Dr. Vaccines
Common Viruses in Europe
Generally low risk, with two things worth planning for: measles outbreaks and tick-borne encephalitis in forested regions.
Book an appointmentEurope has strong health systems and a low overall burden of infectious disease, so travel vaccination advice is usually short. Two items regularly come up: measles, which has resurged in several countries following dips in childhood coverage, and tick-borne encephalitis, which is confined to specific forested regions but is genuinely serious.
Because Europe covers a wide range of climates and health system contexts, the advice varies more between countries than the continent-level summary suggests. Eastern and southeastern Europe carry somewhat different risks from Western Europe.
Viruses and infections that circulate in Europe
| Infection | How it spreads | Vaccine | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measles | Airborne | Preventable | Substantial outbreaks in several European countries following falls in childhood MMR coverage. Confirming two documented doses before travel is genuinely worthwhile here. |
| Tick-borne encephalitis | Tick bite in forested areas | Preventable | Endemic in parts of Central, Eastern and Northern Europe. Vaccine-preventable, and worth considering for hiking, camping or forest work between spring and autumn. |
| Influenza | Respiratory droplets | Preventable | Winter season roughly October to March across most of the continent. |
| Hepatitis A | Contaminated food and water | Preventable | Low risk in Western Europe, somewhat higher in parts of Eastern and Southern Europe. Vaccine-preventable and often included for broader itineraries. |
| West Nile virus | Mosquito | No vaccine | Seasonal summer transmission in parts of Southern and Eastern Europe. No vaccine. |
| COVID-19 | Respiratory droplets and aerosol | Preventable | Managed through periodic booster campaigns for older and vulnerable groups. |
| Rabies | Animal bite | Preventable | Largely eliminated in domestic animals across Western Europe but present in wildlife in some Eastern regions. Bat contact anywhere warrants assessment. |
What to arrange before you travel
- Confirm two documented doses of MMR before travelling, given ongoing measles outbreaks in several countries.
- Consider tick-borne encephalitis vaccination if you will be hiking, camping or working in forested areas of Central or Eastern Europe between spring and autumn.
- Hepatitis A is worth considering for Eastern and Southern Europe or for longer stays.
- For students, check individual university requirements, which vary far more across Europe than within the US system.
- Carry an EHIC equivalent or travel health insurance, since coverage arrangements vary by country.
Frequently asked questions
What vaccines do I need for travel to Europe?
No vaccines are legally required. Confirm MMR immunity given measles outbreaks, consider hepatitis A for Eastern and Southern Europe, and consider tick-borne encephalitis if you will be in forested areas during the warmer months.
What is tick-borne encephalitis and do I need the vaccine?
A viral brain infection transmitted by ticks in forested parts of Central, Eastern and Northern Europe. It is vaccine-preventable and worth considering if you will be hiking, camping or working outdoors between spring and autumn in an endemic region.
Is measles really a risk in Europe?
Yes. Several European countries have seen substantial outbreaks after childhood vaccination coverage fell. Confirming two documented MMR doses before travel is a reasonable precaution, particularly for young adults with incomplete records.
Do European universities require vaccination records?
Requirements vary far more than in the US, ranging from nothing at all to a full immunisation record. Check the specific institution, and allow time in case serology or vaccination is needed.
Book your Europe travel vaccination
Bring your itinerary, including which countries and whether you will be in forested or rural areas. That determines whether tick-borne encephalitis and hepatitis A are worth adding.
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