO | No | — |
| Mexico | NO | NO | No | — |
| Dominican Republic | NO | NO | No | — |
| Morocco | NO | NO | No | — |
| Albania | NO | NO | No | — |
| Romania | NO | NO | No | — |
| Portugal | NO | NO | No | — |
| Switzerland | NO | NO | No | — |
| Iceland | NO | NO | No | — |
| Japan | NO | NO | No | — |
Route planning checklist
Begin vaccines 6–8 weeks before departure. Some series require multiple doses spread over months — start early.