Travel Vaccines and Advice for the Caribbean and Northern America
The Caribbean and Northern America offer a wide variety of experiences for all kinds of travellers. From the snows of Greenland to the beaches of Jamaica, there is something for everyone.
On This Page:
What Vaccines Do I Need for the Caribbean and Northern America?
Are There Other Health Concerns in the Caribbean and Northern America?
What Are the Entry Requirements in the Caribbean and Northern America?
Travelling to Another Destination?
Passport Health offers all the vaccinations and medications you may need to travel safely throughout the region. See our What Vaccines… section to learn more.
Countries in this region include:
What Vaccines Do I Need for the Caribbean and Northern America?
The PHAC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for travellers to the Caribbean and Northern America: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever and rabies.
Some routine vaccinations are also recommended, this includes: measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap), influenza, chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia, meningitis and polio.
Proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required for some travellers, based on the countries they have recently visited.
See the tables below for more information:
Recommended Travel Vaccinations for the Caribbean and Northern America |
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| VACCINE | HOW DISEASE SPREADS | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis A | Contaminated Food or Water |
Recommended for travellers to most regions. |
| Hepatitis B | Contaminated Body Fluids (Sex, needles, etc.) |
Recommended for travellers to most regions. |
| Typhoid | Contaminated Food or Water |
Recommended for travellers to most regions. |
| Cholera | Contaminated Food or Water |
May be recommended based on your specific itinerary. |
| Yellow Fever | Mosquito-borne | May be recommended or required for some regions. |
| Rabies | Infected Animals | Vaccine recommended for long-term travellers and those who may come in contact with animals. |
Recommended Routine Vaccinations for the Caribbean and Northern America |
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| VACCINE | HOW DISEASE SPREADS | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) | Various Vectors | Given to anyone unvaccinated and/or born after 1957. One time adult booster recommended. |
| Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) | Wounds or Airborne |
One adult booster of pertussis recommended for most travellers. |
| Influenza | Airborne | Generally recommended for all travellers. Vaccine components change annually. |
| Chickenpox | Direct Contact or Airborne |
Given to those unvaccinated that did not have chickenpox. |
| Shingles | Direct Contact | Recommended for individuals 50+. Vaccine can still be given if you have had shingles. |
| Pneumonia | Airborne | All individuals 65+ or immunocompromised should receive this vaccine. |
| Meningitis | Airborne or Direct Contact |
Given to anyone unvaccinated or at an increased risk, especially students. |
| Polio | Contaminated Food or Water |
Generally considered a routine vaccination. Single adult booster recommended. |
Are There Other Health Concerns in the Caribbean and Northern America?
A few different types of infections are present in the Caribbean and Northern America region.
Dengue, Zika and malaria are found in various parts of the region. Most cases are in the Caribbean but some infections can be found in the Southern United States. Be sure to take precautions with mosquito repellents and netting. Your Passport Health travel health specialist can advise you on the need for antimalarials.
Travellers’ diarrhea can affect travellers to any region. Be sure to have a travellers’ diarrhea prevention kit with you for your trip.
What Are the Entry Requirements in the Caribbean and Northern America?
Visas are only required for a few countries within the Caribbean and Northern America region. Passports are required to travel to all regions.
See the below table for more information:
Do I Need a Passport or Visa for My Trip? |
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| Passport | Tourist Visa | Business Visa | Required Vaccinations |
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| Anguilla |  |
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| Antigua and Barbuda | |
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| Aruba | |
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| Bahamas | |
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| Barbados | |
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| Bermuda | |
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| Bonaire | |
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| Cuba | |
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| Curaçao | |
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| Dominica | |
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| Dominican Republic | |
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| Greenland | |
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| Grenada | |
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| Guadeloupe | |
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| Haiti | |
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| Jamaica | |
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| Martinique | |
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| Montserrat | |
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| Puerto Rico | |
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| Saba | |
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| Saint Barthélemy | |
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| Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
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| Saint Lucia | |
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| Saint Martin / Sint Maarten |
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| Saint Pierre and Miquelon |
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| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
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| Sint Eustatius | |
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| Trinidad and Tobago | |
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| Turks and Caicos Islands | |
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| U.S. Virgin Islands | |
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Embassy information for each country is available on its own destination advice page.
Travelling to Another Destination?
Travelling outside of the Caribbean and Northern America? Learn more about your destination with our full compliment of destination advice pages!
US – English
CA – English
UK – English
Rest of World – English
