Virginia: Your Gateway to International Travel Health
A complete guide for Virginia-based travelers preparing for international trips — vaccines, regulations, clinics, and expert resources across the Commonwealth, from Northern Virginia's diplomatic corridor to Hampton Roads' naval gateway and the Blue Ridge highlands.
Virginia & International Travel Health
Virginia — the Commonwealth — occupies a uniquely powerful position in American international life. From the northern tip of Arlington, where the Pentagon overlooks Washington D.C., to the deep-water port of Norfolk, home to Naval Station Norfolk — the largest naval installation in the world — to the historic Piedmont of Charlottesville and the Blue Ridge highlands stretching to the Tennessee border, Virginia's residents encompass one of the most internationally engaged populations in the United States. The Commonwealth is home to the world's largest concentration of State Department employees and diplomatic families in Northern Virginia, one of the densest clusters of federal intelligence and national security contractors on Earth, and an extraordinary concentration of active-duty military personnel across multiple major installations — Fort Belvoir, Quantico Marine Corps Base, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Fort Gregg-Adams, and the Naval District Washington complex.
Medically, Virginia is anchored by University of Virginia (UVA) Health in Charlottesville — one of the Southeast's premier academic medical centers — and VCU Health / Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus in Richmond, the Commonwealth's academic public medical school. Inova Health System in Falls Church is Northern Virginia's largest and most comprehensive hospital system, while Sentara Norfolk General serves as Hampton Roads' flagship Level I Trauma Center. Whether you are departing from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) — one of the East Coast's premier international gateways with direct service to 50+ countries — Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), Richmond International (RIC), or Norfolk International (ORF), your travel health preparation begins here in the Commonwealth.
Healthcare in Virginia for Travelers
Virginia's travel health infrastructure reflects the Commonwealth's extraordinary density of internationally engaged residents. UVA Health in Charlottesville operates one of the Southeast's most respected travel medicine programs, drawing patients from across central and western Virginia. VCU Health / MCV Campus in Richmond provides the state capital region with academic travel medicine expertise. Inova Health System in Northern Virginia — bolstered by proximity to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda and GW University Hospital in D.C. — serves the enormous diplomatic and government contractor community. Private networks — led by Passport Health locations across the state — supplement hospital-based services. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) maintains the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS) registry and coordinates immunization policy through 35 health districts across the Commonwealth.
State Health Authority
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Immunization Program oversees vaccine policy, maintains the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS), and certifies Yellow Fever Vaccination Centers statewide. School immunization requirements are governed by Code of Virginia § 32.1-46 and the Virginia School Entrance Health Requirements published by the Board of Health — updated annually each school year.
Academic Medical Centers
UVA Health in Charlottesville and VCU Health / MCV Campus in Richmond are Virginia's flagship academic medical institutions providing travel medicine and infectious disease expertise. Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church is Northern Virginia's most comprehensive travel health resource. Sentara Norfolk General — affiliated with Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) — anchors Hampton Roads travel medicine.
Private Travel Clinics
Passport Health operates CDC-certified Yellow Fever vaccination clinics across Northern Virginia (Arlington), Richmond, and Virginia Beach — serving the Commonwealth's diverse traveler population. Travel Medicine Associates and concierge travel health services in Northern Virginia further serve the diplomatic and international business community. VDH health districts provide supplemental public health immunization services statewide.
Vaccine Regulations in Virginia
Virginia's school immunization requirements are governed by Code of Virginia § 32.1-46 and the Virginia Board of Health's School Entrance Health Requirements — updated each school year by VDH. Here is what travelers — and parents of young travelers — need to understand about the Commonwealth's vaccine framework.
School Entry Requirements
Under Code of Virginia § 32.1-46, children attending any public or private school must present proof of required immunizations or a valid exemption prior to enrollment. Required vaccines include DTaP/Tdap, Polio, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, and MenACWY for 7th grade entry. The VIIS registry is used to track and verify records statewide. VDH publishes an updated School Entrance Requirements document each school year, available on the VDH website.
Exemptions Permitted
Virginia law permits exemptions for medical grounds and on the basis of religious tenets or practices under Code of Virginia § 32.1-46(b). Medical exemptions require a statement signed by a licensed physician. Religious exemptions require a written statement from the parent or guardian objecting to immunization on bona fide religious grounds, submitted to the school. Exemptions are reviewed by school administration and local health departments, and students with exemptions may be excluded during disease outbreaks.
