Which Travel Vaccines Do You Need for Your Sabbatical?

When I was about to take my very first overseas trip — a week and a half in France — my dad, who had lived in Thailand as a kid, asked what immunizations I’d be getting. I remember blinking at him, confused, and replying, “Um, none… it’s France.” Fast forward to planning a year-long sabbatical and travel vaccines were a real concern. The longer term nature of the trip meant updating routine immunizations and visiting countries where food- or mosquito-borne diseases are a greater risk added a slate of new travel vaccines to my radar.

Much like dealing with visas, vaccines are one of those less glamorous, but absolutely essential, parts of planning a sabbatical. It can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has a section on its website dedicated to travel health. Which recommendations you actually follow is ultimately a conversation with a doctor. If you don’t have a primary care provider, or you want to get a more specialized expert opinion, seek out a travel clinic or an infectious disease clinic about six months before your sabbatical begins. (I used the clinic at UVA for my travel health needs.)

I am not a health care professional, so this post is not a substitute for medical advice. Think of it instead as a starting point — the topics you might want to bring up with your own travel health clinic, along with some of my personal experience to help you feel less alone in the process.

Routine Immunizations

Travel vaccines aren’t about rare illnesses from far-flung corners of the globe. You need to make sure your routine vaccines are up to date:

• Seasonal flu

• Seasonal COVID

• TDAP (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis)

Covid wasn’t yet a risk at the time of my sabbatical, but I was due for a TDAP booster (recommended every 10 years) so I took care of that and a flu shot right away at my first travel clinic appointment.

Hepatitis A

Hep A is spread through contaminated food and water, which is a risk in much of Asia, South America, and Africa. It’s a two-dose series, spaced six months apart, so you want to start this early if possible.

I had already received one dose of Hep A before college, but apparently never finished it, so I only needed the second shot for lifetime protection. My insurance covered it.

Typhoid

Typhoid is another food- and water-borne disease, and the CDC recommends the vaccine if you’re traveling to South Asia, parts of Africa, and Latin America. There are two options: an injectable vaccine, good for two years; and an oral vaccine, which lasts about five years

I went the oral route, because fewer needles is better. The course was four pills taken every other day and this was the roughest vaccine for me in terms of side effects. But one bad night at home is so much better than a terrible illness derailing your entire sabbatical! My pharmacist quoted $80, but I used the GoodRx app to bring it down to $65.

Polio

If you grew up in the U.S., you were probably vaccinated against polio as a child. In rare cases, an adult booster is recommended if you’re visiting regions where polio still circulates.

My doctor decided I didn’t need a booster based on my itinerary.

Hepatitis B

Hep B is transmitted through blood or sexual contact, and may be relevant if you plan to get tattoos or new piercings while you travel. Many people have already had the Hep B vaccine through school or college.

I had completed my Hep B series before college and didn’t need an update.

Rabies

Rabies vaccines are expensive and involve a three-shot series, but if you’ll be working with animals, visiting rural areas, or traveling long-term in places where dogs roam freely, your doctor might recommend it.

My doctor suggested I consider the rabies vaccine, but since I was mostly visiting major areas, I chose to hold off, knowing I’d need to seek treatment quickly if bitten.

If the monkey forest in Ubud is a must-visit attraction for you, you might need to include a rabies series before your sabbatical.

Japanese Encephalitis (JE)

Japanese Encephalitis is mosquito-borne and can be a concern if you’re staying in deeply rural areas of Asia for a month or more. The vaccine is pricey ($300–$500 per dose) and not routinely needed for short visits, but may be worth discussing if you’ll be spending extended time in the countryside.

I skipped this one, even though my doctor recommended it, because I planned to stick mainly to cities and practice good mosquito protection. I also had a friend who had moved to rural Malaysia for work and told me nobody had recommended he get this vaccine, so I felt more confident about taking my chances.

Yellow Fever

Yellow fever is relevant mostly in parts of South America and Africa. Some countries require proof of vaccination if you’re coming from a risk area.

I managed to avoid needing the yellow fever vaccine thanks to how I structured my sabbatical itinerary. I visited Southeast Asia before South America. Then I planned to fly from Peru to the U.S. before heading to Costa Rica, which meant I wouldn’t need the vaccine certificate for entry. (This wound up not being a problem anyway, since my grandfather’s death required interrupting my South American travels.)

Prescription Medications for Your Sabbatical

Travel vaccines aren’t the only medical prep you need for your sabbatical.

Malaria pills are a critical part of preventive health in some regions. Options include doxycycline and malarone; each has pros and cons around side effects and cost.

I worked with my doctor to choose malarone over doxycycline, since I preferred its side effects. On malarone, my worst experience was some fatigue, whereas doxy can make you more prone to sunburns. I’m so pale skinned and burn very easily to begin with, so increasing my risk of sunburn is an absolute no-go for me.

With two long mountain treks on my itinerary (the Annapurna Sanctuary in Nepal and the Inca Trail in Peru), my doctor also prescribed some just-in-case Diamox for altitude sickness. Fortunately, local holistic remedies worked well for my altitude adjustment and I didn’t have to take these!

Another just-in-case prescription my doctor provided was an all-purpose antibiotic. Pretty much everyone gets traveler’s diarrhea at some point. Typically you can just ride it out for a day and recover on your own, but my doctor wanted me to be prepared with some antibiotics in case of a tougher-to-shake illness.

If you have daily prescriptions, work with your doctor and insurance to secure enough refills for your sabbatical. It can take time to get override approvals or pay out of pocket for extra supplies. I had to pay about $250 out of pocket because my insurance denied a year’s override refill.

For certain medications, you may also need to be aware of legal restrictions in the countries on your sabbatical itinerary. Heavy painkillers, anti-anxiety meds, or ADHD treatments are controversial and even illegal in some places. A letter from your doctor and signed diagnosis could help.

I’m in favor of stocking up ahead of time, but many people refill prescriptions while they travel. Use your Admin Days to take care of this task! Pack copies of your prescriptions or call your doctor to get a prescription transferred to a local pharmacy. The U.S. embassy (or your home country’s embassy) can point you to local pharmacies if you have trouble finding one. Telehealth and mail-order services can be a help. You can look into a travel insurance option that covers medications.

How to Get Started on Your Travel Vaccines

Planning your sabbatical health care can feel intimidating, but remember:

✅ Start at least 6 months before departure, especially if you need a two-dose vaccine like Hep A
✅ Schedule a travel clinic (or infectious disease clinic) appointment
✅ Bring your rough itinerary, including the countries and how long you expect to stay in each
✅ Ask your doctor about any routine boosters
✅ Talk through malaria prevention if you’re headed to endemic zones

Remember, I’m sharing my own research and experience, not professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor about what’s right for you.

Your sabbatical is about opening your world, so don’t let paranoia over your health and safety throw you off course. A thoughtful plan for your medication and travel vaccines can help you explore with confidence and peace of mind.