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. In nearly every case, there are occasional exceptions to these details. Also note: this information pertains to adults only and does not include vaccines that are rarely administered for travel abroad, including HPV, Meningitis B, Shingles, and others.
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.
- MMR: 2 shots, 1 month apart.
- Polio booster: 1 shot. May need booster again if high-risk or required.
- Pneumonia (Prevnar 20): 1 shot.
- Rabies: 2 shots, 1 week apart (and possibly a 3rd shot within the subsequent 3 years).
- Yellow fever.
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:
- Cholera: Oral liquid (at least 6 months, possibly up to 2-3 years).
- Japanese Encephalitis: 2 shots, 1 month apart (or 1 week in adults) = 1 year,
then one booster if re-exposure. - Meningitis: 1 shot = 5 years, then booster if re-exposure.
- Tick-Borne Encephalitis: 3 shots, day 0, week 2, month 6 (2 shots will protect up to 6 mths, 3 shots for up to 3 years.).
- Typhoid: 1 shot (or pills). Vaccine = 2 years, pills = 5 years.
Last 1 year (one season):
- Influenza (“Flu”)
- COVID-19: As of 2023, it appears the vaccine’s effectiveness lasts for up to several mths.
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.