How long do shots last? How far apart do I need to get each shot in a series?
The following is a list of travel vaccinations and “routine” vaccinations that are often administered at travel medicine consultations at my New York travel medicine clinic. For nearly every vaccination listed, there are occasional exceptions to the dosing schedule and duration of effectiveness. Also note: this information pertains only to adults (age 18 and over).
Vaccines that usually last a lifetime:
- Chicken pox: 2 shots, 1 month apart.
- Hepatitis A: 2 shots, 6 months apart.
- Hepatitis B: 2 shots, 1 month apart.
- HPV: 3 shots, month 0, month 1-2, and month 6.
- MMR: 2 shots, 1 month apart.
- Polio booster: 1 shot. May need booster again if high-risk or required.
- Pneumonia (Prevnar 20 and Capvaxive (PCV21)): 1 shot.
- Rabies: 2 shots, 1 week apart (and possibly a 3rd shot within the subsequent three years).
- Shingles: 2 shots, 2-6 months apart.
- Yellow fever: 1 shot.
Last 10 Years:
- Tdap/Tetanus: 1 shot.
- Yellow Fever: 1 shot. As per the World Health Organization, this is good for a lifetime.*
Last 5 years or less:
- Chikungunya: 1 shot, immunity up to two years.
- Cholera: Oral liquid, immunity at least 6 months and possibly up to 2-3 years.
- Japanese Encephalitis: 2 shots, 1 week apart = immunity for one year,
then one booster if you are going to have another exposure. No data beyond 2nd dose. - Meningitis: 1 shot = immunity five years, then booster if re-exposure.
- Meningitis B: 2 shots, 6 month apart. Immunity may last more than 4-5 years.
- Tick-Borne Encephalitis: 3 shots, day 0, week 2, month 6 (2 shots = immunity= up to 6 months, 3 shots = immunity up to three years.).
- Typhoid: 1 shot (or 4 pills). Vaccine = immunity for two years, pills = immunity for five years.
- RSV: 1 shot, immunity likely more than two years.
Last 1 year (one season):
- Influenza (“Flu”)
- COVID-19: As of 2024, it appears the vaccine’s effectiveness lasts for up to several months. Repeat booster can be given two months after a previous COVID vaccination or three months after having COVID illness.
For a list of what vaccines we carry at our Manhattan office and a link to further information on each vaccine, please click here.
*Yellow Fever Vaccine may still be required every 10 years for entrance into some countries and in some high-risk exposure situations.