Tennessee: Your Gateway to International Travel Health
A complete guide for Tennessee-based travelers preparing for international trips — vaccines, regulations, clinics, and expert resources across the Volunteer State.
Tennessee & International Travel Health
Tennessee — the Volunteer State — stretches nearly 500 miles from the Mississippi Delta shores of Memphis in the west to the rugged peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains and Appalachian highlands in the east, encompassing one of the most geographically and culturally diverse states in the American South. From the global music industry and healthcare innovation hub of Nashville to the blues and logistics powerhouse of Memphis, the university city of Knoxville, the scenic river city of Chattanooga, and the Appalachian communities of Johnson City and the Tri-Cities, Tennessee residents travel internationally for business, faith-based missions, education, family connections, and adventure across every continent.
Tennessee is anchored medically by Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville — one of the nation's premier academic medical centers — alongside the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, and Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga. Whether you are departing from Nashville International Airport (BNA), Memphis International Airport (MEM), McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA), or Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI), your travel health preparation begins in the Volunteer State. This guide covers Tennessee's vaccine regulations, routine immunization priorities, travel-specific vaccines, and the principal clinics and hospitals providing expert travel medicine services from Memphis to the Tri-Cities.
Healthcare in Tennessee for Travelers
Tennessee's travel health infrastructure is led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) — consistently ranked among the nation's top academic medical centers — which operates the state's most comprehensive infectious disease and travel medicine program in Nashville. Memphis is served by Regional One Health and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), while University of Tennessee Medical Center anchors Knoxville and Erlanger Health System serves Chattanooga. Private travel vaccine clinics — led by Passport Health locations in Nashville and Memphis — complement hospital-based services throughout the state.
State Health Authority
The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) Immunization Program oversees vaccine policy, maintains the Tennessee Immunization Information System (TennIIS), and coordinates Yellow Fever Vaccination Center certification statewide. School immunization requirements are governed by Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) § 49-6-5001 and TDH Rule 0800-14-01.
Academic Medical Centers
Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville operates Tennessee's most comprehensive travel medicine program, drawing patients from across the state and region. University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville and Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga — affiliated with UT College of Medicine — provide strong academic travel health capabilities for East Tennessee travelers.
Private Travel Clinics
Passport Health operates multiple CDC-certified Yellow Fever vaccination clinics across Tennessee — in Nashville, Brentwood, and Memphis — providing destination-specific travel vaccine consultations for all traveler types. TDH county health departments across all 95 counties supplement statewide access with local immunization services.
Vaccine Regulations in Tennessee
Tennessee's school immunization requirements are governed by Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) § 49-6-5001 and Tennessee Department of Health Rule 0800-14-01. Here is what travelers — and parents of young travelers — need to understand about the Volunteer State's vaccine framework.
School Entry Requirements
Under TCA § 49-6-5001, children attending public, private, or parochial school must present proof of required immunizations or a valid exemption. Required vaccines include DTaP/Tdap, Polio, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, and MenACWY for 7th grade entry. The TennIIS registry is used to track and verify immunization records statewide, enabling quick compliance verification for school enrollment and travel health consultations.
Exemptions Permitted
Tennessee grants exemptions for medical and religious grounds under TCA § 49-6-5001(b). Medical exemptions require documentation from a licensed Tennessee physician. Religious exemptions require a written statement of religious belief submitted to the school. Tennessee does not recognize philosophical or personal belief exemptions. The state monitors exemption rates and school outbreak response protocols are enforced when vaccine coverage falls below safe thresholds.
International Entry Requirements
Tennessee does not impose vaccine mandates for residents traveling internationally beyond school and childcare requirements. However, destination countries enforce independent legally binding entry conditions. Yellow fever vaccination (ICVP Yellow Card) is required for many sub-Saharan African and South American destinations. Tennessee's large faith-based missionary community — concentrated in Nashville, Memphis, and throughout Middle Tennessee — creates significant international travel health demand for diverse global destinations.
