UPDATED MAY 2026
Medical Review by: Dr. Brent Tatomir, DO
Sand Canyon Urgent Care · Irvine, CA
Travel Vaccine Clinic
Do you have an international trip planned this year? Our physicians build a personalized vaccination plan specific to you. We’ll consider your destination, travel dates, and health history.
Disease Alerts
Why travel vaccines matter right now:
Surging
Yellow Fever
According to the World Health Organization, cases in South America tripled in 2025 vs. 2024, spreading into historically unaffected areas.
Active Outbreak
Hepatitis A
The Centers for Disease Control notes a significant outbreak in Central Europe in 2025, though U.S. cases are now declining.
Persistent Risk
Typhoid
A study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases states that typhoid is down 35% globally since 2017, but still a high-risk concern across South Asia and Africa.
TIMING
How far in advance do I need vaccines?
For Most vaccines:
We recommend scheduling your vaccinations 4–6 weeks before departure for standard protection.
For Hepatitis A & B:
It can take up to 6 months to build full immunity to Hepatitis A & B. Plan as early as possible.
Traveling soon?
Ask us about accelerated schedules with shorter dosing intervals.
When traveling abroad, our bodies are exposed to viruses and disease that our immune systems don’t normally face. You can protect yourself and your travel companions by vaccinating against these viruses, diseases, and parasites.
Travel healthcare at Sand Canyon Urgent Care can quickly provide the right travel vaccines for your destination.
Why get travel vaccines before leaving the country? Many destinations require proof of specific vaccinations before entry, and some won’t let you in without it. Others require vaccines that can take months to become effective. Plus, vaccinations can help stop the spread of dangerous illnesses.
Our urgent care in Irvine offers extensive travel medicine services including travel vaccines, malaria pills, medical advice, and more.
We’re committed to keeping patients safe.
This includes when you travel abroad, whether you’re visiting Africa, South America, Asia, Eastern Europe, or beyond.
Whether you need a yellow fever vaccine, typhoid shot, or malaria prevention medication, we’ve got you covered.
Vaccines required for your trip will depend on your destination and planned activities. Some travel vaccines require multiple shots and can take time to become fully effective.
Is your trip coming up sooner than you realized? We may be able to vaccinate you on an accelerated schedule. Read on to learn what to expect during a travel consultation appointment and how much your vaccines will cost.
Which travel vaccines do I need?
Use the below map to see which vaccinations the CDC recommends before your trip.
During a personalized travel consultation, you will meet a doctor to review your destination and travel dates. They will also review your medical history and vaccine records. You’ll leave with a customized care plan and vaccination schedule tailored to your trip. Common vaccines include yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and meningitis.
We can also prescribe medicines to prevent malaria, traveler’s diarrhea, motion sickness, and altitude sickness. Note that malaria prevention requires more time than other vaccines. You may need to start some medications one to two weeks before you leave. Others can be taken one to two days before travel.
Malaria transmission by country
Yellow fever recommendations by country
The risk of exposure to diseases is very real
As international disease outbreaks continue, we’ll help you stay up-to-date on travel vaccines.
- There is currently an increase in yellow fever. Cases in the Americas rose threefold in 2025 compared to 2024. This included Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The disease has also spread into new areas with no past transmission.
- Central Europe faced a significant outbreak of Hepatitis A in 2025, although cases are declining in the U.S.
- Global typhoid cases are actually declining (down about 35% from 2017 to 2021). This is due to improvements in water, sanitation, and economic development. But it still remains a persistent risk in South Asia and Africa, where incidence rates are highest.
How far in advance do I need travel vaccines?
Vaccines need time to become effective, usually 4–6 weeks before your trip. However, some vaccinations require more time, even months, to become fully effective. We recommend you schedule your travel consultation well ahead of your travel dates. Why? Because:
- Some countries require proof of vaccination for entry.
- Hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines require six months for complete immunity.
Click to schedule a travel vaccine appointment at our urgent care in Irvine. ➡️
Cruise ships are no exception
While it may feel like a controlled environment, cruise travel carries real health risks. You’re moving through multiple ports across different countries, often in close quarters with thousands of other passengers.
Many cruise lines now require proof of certain vaccinations before boarding. Destinations like the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America carry risks for Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and other preventable illnesses. If your ship stops in a yellow fever zone, you may need proof of vaccination to disembark. Get your travel consultation before you sail; the same rules still apply.
Track your travel vaccines digitally
Need an easy way to remember your travel vaccines and travel health guidelines? Check out this list of immunization apps from the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases. It includes free phone apps that help you be “aware of, and up-to-date on, recommended immunizations.”
Apps like these can help make traveling easier. This is especially true when proof of health-related credentials is required.
Click to learn more:
Travel vaccines near me in Orange County
Our clinic in Irvine, CA serves all of Orange County. Plus, we have common travel vaccines on hand. Walk in and get your travel consultation in a single visit.
Make Sand Canyon Urgent Care your go-to travel vaccine clinic in Irvine. We offer same-day appointments and walk-in availability for your convenience.
FAQs
Travel vaccine frequently asked questions:
How long before travel do I need vaccines?
Get your travel vaccines at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip. Visiting developing countries, managing a complex itinerary, or immunocompromised? Come in up to 2 months before your travel date.
Does insurance cover travel vaccines?
Insurance won’t cover travel vaccines received at an urgent care. Your insurance may cover routine vaccines like Hepatitis A and Tdap if given by your primary care physician.
How much do travel vaccines cost?
We offer competitive cash rates. See Sand Canyon Urgent Care’s travel vaccine fee schedule for cash payment below. ↓
FAQs
Do I need a prescription for malaria pills?
Malaria pills aren’t something you can pick up over the counter. A doctor needs to evaluate your destination, health history, and any potential side effects before prescribing the right medication for you. Make an appointment with us and we’ll help you quickly get prescriptions for safe travel.
Can I get travel vaccines without an appointment?
Yes! We usually have vaccines you’ll need for travel on hand, so you can walk in without an appointment and still get your travel shots asap.
What vaccines do I need for travel to Africa, Asia, or South America?
Of all travel vaccines, Yellow Fever is the only one that certain countries in Africa, Asia, and South America require for entry. When you receive the Yellow Fever vaccine, you’ll be issued an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), commonly called a “Yellow Card,” which you’ll need to present at border control.
Required vs. recommended vaccines
That said, required and recommended are two different things. While Yellow Fever is the only mandatory vaccine, physicians may strongly advise you receive several others depending on where you’re headed:
- Hepatitis A & B: Recommended for most developing regions in Asia, Africa, and South America.
- Typhoid: Advised for travel to parts of Africa, South America, and especially South Asia, where food and water safety can be unreliable.
- Routine Boosters: Make sure you’re current on Measles, Tdap, Polio, and Influenza before traveling. Measles in particular is seeing a global resurgence, and vaccination is strongly recommended regardless of destination.
Keep in mind that requirements and recommendations can vary significantly not just by country, but by the specific regions you’re visiting and even where you’re traveling from. Use the CDC Travelers’ Health Destinations Tool to look up your exact itinerary, and consult with a travel medicine specialist well before your departure date.
Have more questions about staying healthy while traveling abroad? Give us a call or send us a message and our physicians will help you safely embark on your journey.
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