To have the most benefit, you should see a health care provider at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent malaria, if you need it. 

Be sure your routine vaccinations are up to date.  These vaccines include MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), polio, and DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus).  A childhood disease such as measles rarely occurs in the United States, but is still common in many parts of the world.  A traveler who isn’t vaccinated against measles would be at risk for infection.

Recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A and B, Meningitis and Typhoid.  Hepatitis A is a series of two injections, 6-months apart.  Hepatitis B is a series of three injections, the second given 1-month after the first and the third given 5-months after the second.  Meningitis is a one-time injection.  Typhoid can be given as an injection or orally.  The injection gives 2-years protection; the oral, 5-years protection.  Oral typhoid is taken every other day for four doses and should be completed at least one week before your trip.

A vaccination against yellow fever is required in some countries.  The vaccine is given only at approved vaccination centers.  Student Health can help you find a vaccination center.  After your vaccination, you should receive an International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card) that has been validated by the vaccination center.  This certificate becomes valid after 10-days and lasts for 10-years.  You will need this card as proof of vaccination to enter certain countries.

A meningitis vaccination is required in some countries where meningitis is endemic.

Malaria is a serious disease and can be a deadly illness.  People get malaria from the bite of a mosquito infected with the parasite.  You can prevent this serious disease by seeing your health care provider for a prescription antimalarial drug and by protecting yourself against mosquito bites.  Antimalaria medicine does not give you immunity to the parasite, it prevents development of the parasite in your blood if you are bitten by a certain mosquito.  Depending on the type of medicine you take, you will need to start it up to 2-weeks before your trip, take it during the trip and for 4-weeks after you return.  Some antimalarials are taken weekly, some are taken daily.  Your health care provider will decide which medicine is best for you depending on where you are going.

CDC Traveler's Health -for detailed information.