Routine Vaccines for Children in Tennessee
Tennessee's childhood immunization schedule follows the CDC/ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) recommended schedule. The TDH Immunization Program works with the state's extensive network of pediatric providers — including Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis — to promote on-schedule vaccination across all 95 counties, including rural communities in West, Middle, and East Tennessee.
| Vaccine | Disease(s) Prevented | Typical Schedule | Notes for Travelers |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTaP / Tdap | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis | 5 doses by age 6; Tdap booster at 11–12 | Pertussis outbreaks occur globally; confirm current status before any international trip |
| Polio (IPV) | Poliomyelitis | 4 doses by age 4–6 | Some countries require proof of polio vaccination for entry or exit — Africa and South Asia travel |
| MMR | Measles, Mumps, Rubella | 2 doses: 12–15 months & 4–6 years | Measles is endemic across Europe, Asia, and Africa; confirm 2 doses before any international trip |
| Varicella | Chickenpox | 2 doses: 12–15 months & 4–6 years | Required for TN school entry; immunity critical during international travel settings |
| Hepatitis B | Hepatitis B virus | 3-dose series: birth, 1–2 months, 6–18 months | Critical for travel to Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe with high HBV prevalence |
| Hepatitis A | Hepatitis A virus | 2 doses starting at 12–23 months | Required for TN school entry; high priority for most international destinations including Latin America |
| Hib | Haemophilus influenzae type b | 3–4 doses by 15 months | Standard childhood protection; confirm up to date before international travel |
| PCV (Pneumococcal) | Pneumococcal disease, pneumonia | 4 doses by 15 months | Protects against serious pneumonia complications globally — especially important for developing-country travel |
| Rotavirus | Severe diarrheal disease | 2–3 doses by 8 months | Particularly relevant for travel to developing countries with limited clean water and sanitation |
| MenACWY (Meningococcal) | Meningococcal disease A, C, W, Y | 11–12 years; booster at 16 — required at 7th grade in TN | Required for sub-Saharan Africa travel and Saudi Arabia (Hajj/Umrah pilgrimage) |
| HPV | Human Papillomavirus / cervical cancer | 2–3 doses starting at age 11–12 | Maintain on-schedule vaccination regardless of travel disruptions; recommended through age 26 |
| Influenza | Seasonal influenza | Annually from 6 months of age | Southern Hemisphere flu season (April–September) is relevant for Latin American and Africa travel |
| COVID-19 | COVID-19 | From 6 months; updated annually | 2024–2025 updated vaccine recommended by CDC; confirm any destination documentation requirements |
Routine Vaccines for Adults in Tennessee
📍 Tennessee Travel Health Centers & Major Hospitals
Click any marker to view details and get Google Maps directions. Orange = Travel Health Clinic | Blue = Major Hospital
Adult vaccine protection from childhood series can fade significantly over time, and adults face unique health risks based on their specific travel destinations and activities. The TDH and CDC recommend all Tennessee adults review and update the following vaccines — particularly before any international trip from BNA, MEM, TYS, CHA, or TRI.
Td / Tdap Booster
Every adult should receive a Td booster every 10 years. Adults who never received Tdap should substitute one Td dose with Tdap to protect against whooping cough. Particularly important for Tennessee's large missionary and humanitarian travel community, who often visit remote areas of Africa, Latin America, and Asia where wound exposure risk is elevated.
Every 10 yearsInfluenza (Annual)
Annual flu vaccination is recommended for all Tennessee adults. The updated 2024–2025 vaccine is available at pharmacies, TDH county health offices, and hospitals statewide. Southern Hemisphere flu season runs April–September — timing the annual shot appropriately matters for Tennessee travelers to Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia.
AnnualCOVID-19 (Updated)
The 2024–2025 updated COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for all Tennessee adults. Available at pharmacies, TDH county health offices, and hospitals statewide. Some international destinations may require documentation of vaccination status for entry or transit — confirm your destination's current policy well before departure from Nashville, Memphis, or East Tennessee airports.
Updated annuallyHepatitis A & B
Adults not vaccinated in childhood should complete both series before international travel. Both are high priority for travel throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Tennessee's robust missionary and humanitarian travel sector — particularly missions to Central America, Africa, and Southeast Asia — makes Hepatitis A and B catch-up vaccination a priority at every pre-travel consultation.
Catch-up seriesMeningococcal
MenACWY is recommended for adults at risk and is legally required for Hajj/Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Strongly recommended for sub-Saharan Africa travel. MenB is recommended for adults at increased risk. Both vaccines are available at Vanderbilt Travel Medicine, Passport Health Nashville and Memphis, and regional hospital travel programs statewide.
Risk-basedPneumococcal & Shingles
Adults 50 and older should receive Shingrix (shingles vaccine) as a 2-dose series. PCV15 or PCV20 is recommended for all adults 65+ and younger adults with specific health conditions. These vaccines provide important protection against serious infections that carry significantly higher risk when traveling internationally far from Tennessee's healthcare resources.
