​Traveling to the US? These are the vaccines you might need first​

Whether you’re packing your bags for a two-week vacation to explore Times Square or getting ready to start classes at one of America’s top universities, there’s one thing you can’t afford to overlook—vaccinations. Alongside your visa, your travel checklist might need to include some essential shots, depending on the purpose and length of your stay.


The United States has strict vaccination requirements, especially for those applying for immigrant visas. Before your flight is booked, you’ll need to ensure your immunization record is up to date, or you could find yourself stuck in red tape. Here's what all the vaccines that you need to get and why are they necessary as per US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Hepatitis A vaccine protects against hepatitis A virus (HAV), a contagious liver infection. HAV spreads through close contact or contaminated food/water. It usually causes mild illness, but in rare cases (especially in older adults or those with other liver disease) it can lead to liver failure and death.

Hepatitis B vaccine protects against hepatitis B virus, which causes a serious liver infection. The virus is spread through blood and bodily fluids. Hepatitis B can be short-lived or become chronic; chronic infection often leads to liver scarring, cirrhosis, or liver cancer.

The flu vaccine protects against seasonal influenza viruses. Flu is a contagious respiratory illness that causes fever, cough, and muscle aches, and can be severe. It can lead to complications like pneumonia, hospitalization, or even death.

Hib vaccine prevents infections by *Haemophilus influenzae* type b bacteria. Hib can cause serious illnesses in young children, such as meningitis (infection of the brain’s lining), pneumonia, and severe throat infections. Before vaccination, Hib was a leading cause of childhood meningitis and hearing loss.

Measles vaccine (given as MMR) protects against the measles virus. Measles causes high fever, cough, red eyes, and a rash. It is highly contagious and can lead to serious complications like pneumonia and brain swelling (encephalitis), sometimes causing death. Two doses of MMR are about 97% effective at preventing measles.

Meningococcal vaccine protects against *Neisseria meningitidis* bacteria, which cause meningitis (brain infection) and sepsis (blood infection). Although meningococcal disease is rare, it can progress very rapidly and be deadly. Two vaccines (MenACWY and MenB) cover the most common strains.

The mumps vaccine (MMR) prevents the mumps virus. Mumps causes fever and painful swelling of the cheeks and jaw (salivary glands). It can also lead to complications such as meningitis, encephalitis (brain swelling), hearing loss, or painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries. Two doses of MMR are highly effective (about 88–97%) at preventing mumps.

Pneumococcal vaccine protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis, bloodstream infections, and ear infections. These infections are most common in young children and older adults and can be life-threatening.

Polio vaccine (IPV) prevents poliovirus infection, which causes poliomyelitis. Polio can invade the nervous system and cause permanent paralysis (often of the legs). In severe cases it can paralyze breathing muscles and be fatal. There is no cure for polio, so vaccination is essential. Thanks to routine immunization, polio is now very rare in the U.S., and vaccinating children protects them (and others) from this crippling disease.

Rotavirus vaccine protects infants from rotavirus, a common cause of severe diarrhea and dehydration. Before the vaccine, many babies were hospitalized with rotavirus illness. Now, about 9 in 10 vaccinated children avoid severe rotavirus disease. The oral vaccine (given in early infancy) prevents painful diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration.

Rubella vaccine (MMR) prevents rubella (German measles). Rubella causes a rash and mild fever, usually mild in children, but is very dangerous during pregnancy: if a pregnant woman gets rubella, her baby can have serious birth defects (heart and brain damage) or be stillborn. One dose of vaccine is about 97% effective.

This vaccine protects against both tetanus and diphtheria. Tetanus (from soil bacteria) causes painful muscle stiffness and spasms (“lockjaw”), and about 1 in 10 U.S. cases is fatal. Diphtheria produces a thick throat membrane and can damage the heart and nerves.

Chickenpox vaccine protects against the varicella-zoster virus. Chickenpox usually causes an itchy rash and fever, but can sometimes lead to serious complications such as bacterial skin infections, pneumonia, or brain swelling (encephalitis). Two doses of vaccine are about 98% effective at preventing chickenpox.