Travel Vaccine Requirements Explained
The vaccines you need depend on your destination, age, length of stay, planned activities, and vaccination history — there's no single list that applies to everyone.
Required
Some vaccines and certificates are a condition of entry — without them, you may be denied boarding or entry.
Recommended
Others aren't mandatory but lower your risk of infection at your destination.
Timing
Checking early and speaking with a doctor gives enough time for multi-dose vaccines and certificates to become valid.
Destination Summaries
Select your destination above, or expand any summary below. Each one covers what's required, what's recommended, and how CA Medlynks can help — click a heading to open it.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has specific vaccination requirements for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, and Kenya's yellow fever endemic status adds a certificate requirement on top of that.
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Yellow Fever
CA Medlynks can help with requirement checks, Yellow Card review and documentation guidance.
View details
Required for travellers arriving in Saudi Arabia from Kenya, as Kenya is a yellow fever endemic country.
The "Yellow Card" is the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) — it becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. Whether you need one depends on your destination, transit countries, and departure country (Kenya is a yellow fever endemic country).
Where to get it in Nairobi: JKIA Port Health (open 24 hours, porthealthservicesjkia@health.go.ke) or Wilson Airport Port Health (06:30–20:30, porthealth.wilsonairport@health.go.ke). Other Kenya Ministry of Health–designated facilities may also offer it.
How CA Medlynks can help:
- Review your destination and transit requirements
- Review your vaccination history and Yellow Card
- Advise when vaccination should be completed
- Guide you to an authorised vaccination centre
- Help prepare the documents needed for travel
CA Medlynks does not administer the yellow fever vaccine on site — we review requirements and documentation and guide you to an authorised centre.
- Meningococcal (ACWY) Mandatory for all Hajj and Umrah visa applicants, administered 10 days–3 years before arrival. Available at CA Medlynks
- Seasonal influenza Available at CA Medlynks
- Polio (oral polio vaccine) Available at CA Medlynks
How CA Medlynks can help
- Travel medicine consultation
- Available vaccinations (see above)
- Vaccination record review
- Documentation support
East Africa (Uganda, Rwanda & Tanzania)
Uganda and Rwanda require a yellow fever certificate from all arriving travellers, and Tanzania requires it from travellers coming from endemic countries such as Kenya.
-
Yellow Fever
CA Medlynks can help with requirement checks, Yellow Card review and documentation guidance.
View details
Uganda and Rwanda require a certificate from all travellers regardless of origin; Tanzania requires it from travellers arriving from endemic countries, including Kenya, and checks certificates occasionally at land borders and airports.
The "Yellow Card" is the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) — it becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. Whether you need one depends on your destination, transit countries, and departure country (Kenya is a yellow fever endemic country).
Where to get it in Nairobi: JKIA Port Health (open 24 hours, porthealthservicesjkia@health.go.ke) or Wilson Airport Port Health (06:30–20:30, porthealth.wilsonairport@health.go.ke). Other Kenya Ministry of Health–designated facilities may also offer it.
How CA Medlynks can help:
- Review your destination and transit requirements
- Review your vaccination history and Yellow Card
- Advise when vaccination should be completed
- Guide you to an authorised vaccination centre
- Help prepare the documents needed for travel
CA Medlynks does not administer the yellow fever vaccine on site — we review requirements and documentation and guide you to an authorised centre.
No additional CA Medlynks-administered vaccines are specifically flagged for this route beyond the routine travel vaccines (Tdap, MMR, polio, influenza) recommended for all destinations.
How CA Medlynks can help
- Travel medicine consultation
- Available vaccinations (see above)
- Vaccination record review
- Documentation support
United States
The US has no mandatory vaccines for tourist visas, but immigrant visa applicants must complete a CDC-required immigration medical panel via IOM.
- MMR Available at CA Medlynks
- Hepatitis B Available at CA Medlynks
- Varicella
- Tdap
Not required for tourist or visitor visas. Immigration medicals for the US, Australia, Canada, and UK are conducted at the IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre in Gigiri, Nairobi; CA Medlynks provides panel physician services for US immigration medicals.
View details
Not required for travel from Kenya to the United States, for either tourist/visitor visas or immigrant visas.
The "Yellow Card" is the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) — it becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. Whether you need one depends on your destination, transit countries, and departure country — even a destination that doesn't require it can require it if you transit through a yellow fever endemic country.
Where to get it in Nairobi: JKIA Port Health (open 24 hours, porthealthservicesjkia@health.go.ke) or Wilson Airport Port Health (06:30–20:30, porthealth.wilsonairport@health.go.ke). Other Kenya Ministry of Health–designated facilities may also offer it.
How CA Medlynks can help:
- Review your destination and transit requirements
- Review your vaccination history and Yellow Card
- Advise when vaccination should be completed
- Guide you to an authorised vaccination centre
- Help prepare the documents needed for travel
CA Medlynks does not administer the yellow fever vaccine on site — we review requirements and documentation and guide you to an authorised centre.