Age 50+The Three Categories of Travel Vaccines
Travel vaccines fall into three distinct categories. Understanding each is essential for any Tennessee traveler preparing for an international trip. Your travel health provider will assess all three during your pre-travel consultation at Vanderbilt, UT Medical Center, Erlanger, Passport Health, or your nearest travel clinic.
| Travel Vaccine | Category | Key Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Fever | Required | Sub-Saharan Africa, tropical South America | Vanderbilt Travel Medicine and Passport Health (Nashville, Memphis) are Tennessee's primary CDC-certified YF centers |
| Typhoid | Recommended | South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America | Oral or injectable; high priority for Tennessee missionaries and humanitarian workers heading to developing countries |
| Japanese Encephalitis | Recommended | Rural Asia, Southeast Asia | 2-dose series; Vanderbilt Travel Medicine is Tennessee's primary resource — book well in advance for this specialty vaccine |
| Rabies (pre-exposure) | Recommended | Asia, Africa, Latin America (remote areas) | 3-dose series; advisable for missionaries, adventure travelers, and those working with animals internationally |
| Cholera (Vaxchora) | Recommended | Sub-Saharan Africa, South/Southeast Asia, Haiti | Single oral dose for adults; available at Vanderbilt Travel Medicine and select Passport Health locations in Tennessee |
| Meningococcal ACWY | Required / Recommended | Meningitis Belt (Africa), Saudi Arabia (Hajj/Umrah) | Required for Hajj; strongly recommended for all sub-Saharan Africa travel; widely available statewide |
| Hepatitis A | Recommended | Developing countries worldwide | Required for TN school entry; adults who missed childhood vaccination should catch up before any international travel |
| Malaria Prophylaxis | Prescription Rx | Sub-Saharan Africa, South/Southeast Asia, Central America | Not a vaccine — prescription medication available from Vanderbilt Travel Medicine, Regional One Health, and Passport Health |
Main Travel Health & Vaccine Centers in Tennessee
Tennessee's travel health resources span world-class academic medical programs in Nashville and Memphis, strong regional academic centers in Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Johnson City, private CDC-certified travel clinics, and TDH county health departments across all 95 counties. Below are the principal facilities providing travel health services and vaccinations from Memphis to the Tri-Cities.
Nashville / Middle Tennessee
1211 Medical Center Dr, Nashville, TN 37232
(615) 322-0000 | By appointment
Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Travel Medicine program — affiliated with one of the nation's top academic medical centers — is Tennessee's most comprehensive travel health resource. Vanderbilt's infectious disease and travel medicine specialists provide individualized pre-travel consultations, yellow fever certification, the complete range of travel vaccines including specialty vaccines such as Japanese Encephalitis and rabies pre-exposure, malaria prophylaxis prescriptions, and expert post-travel illness diagnosis and treatment. The definitive resource for Nashville's growing international business traveler community, faith-based missions teams, study abroad students, and anyone in Middle Tennessee with complex international travel health preparation needs.
5323 Maryland Way, Suite 110, Brentwood, TN 37027
(615) 373-7428
CDC-designated Yellow Fever vaccination center serving Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, and Middle Tennessee travelers. Full travel vaccine inventory with destination-specific consultations for business travelers, leisure travelers, missionaries, military families, and study abroad students. Conveniently located south of Nashville for residents of the rapidly growing Williamson County and surrounding Middle Tennessee communities.
311 23rd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203 | (615) 340-5616
Nashville Metro Public Health Department provides travel immunization services at affordable public health pricing for Davidson County and Middle Tennessee residents. An important accessible resource for uninsured or underinsured Nashville-area travelers preparing for international trips. Contact directly to confirm available travel vaccines and scheduling requirements.
Memphis / West Tennessee
877 Jefferson Ave, Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 545-7100 | By appointment
Regional One Health — Memphis's Level I Trauma Center and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's primary academic hospital — provides travel medicine and infectious disease consultation services for the Memphis metropolitan area and West Tennessee. UTHSC-affiliated specialists provide pre-travel consultations, yellow fever certification, major travel vaccines, malaria prophylaxis, and post-travel illness evaluation for West Tennessee's internationally mobile community — including Memphis's significant international business community tied to the FedEx global logistics hub.
