Recently, Will and I visited Passport Health to make sure our vaccinations were in order for an upcoming trip. We had assumed that all the shots we got for Peru two years ago would be sufficient but, as it turns out, some need to be repeated fairly often while others are good for life. Here is a list of common travel vaccinations for adults and how long they protect you from the CDC Website:

Japanese Encephalitis: Full duration of protection unknown. Neutralizing antibodies may persist at least 2 years after primary immunization.

Hepatitis A (HAV): Booster not recommended for adults and children who have completed the primary series (2 doses) according to the routine schedule.

Hepatitis B (HBV): Booster doses of vaccine are not recommended for adults and children who have completed the primary series (3 doses) according to the routine schedule.

Influenza: 1 annual dose (children 6 months to 9 years of age should receive 2 doses separated by at least 4 weeks the first time that influenza vaccine is administered). Live attenuated influenza vaccine is approved only for healthy non-pregnant persons 5 through 49 years of age (2).

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR): 2 doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 4 weeks or other evidence of immunity (such as serologic testing) is recommended for persons born after 1956 who travel outside the United States (3). Re-vaccination is not recommended.

Meningococcal Quadrivalent A,C,Y, W-135: Re-vaccination after 5 years is recommended for persons who received meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine and who remain at increased risk for meningococcal disease (including some international travelers). Re-vaccination is not recommended after receipt of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (4).

Pneumococcal (polysaccharide): One-time re-vaccination 5 years after original dose for persons with certain underlying medical conditions (such as asplenia), or persons who were first vaccinated at younger than 65 years of age.

Rotavirus: No booster dose recommended. Maximum age for any dose of rotavirus vaccine is 32 weeks.

Polio (IPV): A single lifetime booster dose is recommended for adults who have written documentation of having completed a primary series.

Rabies: Preexposure vaccine No serologic testing or boosters recommended for travelers. For persons in higher risk groups, such as rabies laboratory workers, serologic testing and booster doses are recommended.

Tetanus/diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap): Tetanus and diphtheria booster dose is recommended every 10 years. A single dose of adolescent/adult formulation Td that includes acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) is recommended to replace one Td booster dose for persons 11-64 years of age.

Typhoid Oral: Repeat series every 5 years.

Typhoid IM: Booster dose every 2 years.

Varicella: Re-vaccination is not recommended.

Yellow Fever: Repeat vaccination every 10 years.

Of course, you should always check with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about vaccinations, especially if you have other health issues or are travelling with a child. You can also find more information about what shots are recommended for the area you intend to travel on the CDC travel website or by visiting a travel doctor or Passport Health location near you.