How long before travelling should I get vaccinated?

According to the STIKO, all travel vaccinations should be completed at least two weeks before departure, so that protection has built up and any reactions have settled. Because some vaccines need several appointments, book your consultation well before that, as soon as you know your destination.

Is it still worth getting vaccinated just before I fly?

Often, yes. Many vaccines still build up protection at short notice, and the STIKO notes that accelerated schedules exist for some. The German Federal Foreign Office also points out that vaccinations are useful for future trips.

Does a vaccine series have to restart if I miss an appointment?

Generally not. The STIKO follows the principle that every dose counts: the missed dose is given and the plan continues. Your doctor will discuss any exceptions with you.

When to get travel vaccinations: timeline before departure

Book your travel health consultation as soon as your destination and route are fixed. The German Federal Foreign Office advises discussing precautions well ahead of your trip, and according to the STIKO, Germany’s Standing Committee on Vaccination, all vaccinations and vaccine series should be completed at least two weeks before departure. Because some vaccines need more than one appointment, start considerably earlier if you need several vaccines or are going away for a long time. Even at short notice, a consultation is still worthwhile.

Why lead time matters

The STIKO’s two-week rule has two reasons: your body needs time to build adequate protection, and any vaccine reactions should have settled or been treated before you fly. The DTG, the German Society for Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Global Health, gives around 10 to 14 days after the last necessary dose for protection to build up.

There are practical reasons too:

Several appointments: some vaccines are given as a series spread over a period of time.
Gaps between vaccines: according to the STIKO, live vaccines, such as those against yellow fever, measles or chickenpox, are either given on the same day or with a minimum interval. Inactivated vaccines do not need such intervals.
Entry deadlines: the yellow fever certificate only becomes valid on the 10th day after vaccination. See our guide to yellow fever vaccination.

What determines how much time you need

How much lead time you need depends on your personal situation:

Your vaccination status: if routine vaccinations such as tetanus or measles are missing, these are added. Check your record beforehand, see routine vaccinations for adults.
Number of vaccines: a city break often needs less preparation than a backpacking trip through several countries lasting months.
Vaccine series: vaccines against rabies or Japanese encephalitis, for example, need more than one appointment.
Your health: pregnancy, existing conditions or medication that affects the immune system call for more coordination. According to the DTG, live vaccines may only be given during immunosuppressive treatment in a few exceptional cases.
Entry requirements: if a country requires proof of vaccination, it must be valid in time for your arrival.

Checklist: what to do and when

When	What to do
As soon as your destination and route are fixed	book a travel health consultation, dig out your vaccination record and documents
At your first consultation	give your full route with stopovers, length of stay and activities, agree a vaccination plan, check reimbursement with your insurer
Over the following weeks	attend your vaccination appointments as planned, note any follow-up dates
At least 10 days before entering a country that requires proof	yellow fever vaccination completed
At least 2 weeks before departure	all vaccinations and vaccine series completed
In the last few days before you leave	pack your travel health kit, take your vaccination record and international certificate
After you return	attend any outstanding doses of a series, keep up mosquito protection for 14 days after trips to areas with mosquito-borne diseases, mention your trip to a doctor if you develop a fever

Our guide to the travel health kit covers what to pack. You can find a travel medicine practice near you in our directory of travel clinics.

Long trips, study abroad, working holidays

The STIKO defines a long-term stay as more than four weeks. Longer trips more often call for additional vaccines, for example against rabies, Japanese encephalitis or hepatitis B, so allow for more appointments and more lead time. Also ask how to keep track of your protection during a long stay and when boosters will be due.

A missed appointment is usually no cause for concern. According to the STIKO, an interrupted series generally does not need to be restarted. The principle is that every dose counts: the next dose is given and the plan continues.

When time is short

If you have booked at short notice, a consultation is still worthwhile. According to the STIKO, accelerated schedules exist for some travel vaccines, allowing protection even when there is little time before departure. They are not suitable for every traveller, however, and further doses may be needed later for long-lasting protection. The Federal Foreign Office also notes that short trips tempt people to neglect preparation, and that vaccinations are useful for later trips as well.

On short-notice trips, mosquito protection, food and water hygiene and, where relevant, malaria precautions remain especially important. Our guide to last-minute travel explains what still makes sense.

How to prepare for your appointment

A well-prepared appointment saves time and extra visits. Bring:

all vaccination records and certificates
your itinerary with dates, stopovers and planned activities
a list of your existing conditions and medication
questions about costs and reimbursement, see travel vaccination costs

Our guide to the travel health consultation explains how it works. For a first idea of which vaccines may be relevant for your destination, try our travel vaccine check.

When to get travel vaccinations: planning the weeks before departure