6363 Poplar Ave, Suite 120, Memphis, TN 38119
(901) 682-7428
CDC-designated Yellow Fever vaccination center serving Memphis and West Tennessee travelers. Full travel vaccine inventory with destination-specific consultations. A practical option for Memphis travelers who prefer a dedicated private travel clinic for their pre-departure vaccine preparation, conveniently located in East Memphis near the major medical corridors.
Knoxville / East Tennessee
1924 Alcoa Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37920
(865) 305-9000 | By appointment
University of Tennessee Medical Center is East Tennessee's flagship academic Level I Trauma Center and the UT College of Medicine's primary teaching hospital. Its travel medicine and infectious disease program provides pre-travel consultations, yellow fever certification, all major travel vaccines, and post-travel illness evaluation for Knoxville, Knox County, and the surrounding East Tennessee region — including the large University of Tennessee student and faculty population and the many travelers using the Great Smoky Mountains as an international tourism gateway.
Chattanooga / Southeast Tennessee
975 E 3rd St, Chattanooga, TN 37403
(423) 778-7000 | By appointment
Erlanger Medical Center — Southeast Tennessee's Level I Trauma Center affiliated with the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga campus — provides travel immunization and infectious disease services for Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and the surrounding Southeast Tennessee / North Georgia border region. Chattanooga's growing international manufacturing sector — including the Volkswagen assembly plant community — creates significant demand for international travel health services. Contact directly to confirm available travel vaccines and scheduling.
Johnson City & the Tri-Cities / Northeast Tennessee
400 N State of Franklin Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604
(423) 431-6111 | By appointment
Johnson City Medical Center — Northeast Tennessee's Level I Trauma Center, part of Ballad Health — is the primary hospital serving the Tri-Cities region (Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol) and the surrounding Appalachian highlands communities. Travel immunization services are available through Ballad Health's clinical programs. The East Tennessee State University community in Johnson City — including international students and faculty traveling home or on research missions — represents an important constituency. Contact directly to confirm available vaccines and scheduling.
Pre-Travel Health Checklist for Tennessee Travelers
Follow this step-by-step timeline to ensure you are fully protected before departing from Tennessee on an international trip — whether from Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, or the Tri-Cities.
| Timeframe | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 6+ Weeks Before | Book a travel health consultation | Contact Vanderbilt Travel Medicine (Nashville), Passport Health (Nashville or Memphis), Regional One Health / Passport Health (Memphis), UT Medical Center (Knoxville), Erlanger (Chattanooga), or Ballad Health (Johnson City). Research destination requirements at CDC Travelers' Health. |
| At Your Visit | Bring your vaccination records | Receive required and recommended vaccines for your destination. Get prescriptions for malaria prophylaxis if needed. Request your ICVP Yellow Card if yellow fever vaccination is legally required for your destination country. Ask your provider to review your TennIIS records to identify any gaps in your routine adult vaccination history. |
| Follow-Up Visits | Complete multi-dose series | Rabies pre-exposure (3 doses over 21 days), Hepatitis A catch-up (2 doses), Japanese Encephalitis (2 doses), and Hepatitis B catch-up (3 doses) all require multiple appointments. Mission teams departing Tennessee on short timelines should contact Vanderbilt or Passport Health as early as possible to maximize what can be completed before departure. |
| 1–2 Weeks Before | Confirm all travel health documents | Verify your ICVP (Yellow Card) is correctly stamped, signed, and dated. Pack a travel health kit: oral rehydration salts, antidiarrheal medication, DEET insect repellent (30%+), sunscreen, and all prescription medications including malaria prophylaxis. Confirm sufficient supply for your full travel period plus buffer for any delays. |
| On Return | Monitor for illness symptoms | If you develop fever, rash, persistent diarrhea, jaundice, or unusual symptoms within weeks of returning to Tennessee, contact Vanderbilt Infectious Disease (Nashville), UT Medical Center (Knoxville), Erlanger (Chattanooga), or Regional One Health (Memphis) immediately. Provide your full travel history including every country visited, dates, and any exposures. Early diagnosis is critical for tropical illnesses. |
Ready to Travel from Tennessee?
Whether you're departing from Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, or the Tri-Cities — Tennessee's travel health providers, led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, are ready to protect you for wherever your journey takes you. Start your pre-travel consultation at least 4–6 weeks before departure.
This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider for personalized travel health advice. Information current as of 2025–2026.