If you’re planning international travel, here’s what you should know about vaccine recommendations.

All decisions regarding vaccinations should be made in cooperation with a healthcare provider, but here are some general guidelines you should know.

Ideally, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor or travel medicine clinic four to six weeks before your departure.

Your body needs time to build immunity after you receive a vaccine, and some need to be given in a series over a period of time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention separate vaccinations into three categories: routine, recommended and required.

The only vaccine that is required by the CDC is for Yellow Fever if you’re traveling to parts of Africa and South America.

If you’re traveling to South Asia, you may need a typhoid vaccination, and if you’re planning to spend a lot of time outdoors, consider getting a rabies vaccine.

Essentially, your vaccine regimen will depend on your travel plans, so make sure to discuss your full itinerary.

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