How CA Medlynks can help
- Travel medicine consultation
- Available vaccinations (see above)
- Vaccination record review
- Documentation support
UK & Europe
The UK and most Schengen European countries do not require mandatory vaccinations for entry from Kenya, though several are recommended.
- Hepatitis A Available at CA Medlynks
- Hepatitis B Available at CA Medlynks
- Influenza (winter travel) Available at CA Medlynks
- Typhoid Especially for travellers visiting rural areas in transit countries.
View details
Not required for travel from Kenya to the United Kingdom or the Schengen area of Europe.
The "Yellow Card" is the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) — it becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. Whether you need one depends on your destination, transit countries, and departure country — even a destination that doesn't require it can require it if you transit through a yellow fever endemic country.
Where to get it in Nairobi: JKIA Port Health (open 24 hours, porthealthservicesjkia@health.go.ke) or Wilson Airport Port Health (06:30–20:30, porthealth.wilsonairport@health.go.ke). Other Kenya Ministry of Health–designated facilities may also offer it.
How CA Medlynks can help:
- Review your destination and transit requirements
- Review your vaccination history and Yellow Card
- Advise when vaccination should be completed
- Guide you to an authorised vaccination centre
- Help prepare the documents needed for travel
CA Medlynks does not administer the yellow fever vaccine on site — we review requirements and documentation and guide you to an authorised centre.
How CA Medlynks can help
- Travel medicine consultation
- Available vaccinations (see above)
- Vaccination record review
- Documentation support
South Africa
South Africa requires a yellow fever certificate showing vaccination at least 10 days before arrival.
-
Yellow Fever
CA Medlynks can help with requirement checks, Yellow Card review and documentation guidance.
View details
Required, with the certificate showing vaccination at least 10 days before arrival.
The "Yellow Card" is the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) — it becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. Whether you need one depends on your destination, transit countries, and departure country (Kenya is a yellow fever endemic country).
Where to get it in Nairobi: JKIA Port Health (open 24 hours, porthealthservicesjkia@health.go.ke) or Wilson Airport Port Health (06:30–20:30, porthealth.wilsonairport@health.go.ke). Other Kenya Ministry of Health–designated facilities may also offer it.
How CA Medlynks can help:
- Review your destination and transit requirements
- Review your vaccination history and Yellow Card
- Advise when vaccination should be completed
- Guide you to an authorised vaccination centre
- Help prepare the documents needed for travel
CA Medlynks does not administer the yellow fever vaccine on site — we review requirements and documentation and guide you to an authorised centre.
- Hepatitis A Available at CA Medlynks
- Typhoid
How CA Medlynks can help
- Travel medicine consultation
- Available vaccinations (see above)
- Vaccination record review
- Documentation support
India
India requires a yellow fever certificate for travellers from Kenya, plus a few destination-specific vaccines depending on your itinerary.
-
Yellow Fever
CA Medlynks can help with requirement checks, Yellow Card review and documentation guidance.
View details
Required for travellers arriving in India from Kenya.
The "Yellow Card" is the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) — it becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. Whether you need one depends on your destination, transit countries, and departure country (Kenya is a yellow fever endemic country).
Where to get it in Nairobi: JKIA Port Health (open 24 hours, porthealthservicesjkia@health.go.ke) or Wilson Airport Port Health (06:30–20:30, porthealth.wilsonairport@health.go.ke). Other Kenya Ministry of Health–designated facilities may also offer it.
How CA Medlynks can help:
- Review your destination and transit requirements
- Review your vaccination history and Yellow Card
- Advise when vaccination should be completed
- Guide you to an authorised vaccination centre
- Help prepare the documents needed for travel
CA Medlynks does not administer the yellow fever vaccine on site — we review requirements and documentation and guide you to an authorised centre.
- Hepatitis A Available at CA Medlynks
- Hepatitis B Available at CA Medlynks
- Typhoid
- Japanese Encephalitis For travellers visiting rural areas during monsoon season.
- Rabies For travellers who may have close contact with animals.
How CA Medlynks can help
- Travel medicine consultation
- Available vaccinations (see above)
- Vaccination record review
- Documentation support
China
China requires yellow fever vaccination proof for travellers from endemic countries such as Kenya, and CA Medlynks can also support Chinese visa immigration medicals.
-
Yellow Fever
CA Medlynks can help with requirement checks, Yellow Card review and documentation guidance.
View details
Required for travellers from endemic countries, including Kenya.
The "Yellow Card" is the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) — it becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. Whether you need one depends on your destination, transit countries, and departure country (Kenya is a yellow fever endemic country).
Where to get it in Nairobi: JKIA Port Health (open 24 hours, porthealthservicesjkia@health.go.ke) or Wilson Airport Port Health (06:30–20:30, porthealth.wilsonairport@health.go.ke). Other Kenya Ministry of Health–designated facilities may also offer it.
How CA Medlynks can help:
- Review your destination and transit requirements
- Review your vaccination history and Yellow Card
- Advise when vaccination should be completed
- Guide you to an authorised vaccination centre
- Help prepare the documents needed for travel
CA Medlynks does not administer the yellow fever vaccine on site — we review requirements and documentation and guide you to an authorised centre.
