Travel Vaccinations for Domestic U.S. Travel
No special vaccinations are required or recommended for travel within the United States, including to different states, cities, or river areas—routine vaccinations should simply be up-to-date. 1
Routine Vaccinations Only
For domestic U.S. travel, the focus should be on ensuring standard immunizations are current rather than obtaining travel-specific vaccines:
Ensure MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) is up-to-date, as measles outbreaks can occur in any U.S. region, with approximately 61% of imported cases occurring among returning U.S. citizens who then spread disease domestically 1, 2
Verify Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) status is current, with boosters every 10 years 1
Annual influenza vaccination is recommended, particularly for those at high risk for complications, as influenza circulates throughout the U.S. during typical seasons (October-May) 1
Confirm polio vaccination series completion if not previously done, though this is primarily a concern for international travel to developing countries rather than domestic U.S. travel 1
Why Travel-Specific Vaccines Are Not Needed
The evidence clearly distinguishes between domestic and international travel requirements:
Yellow fever, typhoid, cholera, and hepatitis A vaccines are recommended only for international travel to endemic regions in developing countries, not for travel within the United States 1
The risk of vaccine-preventable diseases in developed countries like the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, and European nations is no greater than baseline U.S. risk 1
Travel within the U.S. does not increase exposure to diseases requiring specialized vaccination beyond routine immunizations 1, 3
Regional U.S. Considerations
While no special vaccines are needed, travelers within the U.S. should be aware of certain regional infectious disease risks that are not vaccine-preventable:
Tick-borne diseases (Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever) occur in various U.S. regions, particularly wooded and grassy areas, but no vaccines are routinely available 3
Mosquito-borne diseases (West Nile virus, dengue in southern states) occur seasonally but have no widely available vaccines for travelers 3
Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) occurs in southwestern U.S. states but has no vaccine 3
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Do not confuse international travel recommendations with domestic travel needs—the extensive vaccination lists for travel to developing countries do not apply to U.S. destinations 1, 2
Do not delay routine vaccinations—use any travel planning as an opportunity to update standard immunizations that may have lapsed 1
Do not seek yellow fever vaccination centers for domestic travel—these specialized vaccines are only for international travel to endemic regions 1