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What shots do I need for a trip to Africa?

If you are traveling to Africa, there is a good chance you'll need some shots. The shots you need will depend on (a) what part of Africa, (b) how long you're staying, (c) what you will be doing while there, and (d) your immunization and medical history. 

Africa vaccine checklist

White Washed Wood

CDC vaccine recommendations for African countries

Country
Yellow fever
Typhoid
Cholera
Other vaccines
Algeria
Recommended
Angola
*Required*
Recommended
Benin
*Required*
Recommended
Recommended for some travelers
Polio booster for adults
Botswana
Recommended
Burkina Faso
*Required*
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Burundi
*Required*
Recommended
Cameroon
*Required*
Recommended
Recommended for some travelers
Polio booster for adults
Cape Verde
Recommended
Central African Republic
*Required*
Recommended
Polio booster
Chad
Recommended
Recommended
Polio booster
Comoros
Recommended
Democratic Republic of the Congo
*Required*
Recommended
Recommended for some travelers
Polio booster for adults
Djibouti
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Egypt
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Equatorial Guinea
Recommended
Recommended
Eritrea
*Required*
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Eswatini (Swaziland)
*Required*
Recommended
Ethiopia
Recommended (except for far east)
Recommended
Recommended for some travelers
Polio booster for adults
Gabon
*Required*
Recommended
Gambia
Recommended
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Ghana
*Required*
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Guinea
Recommended
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Guinea-Bissau
*Required*
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)
*Required*
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Kenya
Recommended for some areas
Recommended
Recommended for some travelers
Lesotho
Recommended
Liberia
Recommended
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Libya
Recommended
Madagascar
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Malawi
Recommended
Recommended for some travelers
Polio booster for adults
Mali
*Required*
Recommended
Mauritania
Recommended for most areas
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Mauritius
Recommended
Morocco
Recommended
Mozambique
Recommended
Recommended for some travelers
Polio booster for adults
Namibia
Recommended
Niger
*Required*
Recommended
Recommended for some travelers
Polio booster for adults
Nigeria
Recommended
Recommended
Recommended for some travelers
Polio booster for adults
Republic of the Congo
*Required*
Recommended
Rwanda
*Required*
Recommended
Senegal
Recommended
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Seychelles
*Required*
Recommended
Sierra Leone
*Required*
Recommended
Somalia
Recommended
Recommended for some travelers
South Africa
Recommended
South Sudan
*Required*
Recommended
Recommended for some travelers
Polio booster for adults
Sudan
*Required*
Recommended
São Tomé and Príncipe
Recommended
Tanzania
Recommended
Recommended for some travelers
Togo
*Required*
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Tunisia
Recommended
Uganda
*Required*
Recommended
Polio booster for adults
Zambia
Recommended
Recommended for some travelers
Zimbabwe
Recommended
counry vaccine recs

Yellow fever and typhoid in Africa

Typhoid and yellow fever are the two most frequently recommended vaccines for travel to Africa. In many cases, proof of yellow fever immunization (which is provided via yellow card) is required for entry into the country. Both of these vaccines are safe and effective. Both of the diseases they protect against are deadly or disabling. 

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Typhoid vaccine: This vaccine provides protection from typhoid fever which is mainly spread through contaminated water. You can choose from an oral vaccine or an injection. 

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Yellow fever vaccine: This vaccine protects against yellow fever virus which is spread by mosquitoes. 

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yellow fever and typhod
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You may need malaria pills too

There is currently no vaccine in the U.S. for malaria but there are drugs you can take to help prevent malaria. Talk to a travel health specialist about your options. Whether you need to take malaria pills really depends on where you go and what you're doing while there.   

Map shows 2020 incidences of malaria (Malaria Atlas Project)

malaria pills

The CDC is recommending a polio booster for adults

Polio is on the rise everywhere. The CDC is advising travelers to get a one-time booster shot of polio for travel to many countries. As of January 3rd, 2023, this affects African countries of Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt (healthcare facilities, refugee camps, and humanitarian aid settings only), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, and Uganda.

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why polio booster
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Do you need a meningitis shot?

If you plan to be in the meningitis belt during the dry season (December-June) the CDC recommends you get a meningitis shot as well.

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Even if you had the meningitis vaccine and booster as a child you will likely need a booster. The CDC recommends a booster every 5 years for people traveling to the meningitis belt. 

Map is from the U.S. CDC

meningitis

Talk to a travel health nurse 

Perhaps the most important thing when preparing for you travels is to consult with one of our highly trained and experienced travel health nurses in your area so that you can get (a) expert health advice and (b) the correct vaccinations and medications for your trip. 

talk to a travel health nurse
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