- Hepatitis A Available at CA Medlynks
- Hepatitis B Available at CA Medlynks
- Typhoid
How CA Medlynks can help
- Travel medicine consultation
- Available vaccinations (see above)
- Vaccination record review
- Documentation support
- Chinese visa immigration medical examinations
Australia & New Zealand
Whether you need a yellow fever certificate for Australia depends on your travel routing, since Kenya's endemic-country status can trigger the requirement.
- Hepatitis A Available at CA Medlynks
- Hepatitis B Available at CA Medlynks
- Typhoid
- Influenza Available at CA Medlynks
-
Yellow Fever
CA Medlynks can help with requirement checks, Yellow Card review and documentation guidance.
View details
Required if you've been in a yellow fever endemic country within 6 days of arrival. Since Kenya is itself endemic, this generally applies to direct Kenya–Australia itineraries; the same guidance generally applies to New Zealand.
The "Yellow Card" is the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) — it becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. Whether you need one depends on your destination, transit countries, and departure country (Kenya is a yellow fever endemic country).
Where to get it in Nairobi: JKIA Port Health (open 24 hours, porthealthservicesjkia@health.go.ke) or Wilson Airport Port Health (06:30–20:30, porthealth.wilsonairport@health.go.ke). Other Kenya Ministry of Health–designated facilities may also offer it.
How CA Medlynks can help:
- Review your destination and transit requirements
- Review your vaccination history and Yellow Card
- Advise when vaccination should be completed
- Guide you to an authorised vaccination centre
- Help prepare the documents needed for travel
CA Medlynks does not administer the yellow fever vaccine on site — we review requirements and documentation and guide you to an authorised centre.
How CA Medlynks can help
- Travel medicine consultation
- Available vaccinations (see above)
- Vaccination record review
- Documentation support
When Should You Book, and When Should You Come In?
Timing is critical when it comes to travel vaccinations. Here is a general timeline to follow:
- 6–8 weeks before travel Schedule a travel health consultation to determine which vaccines you need.
- 4–6 weeks before travel Receive vaccines that require multiple doses or time to develop immunity, such as hepatitis B (3-dose series) or rabies.
- At least 10 days before travel If your destination requires a yellow fever certificate, vaccination must be completed by this point for the certificate to be valid.
- 1–2 weeks before travel Final boosters and single-dose vaccines such as typhoid, influenza, or meningococcal.
What to Bring to Your Travel Vaccination Appointment
When visiting CA Medlynks for travel vaccinations, please bring the following:
- Your passport (for certificate issuance)
- Any previous vaccination records or the yellow international health booklet
- Details of your travel itinerary, including transit countries
- Information about any medical conditions or allergies
- Your visa application documents (if applicable)
Ready to prepare for your trip?
Book your travel medicine consultation at CA Medlynks today.
Not sure which vaccines you need? No problem. Our travel medicine team will review your destination, travel dates, transit route and vaccination history, then guide you through the next steps.
Travel Vaccinations at CA Medlynks
Doctor-led travel vaccination care in Nairobi
CA Medlynks provides travel vaccinations, pre-travel consultations and immigration medical services to help travellers prepare with confidence.
How we can help
- Travel vaccinations and pre-travel consultations
- Immigration medicals and panel physician services
- Yellow Fever requirement review and certificate paperwork support
- Vaccination history and travel document review
Immigration medical destinations
- United States
- China
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Greece
- Spain
Accredited laboratory standards
Location
Visit us: Daykio Plaza, off Ngong Lane, Nairobi
Your travel medicine specialist
Dr. Paul Yonga
MBChB, MSPH, FRCP Edin · Travel & Immigration Medicine Specialist
Panel physician and specialist in Travel & Immigration Medicine at CA Medlynks. Dr. Yonga oversees immigration medical exams for the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Greece, and Spain, and provides expert pre-travel consultations and vaccination services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book a travel vaccination appointment at CA Medlynks?
You can book by phone, WhatsApp, or via our travel medicine page. Walk-ins are welcome, though booking ahead helps us prepare for multi-dose vaccines or immigration medicals.
How much do travel vaccinations cost at CA Medlynks?
Cost depends on which vaccines you need and your vaccination history. Each destination page on this site lists the vaccines CA Medlynks administers for that route; contact us for a personalised quote covering your specific itinerary.
How far in advance should I get vaccinated before travelling?
As a general rule, start 6-8 weeks before departure. Some vaccines require multiple doses spaced over several weeks, and a yellow fever certificate (where required) must be completed at least 10 days before travel.
Can I get multiple vaccines in one visit?
In many cases, yes — several vaccines can be administered in the same visit. Our physician will confirm what is clinically appropriate for your specific combination and timeline during your consultation.
What is CA Medlynks, and why choose it for travel vaccinations?
CA Medlynks is a KENAS-accredited, ISO 15189:2022 certified clinical lab and vaccination centre in Nairobi. Consultations are doctor-led, and CA Medlynks also provides panel physician services for several countries' immigration medicals.