Traveling is also an opportunity to check your vaccination status

Vaccination helps protect yourself, protect those around you, and prevent the introduction of diseases into France. With globalization and the increasing flow of travelers, every traveler has a role to play in preventing epidemics.

Infectious diseases that are rare in mainland France may be more common in your destination. It is therefore strongly recommended that you check your vaccination status and that of your family while preparing for your trip, and update it if necessary.

While most vaccines are mandatory for children born since 2018, an update or catch-up vaccination may be necessary for older children, adolescents, or adults in your family. The recommended vaccines and boosters for these individuals are:

• a booster dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio (DTP-P) vaccine;
• two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine for people born since 1980;
• a catch-up dose of the hepatitis B vaccine up to age 15;
• vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) between the ages of 11 and 26;
• vaccination against invasive meningococcal ACWY infections for young people aged 11 to 24. Vaccination against meningococcal B is available for those aged 15 to 24.

Learn more on vaccination-info-service: Which vaccines are currently required?

Depending on your destination and the areas you’ll be visiting, specific travel vaccines may be recommended: yellow fever (required for certain countries), hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, etc.

To get these vaccines, consult your primary care physician or a travel medicine center at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure. This also allows you to plan other protective measures: mosquito bite prevention, preventive treatments, emergency medications, etc.

Protecting Yourself Against the Global Resurgence of Measles

The World Health Organization (WHO) is warning of a rise in measles cases worldwide, affecting both adults and children, sometimes with fatal outcomes.
No region of the world is spared, and the hardest-hit areas include countries on the African continent, certain countries in Western Europe, countries in the Middle East (including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia), as well as Southeast Asia (India, Indonesia, and Pakistan). These countries are facing major outbreaks, with tens of thousands of reported cases, and are popular travel destinations.

Recent measles outbreaks have also been documented in the Americas, particularly in Guatemala, the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

In France, the spread of measles accelerated in 2024 and intensified significantly in 2025. Although the number of reported measles cases has remained low since the beginning of 2026, there is a real risk that the virus could be introduced into France by unvaccinated travelers. Each year, the importation of the measles virus by travelers leads to chains of transmission within the French population, resulting in outbreaks in daycare centers, schools, and hospitals.

• Measles in France: 2025 Report 
• Measles in France from January 1 to June 30, 2026

Measles vaccination is recommended for all unvaccinated travelers

If you’re planning to go on vacation to an area where measles is circulating, it’s important to be aware of the specific recommendations for travelers. In addition to checking (and updating if necessary) your vaccination schedule, there are specific recommendations for measles vaccination—which are often overlooked—for people traveling to areas with high endemicity:

• For infants: The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine can be administered as early as 6 months of age prior to travel to protect them during their stay. Vaccine-induced immunity begins to develop rapidly within a week of receiving the first dose. These infants should subsequently receive two doses of the MMR vaccine according to the vaccination schedule (1 dose at 12 months of age, followed by a dose between 16 and 18 months), for a total of 3 doses.
• For people born before 1980 who are not protected against measles (with no known history of measles or who have not been previously vaccinated): one dose of the MMR vaccine is recommended before departure.

In the absence of contraindications (pregnancy, immunosuppression), vaccination can easily be administered by any doctor, nurse, or at a pharmacy for adults and children over 11 years of age, at the same time as most other vaccines (with the exception of other live-attenuated vaccines).

How can you recognize measles, and what should you do if symptoms appear?

The first symptoms usually appear 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus: fever, conjunctivitis, cough, and a runny nose. These initial symptoms are followed by a rash that appears 4 to 5 days later in the form of small red spots, first on the face (ears, forehead, cheeks), then gradually spreading over the entire body.

While you’re there and upon your return, it’s crucial to watch for any symptoms, and if they appear, you should:

• self-isolate and contact a doctor immediately;
• follow preventive measures (handwashing, regular ventilation, wearing a mask);
• avoid all contact with other people, especially those most at risk (unvaccinated infants, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals).