Wisconsin: Your Gateway to International Travel Health
A complete guide for Wisconsin-based travelers preparing for international trips — vaccines, regulations, clinics, and expert resources across the Badger State, from Milwaukee's lakefront to Madison's university corridors and the northwoods communities near the Great Lakes.
Wisconsin & International Travel Health
Wisconsin — the Badger State — is a state of remarkable cultural diversity, world-class academic medicine, and deep international connections that extend far beyond its Midwestern heartland identity. Milwaukee — Wisconsin's largest city and a major Great Lakes port — is home to one of the most culturally layered urban populations in the Midwest: a vibrant Hmong-American community among the largest in the United States (with strong family ties to Laos and Thailand), a large Mexican-American and Central American community in the historic Southside neighborhoods, deep German-American and Polish-American roots across the metro, and a growing population of East African, West African, and Southeast Asian residents. Madison — home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of the nation's premier research universities — hosts thousands of international students, faculty, and researchers each year, along with a sophisticated global health and international development community tied to UW's medical and social science programs.
Wisconsin residents travel internationally in significant numbers — for family visits to Europe and Latin America, mission trips to Central America and sub-Saharan Africa, academic research across multiple continents, humanitarian work, and leisure travel to Mexico, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and beyond. Medically, Wisconsin is anchored by UW Health / University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison — one of the Midwest's foremost academic medical centers — and Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). Marshfield Clinic Health System provides an exceptional rural and regional health network across Central Wisconsin. Gundersen Health System and Mayo Clinic Health System serve Western Wisconsin from La Crosse. Whether departing from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) in Madison, Austin Straubel International (GRB) in Green Bay, or routing through nearby Chicago O'Hare (ORD) — which many southern Wisconsin residents use for international departures — your travel health preparation begins here in the Badger State.
Healthcare in Wisconsin for Travelers
Wisconsin's travel health infrastructure is led by UW Health / University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison — one of the Midwest's most respected academic medical centers — and Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). Together they provide Wisconsin with access to world-class infectious disease and travel medicine expertise. Marshfield Clinic Health System — one of the largest group medical practices in the United States, with more than 50 locations across Wisconsin — extends travel vaccine access deep into Central and Northern Wisconsin. Gundersen Health System and Mayo Clinic Health System anchor Western Wisconsin from La Crosse. Private travel clinic networks — led by Passport Health — serve Milwaukee and Madison. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) maintains the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) and coordinates immunization policy through local health departments across all 72 Wisconsin counties.
State Health Authority
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Immunization Program oversees vaccine policy, maintains the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR), and certifies Yellow Fever Vaccination Centers statewide. School immunization requirements are governed by Wisconsin Statute § 252.04 and Wisconsin Administrative Code DHS 144. WI DHS works with county and local health departments across all 72 Wisconsin counties.
Academic Medical Centers
UW Health / University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison and Froedtert Hospital / MCW in Milwaukee are Wisconsin's flagship academic medical institutions providing travel medicine and infectious disease expertise. Marshfield Clinic Health System — with more than 50 clinic locations statewide — extends travel health access to Wisconsin's rural and Central Wisconsin communities where no other academic travel program exists.
Private Travel Clinics
Passport Health operates CDC-certified Yellow Fever vaccination clinics in Milwaukee and Madison, serving Wisconsin's two largest metropolitan areas. Advocate Aurora Health — Wisconsin's largest health system — supplements travel vaccine access through Aurora clinic locations statewide. WI DHS county health departments provide public health immunization services across all 72 counties.
Vaccine Regulations in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's school immunization requirements are governed by Wisconsin Statute § 252.04 and Wisconsin Administrative Code DHS 144. Here is what travelers — and parents of young travelers — need to understand about the Badger State's vaccine framework, including its notable exemption policy.
School Entry Requirements
Under Wisconsin Statute § 252.04, children attending any public or private 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 school-age entry. The WIR (Wisconsin Immunization Registry) tracks and verifies records statewide. Local health departments coordinate compliance reporting with school districts across all 72 counties.
Three Exemptions Permitted
Wisconsin permits exemptions on three grounds under Wis. Stat. § 252.04(3): medical, religious, and personal conviction (philosophical). This makes Wisconsin one of the states with the broadest exemption framework in the nation. Medical exemptions require a physician's documentation. Religious and personal conviction exemptions require a signed statement from the parent or guardian submitted to the school. Wisconsin's WIR monitors exemption trends alongside outbreak surveillance data statewide.
International Entry Requirements
Wisconsin does not impose vaccine mandates for residents traveling internationally beyond school and childcare settings. However, destination countries enforce independent legally binding entry conditions. Wisconsin's large Hmong-American community — with direct family ties to Laos and Thailand — and its substantial Mexican-American community traveling to Mexico and Central America create specific travel health considerations that go beyond simply meeting destination entry requirements, encompassing real disease risk from destinations with endemic typhoid, dengue, and other infections.
Routine Vaccines for Children in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's childhood immunization schedule follows the CDC/ACIP recommended schedule. The WI DHS Immunization Program partners with pediatric providers statewide — anchored by Children's Wisconsin (formerly Children's Hospital of Wisconsin) in Milwaukee, affiliated with MCW and Froedtert, and American Family Children's Hospital at UW Health in Madison — to promote on-schedule vaccination across the Badger State's urban, suburban, and rural communities alike.
| 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 exit — Africa and South Asia travel |
| MMR | Measles, Mumps, Rubella | 2 doses: 12–15 months & 4–6 years | Measles is endemic across Asia, Europe, and Africa — confirm 2 documented doses before any international trip |
| Varicella | Chickenpox | 2 doses: 12–15 months & 4–6 years | Required for WI school entry; immunity critical in international travel settings |
| Hepatitis B | Hepatitis B virus | 3-dose series: birth, 1–2 months, 6–18 months | Critical for Wisconsin's Hmong-American community traveling to Laos and Thailand — and for any Asia, Africa, or Eastern Europe travel |
| Hepatitis A | Hepatitis A virus | 2 doses starting at 12–23 months | Required for WI school entry; essential for Mexico, Central America, Southeast Asia, and 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 |
| Rotavirus | Severe diarrheal disease | 2–3 doses by 8 months | Particularly relevant for Wisconsin families traveling to Mexico, Central America, or Southeast Asia |
| MenACWY (Meningococcal) | Meningococcal disease A, C, W, Y | 11–12 years; booster at 16 — required for WI secondary school entry | 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 Southeast Asia travel |
| COVID-19 | COVID-19 | From 6 months; updated annually | 2024–2025 updated vaccine recommended by CDC; confirm any destination entry documentation requirements before departure |
Routine Vaccines for Adults in Wisconsin
📍 Wisconsin 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 WI DHS and CDC recommend all Wisconsin adults review and update the following vaccines — particularly before any international trip from MKE, MSN, GRB, or via Chicago O'Hare.
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 Wisconsin's large missionary and humanitarian travel community — many based in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and the Fox Valley — traveling to Central America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia where wound exposure risk in remote settings is elevated.
Every 10 yearsInfluenza (Annual)
Annual flu vaccination is recommended for all Wisconsin adults. The updated 2024–2025 vaccine is available at pharmacies, WI DHS county health offices, and hospital systems statewide. Southern Hemisphere flu season (April–September) is relevant for Wisconsin travelers heading to Mexico, Central America, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa during the US summer season.
AnnualCOVID-19 (Updated)
The 2024–2025 updated COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for all Wisconsin adults. Available at pharmacies, WI DHS county health offices, and hospital systems statewide. Some international destinations may require vaccination documentation for entry or transit — confirm your destination's current policy before departure from MKE, MSN, GRB, or O'Hare.
Updated annuallyHepatitis A & B
Adults not vaccinated in childhood should complete both series before international travel. Hepatitis B is the highest-priority catch-up vaccine for Wisconsin's Hmong-American community traveling to Laos, Thailand, and Southeast Asia — all high-HBV-prevalence regions. Hepatitis A is essential for Mexico, Central America, and virtually all developing-country destinations frequently visited by Wisconsin's Latino and missionary communities.
Catch-up seriesMeningococcal
MenACWY is required for Hajj/Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and strongly recommended for sub-Saharan Africa travel. MenB is recommended for college students and adults at increased risk — Wisconsin's large university population at UW-Madison, Marquette, UW-Milwaukee, and other institutions benefits from staying current on MenB before any international travel. Both vaccines are widely available at UW Health, Froedtert/MCW, and Passport Health Wisconsin locations.
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. Wisconsin's large retiree population — from the Lake Geneva resort corridor to Door County and the Northwoods lake communities — should ensure both vaccines are current before long-haul international travel.
Age 50+The Three Categories of Travel Vaccines
Travel vaccines fall into three distinct categories. Understanding each is essential for any Wisconsin traveler preparing for an international trip. Your travel health provider — whether at UW Health, Froedtert/MCW, Marshfield Clinic, Gundersen, Mayo Clinic Health System, 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 | UW Health (Madison), Froedtert/MCW (Milwaukee), and all Passport Health WI locations are Wisconsin's CDC-certified YF centers |
| Typhoid | Recommended | South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Mexico, Central America | Oral or injectable; high priority for Wisconsin's Hmong community (Laos/Thailand), Latino community (Mexico/Central America), and mission teams |
| Japanese Encephalitis | Recommended | Rural Asia, Southeast Asia | 2-dose series; UW Health Madison and Froedtert/MCW Milwaukee are Wisconsin's primary resources — important for Hmong community rural Laos and Thailand travel |
| Rabies (pre-exposure) | Recommended | Asia, Africa, Latin America (remote areas) | 3-dose series; advisable for Wisconsin missionaries, humanitarian workers, adventure travelers, and veterinary or wildlife professionals |
| Cholera (Vaxchora) | Recommended | Sub-Saharan Africa, South/Southeast Asia, Haiti | Single oral dose for adults; confirm availability with UW Health Madison or Froedtert/MCW Milwaukee before your trip |
| Meningococcal ACWY | Required / Recommended | Meningitis Belt (Africa), Saudi Arabia (Hajj/Umrah) | Required for Hajj; strongly recommended for sub-Saharan Africa travel; widely available at UW Health, Froedtert/MCW, and Passport Health WI |
| Hepatitis B | Highly Recommended | East Asia, Southeast Asia (Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines), sub-Saharan Africa | The single most critical catch-up vaccine for Wisconsin's large Hmong-American community traveling to Southeast Asia — Laos and Thailand have very high HBV prevalence |
| Malaria Prophylaxis | Prescription Rx | Sub-Saharan Africa, South/Southeast Asia, Central America | Not a vaccine — prescription medication available from UW Health, Froedtert/MCW, Gundersen, Marshfield Clinic, and Passport Health WI locations |
Main Travel Health & Vaccine Centers in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's travel health resources span UW Health's academic excellence in Madison, Froedtert/MCW's academic program in Milwaukee, Marshfield Clinic's extraordinary statewide rural reach, Gundersen and Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse and Eau Claire, and Passport Health private travel clinics in Milwaukee and Madison — together covering the Badger State's urban, suburban, and rural communities from Kenosha to Superior.
Milwaukee / Southeast Wisconsin
9200 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226
(414) 805-6611 | By appointment
Froedtert Hospital — Milwaukee's Level I Trauma Center and the Medical College of Wisconsin's primary teaching hospital — provides Wisconsin's most academically rigorous travel medicine program in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. MCW-affiliated infectious disease and travel medicine specialists offer individualized pre-travel consultations, yellow fever certification, the full travel vaccine menu, malaria prophylaxis prescriptions, and expert post-travel illness evaluation. Milwaukee's extraordinary cultural diversity — including one of the largest Hmong-American communities in the United States, a large Mexican-American and Central American community, significant East African and West African populations, and deep European heritage communities — creates a uniquely complex travel health environment that Froedtert's faculty are experienced in addressing with culturally sensitive, language-accessible care.
250 E Wisconsin Ave, Suite 1450, Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 272-7428
CDC-designated Yellow Fever vaccination center in downtown Milwaukee — conveniently accessible from throughout the greater Milwaukee metro and from Kenosha, Racine, and Waukesha County communities. Full travel vaccine inventory with destination-specific consultations for all traveler types. A practical choice for Milwaukee-area travelers who prefer a dedicated private travel clinic experience before departing from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) or routing through Chicago O'Hare for international connections.
841 N Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202 | (414) 286-8620
Milwaukee County public health provides travel immunization services at affordable public health pricing — an essential resource for Milwaukee's uninsured and underinsured travelers, including members of the Hmong, Latino, East African, and other immigrant communities preparing for transatlantic, transpacific, or Latin American family travel. Multilingual staff are available. Contact for appointment scheduling and current vaccine availability.
Madison / South Central Wisconsin
621 Science Dr, Madison, WI 53711
(608) 265-5600 | By appointment
UW Health — affiliated with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, ranked among the nation's top medical schools — operates Wisconsin's most academically rigorous travel health program. UW Health's infectious disease and travel medicine specialists provide individualized pre-travel consultations, yellow fever certification, all major travel vaccines including specialty vaccines such as Japanese Encephalitis, malaria prophylaxis, and expert post-travel illness evaluation. The University of Wisconsin-Madison's global academic community — encompassing thousands of international researchers, faculty undertaking fieldwork across sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, study abroad coordinators, and global health students — makes UW Health's travel medicine program one of the most active and experience-deep in the Upper Midwest.
