Most Caribbean islands do not require vaccines for entry, but mosquito-borne illness and food and waterborne disease are common, even at resorts.
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne virus that causes fever and severe joint pain, which can last for months. Outbreaks have been reported across the Caribbean. A single dose of the FDA-approved VIMKUNYA® vaccine is available at our clinic and may be recommended for travelers heading to areas with active outbreaks.
Our certified specialists will recommend the right vaccines based on your specific destination and travel plans.
The Caribbean includes dozens of countries and territories, and risks vary from island to island.
An all-inclusive week in Aruba, a cruise with five port stops and a mission trip to Haiti have almost nothing in common from a health point of view. At your consultation we review every island on your itinerary, where you will stay and eat, and your vaccination history, then recommend the vaccines for Caribbean travel that fit your trip.
Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the Caribbean, and outbreaks have reached even Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Chikungunya and Zika also circulate. We recommend an EPA-registered repellent such as DEET or picaridin on every trip, and we can discuss whether the chikungunya vaccine makes sense for your destination.
We recommend hepatitis A vaccination for most Caribbean travelers. Typhoid protection is recommended for the Dominican Republic and Haiti and for anyone eating outside resorts or staying with friends and family. Haiti also has malaria risk throughout the country and periodic cholera outbreaks, so we discuss malaria prevention and the single-dose oral cholera vaccine for those trips.
Cruise travelers face close quarters and several countries in one trip, so it pays to be fully up to date on routine and flu vaccines. A few islands, including Trinidad and Tobago, also have yellow fever rules for some travelers. If your route continues to South America or Africa, ask us about yellow fever vaccination. We are an official yellow fever center.
We recommend booking 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Leaving sooner? Call (480) 435-2774, because many travel vaccines can still be given on short notice. Our Scottsdale travel clinic serves travelers from across the Phoenix metro, and you can book online any time.
Arizona’s only independent travel clinic with certified specialists
Don’t wait until the last minute. Yellow Fever and other vaccines require time to become effective.
Book at least 6-8 weeks before travel for optimal protection