International Entry Requirements
Virginia does not impose vaccine mandates for residents traveling internationally beyond school and childcare settings. However, destination countries enforce independent legally binding entry conditions. Virginia's uniquely large concentration of State Department employees, Foreign Service officers, and diplomatic families in Northern Virginia means that Yellow Fever, typhoid, and other destination-specific vaccines are a routine part of pre-deployment and assignment preparation for thousands of Commonwealth residents annually.
Routine Vaccines for Children in Virginia
Virginia's childhood immunization schedule follows the CDC/ACIP recommended schedule. The VDH Immunization Program partners with pediatric providers across the Commonwealth — anchored by UVA Children's Hospital in Charlottesville, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, and Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) in Norfolk — to promote on-schedule vaccination statewide, including in Virginia's rural Shenandoah Valley, Southside, and Southwest Virginia communities.
| 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 including Europe; 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 documented doses before any international trip |
| Varicella | Chickenpox | 2 doses: 12–15 months & 4–6 years | Required for VA school entry; immunity critical across all 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 VA school entry; high priority for virtually all developing-country destinations |
| 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 — important for all international travel itineraries |
| Rotavirus | Severe diarrheal disease | 2–3 doses by 8 months | Particularly relevant for travel to developing countries with limited clean water and sanitation access |
| MenACWY (Meningococcal) | Meningococcal disease A, C, W, Y | 11–12 years; booster at 16 — required at 7th grade in VA | 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) matters for Latin America, Africa, and Asia travel |
| COVID-19 | COVID-19 | From 6 months; updated annually | 2024–2025 updated vaccine recommended by CDC; confirm any destination documentation requirements before departure |
Routine Vaccines for Adults in Virginia
📍 Virginia 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 VDH and CDC recommend all Virginia adults review and update the following vaccines — particularly before any international trip from IAD, DCA, RIC, ORF, or other Virginia departure points.
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. Particularly important for Virginia's large military community — service members rotating through deployments to overseas locations where tetanus and pertussis exposure is a real risk — and for Foreign Service officers and humanitarian workers posted to developing countries.
Every 10 yearsInfluenza (Annual)
Annual flu vaccination is recommended for all Virginia adults. The updated 2024–2025 vaccine is available at pharmacies, VDH health district offices, and hospital systems statewide. Southern Hemisphere flu season (April–September) is relevant for Virginia's substantial Foreign Service, military, and academic communities traveling to Africa, Latin America, and Asia during the US summer season.
AnnualCOVID-19 (Updated)
The 2024–2025 updated COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for all Virginia adults. Available at pharmacies, VDH health district offices, and hospital systems statewide. Some international destinations may require vaccination documentation for entry or transit — confirm your destination's current policy before departure. Foreign Service and diplomatic community members should verify any State Department-specific vaccine documentation requirements.
Updated annuallyHepatitis A & B
Adults not vaccinated in childhood should complete both series before international travel. Both are high priority for Virginia's large State Department, military, and NGO communities traveling to sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Virginia's significant South Asian and East Asian immigrant communities in Northern Virginia and Richmond also face elevated Hepatitis B exposure risk when visiting family internationally.
Catch-up seriesMeningococcal
MenACWY is required for Hajj/Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and strongly recommended for sub-Saharan Africa travel. Virginia's significant Muslim community — particularly in Northern Virginia's Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties — includes many families making annual Hajj pilgrimage from Dulles airport, for whom the meningococcal vaccine is a legally required element of Hajj travel preparation.
Risk-basedPneumococcal & Shingles
Adults 50 and older should receive Shingrix (shingles vaccine) as a 2-dose series. PCV15 or PCV20 is recommended for adults 65+ and younger adults with specific health conditions. Virginia's large and growing retiree military community — particularly in Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia, and the Shenandoah Valley — should ensure both vaccines are current before international travel to distant destinations.
Age 50+The Three Categories of Travel Vaccines
Travel vaccines fall into three distinct categories. Understanding each is essential for any Virginia traveler preparing for an international trip. Your travel health provider — whether at UVA Health, VCU Health, Inova, Sentara, Carilion, or Passport Health — will assess all three during your pre-travel consultation.
| Travel Vaccine | Category | Key Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Fever | Required | Sub-Saharan Africa, tropical South America | UVA Health, VCU Health, Inova (Falls Church), EVMS (Norfolk), and all Passport Health VA locations are CDC-certified YF centers |
| Typhoid | Recommended | South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America | Oral or injectable; high priority for Virginia's Foreign Service, military, NGO, and academic research community |
| Japanese Encephalitis | Recommended | Rural Asia, Southeast Asia | 2-dose series; UVA Health and Inova (Northern VA) are Virginia's primary resources for this specialty vaccine |
| Rabies (pre-exposure) | Recommended | Asia, Africa, Latin America (remote areas) | 3-dose series; advisable for Virginia missionaries, adventure travelers, agricultural and wildlife researchers, and aid workers |
| Cholera (Vaxchora) | Recommended | Sub-Saharan Africa, South/Southeast Asia, Haiti | Single oral dose for adults; confirm availability with UVA Health, VCU Health, or Inova Travel Medicine |
| Meningococcal ACWY | Required / Recommended | Meningitis Belt (Africa), Saudi Arabia (Hajj/Umrah) | Required for Hajj — Northern Virginia's Muslim community departing from Dulles should confirm this vaccine well before departure |
| Hepatitis A | Recommended | Developing countries worldwide | Required for VA school entry; essential for Virginia's military, humanitarian, and study abroad communities traveling internationally |
| Malaria Prophylaxis | Prescription Rx | Sub-Saharan Africa, South/Southeast Asia, Central America | Not a vaccine — prescription medication available from UVA Health, VCU Health, Inova Travel Medicine, EVMS Norfolk, and Passport Health VA locations |
Main Travel Health & Vaccine Centers in Virginia
Virginia's travel health resources span UVA Health's nationally recognized infectious disease program in Charlottesville, VCU Health in Richmond, the Inova Health System and Passport Health network in Northern Virginia, EVMS and Passport Health in Hampton Roads, and Carilion Clinic in Southwest Virginia — covering the Commonwealth's geographically diverse resident communities from the Tidewater coast to the Appalachian highlands.
Northern Virginia / Washington Dulles Corridor
3300 Gallows Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 776-4001 | By appointment
Inova Fairfax Hospital — Northern Virginia's largest hospital and a Level I Trauma Center — operates the region's most comprehensive hospital-based travel medicine program. Inova's infectious disease and travel medicine specialists provide individualized pre-travel consultations, yellow fever certification, all major travel vaccines, malaria prophylaxis prescriptions, and expert post-travel illness evaluation. Northern Virginia's extraordinary concentration of State Department employees, Foreign Service officers, intelligence and national security community professionals, and international business executives — many departing from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to 50+ direct international destinations — makes Inova's travel medicine program one of the most active and experience-rich in the mid-Atlantic region.
3811 Fairfax Dr, Suite 1, Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 522-7228
CDC-designated Yellow Fever vaccination center in Arlington — the most convenient private travel clinic for the Pentagon, State Department Foggy Bottom–commuting community, and the dense professional population of Rosslyn, Crystal City, Clarendon, and the Arlington corridor. Full travel vaccine inventory with destination-specific consultations for all traveler types. A practical and time-efficient option for Northern Virginia professionals with demanding pre-travel schedules.
Dulles International — located in Loudoun County, Virginia — offers direct international service to more than 50 countries, making it the primary international departure point for Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. area travelers. For Virginia residents, completing your pre-travel consultation at Inova, Passport Health Arlington, or UVA Health before your Dulles departure ensures you are protected for the full spectrum of global destinations served by IAD — from sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia to Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Richmond / Central Virginia
1250 E Marshall St, Richmond, VA 23298
(804) 828-9000 | By appointment
VCU Health's Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus — Virginia's public academic medical center and the Commonwealth's Level I Trauma Center in Richmond — provides travel medicine and infectious disease consultation for the Richmond metropolitan area and Central Virginia. VCU's infectious disease specialists deliver pre-travel consultations, yellow fever certification, all major travel vaccines, malaria prophylaxis prescriptions, and comprehensive post-travel illness evaluation. An important resource for Richmond's growing international business community, the Virginia state government community, military families at Fort Gregg-Adams, and the diverse Richmond population with family ties across the globe.
6800 Paragon Place, Suite 208, Richmond, VA 23230 | (804) 346-0620
CDC-designated Yellow Fever vaccination center serving Richmond and Central Virginia. Full travel vaccine inventory for business travelers, leisure travelers, missionaries, military families, and academic researchers. A streamlined private travel clinic option for Richmond-area travelers who prefer a dedicated travel health practice separate from the VCU Health hospital-based program.
Hampton Roads / Norfolk — World's Largest Naval Installation
825 Fairfax Ave, Norfolk, VA 23507
(757) 446-5600 | By appointment
Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) — affiliated with Sentara Norfolk General Hospital — operates Hampton Roads' principal academic travel medicine program. EVMS infectious disease specialists provide individualized pre-travel consultations, yellow fever certification, all major travel vaccines, and post-travel illness evaluation. Hampton Roads presents Virginia's most concentrated military travel health demand: Naval Station Norfolk — the world's largest naval installation — along with NAS Oceana, Naval Station Little Creek, Langley Air Force Base, and Fort Eustis collectively create a massive community of active-duty personnel, civilian employees, and military families with frequent international travel requirements. EVMS and Sentara Norfolk General are the civilian academic anchors for this community.
1072 First Colonial Rd, Suite 202, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
(757) 496-7228
CDC-designated Yellow Fever vaccination center serving Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and the South Hampton Roads corridor. Convenient for travelers in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake — including the NAS Oceana military community and civilian travelers departing from Norfolk International Airport (ORF). Full travel vaccine inventory with destination-specific consultations.
620 John Paul Jones Cir, Portsmouth, VA 23708 | (757) 953-5000
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth — the Navy Medicine East flagship and one of the oldest military hospitals in America — provides comprehensive travel health services for active-duty Navy and Marine Corps personnel, Department of Defense civilians, and eligible beneficiaries in the Hampton Roads military community. NMCP's travel medicine program is a primary resource for the tens of thousands of sailors, officers, and their families rotating through deployments to international locations from Naval Station Norfolk.
Charlottesville / Central Piedmont
1215 Lee St, Charlottesville, VA 22908
(434) 924-0000 | By appointment
University of Virginia Health — one of the Southeast's premier academic medical centers, consistently ranked among the nation's best hospitals — operates Virginia's most academically rigorous travel medicine and international health program. UVA's infectious disease and travel medicine specialists are the first-choice resource for the University of Virginia's global academic community: faculty researchers traveling to high-risk field locations, international students and scholars, and the significant population of global health-oriented students and faculty from UVA's School of Medicine, School of Global Studies, and related programs. UVA Health serves travelers from across Central and Western Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, and the southern Piedmont.
Roanoke & Southwest Virginia / Blue Ridge
1906 Belleview Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24014
(540) 981-7000 | By appointment
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital — Southwest Virginia's Level I Trauma Center and the Carilion Clinic system's flagship — provides travel health and immunization services for the Roanoke Valley, the New River Valley, and Southwest Virginia's communities stretching toward the Tennessee and North Carolina borders. The Virginia Tech community in Blacksburg — just 40 miles from Roanoke — includes a large international student and faculty population, along with Virginia Tech researchers conducting field work in developing-country settings. Contact directly to confirm available travel vaccines and appointment scheduling.
Pre-Travel Health Checklist for Virginia Travelers
Follow this step-by-step timeline to ensure you are fully protected before departing from Virginia on an international trip — whether from Dulles, Reagan National, Richmond, or Norfolk.
| Timeframe | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 6+ Weeks Before | Book a travel health consultation | Contact UVA Health (Charlottesville), VCU Health (Richmond), Inova or Passport Health (Northern Virginia), EVMS or Passport Health Virginia Beach (Hampton Roads), or Carilion (Roanoke). Research destination requirements at CDC Travelers' Health. State Department employees should also consult the State Dept Medical Program for any assignment-specific requirements. |
| 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. Ask your provider to access your VIIS records to identify any gaps in your routine adult vaccination history that can be closed at this appointment. |
| Follow-Up Visits | Complete multi-dose series | Rabies pre-exposure (3 doses), Hepatitis A catch-up (2 doses), Japanese Encephalitis (2 doses), and Hepatitis B catch-up (3 doses) all require multiple appointments spaced weeks apart. Discuss your departure timeline at your first appointment — UVA Health, Inova, and VCU Health can help plan an expedited schedule when needed for firm departure dates. |
| 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 transit delays. |
| On Return | Monitor for illness symptoms | If you develop fever, rash, persistent diarrhea, jaundice, or unusual symptoms within weeks of returning to Virginia, contact UVA Health Infectious Disease (Charlottesville), VCU Health Infectious Disease (Richmond), Inova (Northern Virginia), or Sentara / EVMS (Hampton Roads) immediately. Always clearly state your complete travel history — every destination, date, and potential exposure — to every provider you see. |
Ready to Travel from Virginia?
From the diplomatic corridors of Northern Virginia and Washington Dulles to the naval gateway of Norfolk and the academic excellence of Charlottesville — Virginia's travel health providers are among the most experienced in the nation. 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.