2 E Mifflin St, Suite 210, Madison, WI 53703 | (608) 255-7228
CDC-designated Yellow Fever vaccination center in downtown Madison, serving Madison-area travelers, the UW-Madison community, and South Central Wisconsin residents. Full travel vaccine inventory with destination-specific consultations. A convenient private travel clinic option for Madison travelers departing from Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) or routing through Chicago O'Hare for international connections.
Green Bay & Northeast Wisconsin / Fox Valley
2845 Greenbrier Rd, Green Bay, WI 54311
(920) 288-8000 | By appointment
Aurora BayCare Medical Center — part of the Advocate Aurora Health system — serves Green Bay, Brown County, the Fox Valley (Appleton, Oshkosh, Neenah), Door County, and Northeast Wisconsin with travel immunization and infectious disease services. This region's significant manufacturing and paper industry workforce includes international business travelers. Contact directly to confirm available travel vaccines and scheduling requirements.
La Crosse & Western Wisconsin
1900 South Ave, La Crosse, WI 54601
(608) 782-7300 | By appointment
Gundersen Health System — Western Wisconsin's largest and most respected regional health system — provides travel medicine and infectious disease services from its flagship La Crosse campus for residents throughout the western Driftless region, including La Crosse, Onalaska, Viroqua, and the communities along the Upper Mississippi River corridor. Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse provides an additional travel health resource in the region. Viterbo University and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse create a student and faculty community with active international study programs. Contact directly to confirm available travel vaccines and scheduling.
Central Wisconsin / Marshfield Clinic Statewide Network
1000 N Oak Ave, Marshfield, WI 54449 (flagship — additional locations statewide)
(715) 387-5511 | By appointment
Marshfield Clinic Health System — one of the largest group medical practices in the United States, with more than 50 clinic locations across Wisconsin — is the state's most geographically extensive travel health resource. For Wisconsin residents in Central and Northern Wisconsin communities such as Wausau, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, Rhinelander, Minocqua, Medford, Antigo, and the Northwoods — who may otherwise face a two-hour drive to Madison or Milwaukee for travel health preparation — Marshfield Clinic's network brings travel vaccine services to communities that would otherwise be severely underserved. Contact your nearest Marshfield Clinic location directly to confirm travel vaccine availability and scheduling.
Pre-Travel Health Checklist for Wisconsin Travelers
Follow this step-by-step timeline to ensure you are fully protected before departing from Wisconsin on an international trip — whether from Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, or via Chicago O'Hare.
| Timeframe | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 6+ Weeks Before | Book a travel health consultation | Contact UW Health (Madison), Froedtert/MCW or Passport Health (Milwaukee), Gundersen (La Crosse), Marshfield Clinic (Central Wisconsin), Aurora BayCare (Green Bay), or Mayo Clinic Health System (Eau Claire). Research destination requirements at CDC Travelers' Health. Hmong-American travelers to Laos or Thailand should specifically ask about Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, Typhoid, and malaria prophylaxis at their consultation. |
| 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 WIR records to identify any gaps in your routine adult vaccination history — particularly Hepatitis B for Southeast Asia-bound travelers. |
| Follow-Up Visits | Complete multi-dose series | Rabies pre-exposure (3 doses), Japanese Encephalitis (2 doses), Hepatitis A catch-up (2 doses), and Hepatitis B catch-up (3 doses) require multiple appointments spaced weeks apart. Discuss your departure timeline at your first appointment — UW Health and Froedtert/MCW can help plan an expedited schedule when needed. |
| 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 and any transit stops. If routing through Chicago O'Hare, confirm your international gate terminal and boarding time well in advance. |
| On Return | Monitor for illness symptoms | If you develop fever, rash, persistent diarrhea, jaundice, or unusual symptoms within weeks of returning to Wisconsin, contact UW Health Infectious Disease (Madison) or Froedtert/MCW Infectious Disease (Milwaukee) immediately. Always provide your complete travel history — every destination, date, activity, and potential exposure to insects, animals, food, or water — to every healthcare provider you see. |
Ready to Travel from Wisconsin?
Whether you're departing from Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, or heading down to O'Hare — Wisconsin's travel health providers, led by UW Health and Froedtert/MCW and backed by Marshfield Clinic's extraordinary statewide reach, are ready to protect you for wherever your journey takes you.
This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider for personalized travel health advice. Information current as of 2025–2026.