Wish you were here: Safe summer travels across Canada, Mexico, and Europe

FINALLY! Travel season is upon us. While new adventures certainly await, make sure you’re setting yourself up to get the most out of your trip without the souvenir of local illnesses.

Home away from home: recommended immunizations for travelling within Canada

2025 marks the year Canadians stay home – that is, travel within Canada and discovering its incredible national parks. While routine vaccinations are recommended, immunizations are not generally required to cross the country.¹ Make sure your vaccines and boosters are up to date: Hepatitis A and B (which can spread through contaminated water, food and bodily fluids), COVID-19/Influenza (airborne viruses in densely populated areas), MMR (measles, mumps rubella – given the recent outbreak in measles), and tetanus booster.

Recommended immunizations for travelling to Mexico

Mexico, a Canadian fan-favourite, offers heat, sunny shores and unparalleled all-inclusive services every traveller dreams of! One easy way to ensure you enjoy this beach vacation is to stay up to date with your vaccines.²

MMR – the uptick in measles resurgence is a global pain point;
Chikungunya – to protect against infected mosquito bites;
COVID-19/Influenza – easy wins to protect yourself in crowded places;
Traveller’s diarrhea – to ward off gastrointestinal issues from ingesting contaminated water or food;
Hepatitis A and B – in case of contaminated food or water (or summer flings).

Don’t forget to chuck insect repellent into your valise to help ward off the aftereffects of infected mosquito bites… After all, some mosquito-borne illnesses still have no vaccine yet, e.g. malaria.

Recommended immunizations for travelling to Europe

Because Europe is mostly made up of developed countries, their stance on immunizations is similar to that of Canada’s.³ Travellers should consider the same basics outlined for Mexico, plus the Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) simply due to heightened immigration patterns across the EU from elsewhere in the world. For specific countries, use the search function on this Government of Canada travel site. Seeing the historical sites and walking those cobblestone streets is worth the precaution.

Planning ahead

Hold on before you pack those bags! Consider this checklist to make sure you’re covered from all angles:

Travel insurance: Should be bought and printed before setting foot on the plane.
Booster vaccines acquired: Get boosted six weeks before take-off.¹
Pills and ointments: Aside from the medications you take at home, pack fever or pain-busting pills like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, antihistamines for allergies, anti-nausea or antacid medications, and calamine lotion, insect repellent, and hydrocortisone cream to relieve rashes, bites and skin irritations.⁴
Other travel advisories: ensure you look up any advisories related to local crime, violence, disease outbreaks, and unrest that you should be aware of to ensure you’re travelling safely, viruses aside.

Once up to date with your vaccines, cue those Instagram passport pics at the airport, the classic shot of the Eiffel Tower in the distance, Chichén Itzá sitting regally on a cool, misty morning!

Check out additional travel resources here.

Brought to you by Vaccines411.ca – know where to go for your vaccinations.

This information should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your doctor. There may be variations in treatment that your physician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.