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Vaccinations before going to Paris?

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I am going to Paris in the spring. Will I need any shots before I go? Thanks in advance.

Travel Tips

No you don't need shots. There are also pharmacies on every corner with lots of fun drugs they don't sell here. AND You can even drink the tap water. Ask for "un carafe d'eau" if you want tap water at a restaurant in order to cut costs and avoid paying 4 euros (about 6 US dollars) for a Coke. Source(s): travel experience

Other Travel Tips
Travelers to other countries often face health issues they wouldn鈥檛 ordinarily experience at home. To minimize your risks of becoming seriously ill when traveling abroad, you should find out in advance whether any specific immunizations may be recommended for travel to the region of the world you鈥檒l be visiting. It鈥檚 also a good time to review your own immunization history.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it鈥檚 best to schedule a visit to your doctor or travel medicine clinic 4-6 weeks before an international trip. Since your body needs time to build up immunity after receiving a vaccine and many vaccines are given in a series over time, getting an early start on your immunizations is the best way to protect yourself. Even if you are making a last-minute trip or plan to leave in less than four weeks, you should still check with your doctor to see if any vaccines or preventive medications might be recommended.

The CDC divides travel vaccinations into three categories: routine, recommended, and required. The only vaccine classified as 鈥渞equired鈥?by International Health Regulations is the yellow fever vaccination for travel to certain countries in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America.

鈥淩outine鈥?vaccinations are those that are normally administered, usually during childhood, in the United States. These include immunizations against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and pneumococcal invasive disease. International travelers should make sure that these vaccinations are up to date and that no boosters are required, since many conditions which are rare in the U.S. due to immunity in the general population may be more common in other countries.

鈥淩ecommended鈥?vaccinations are given to protect travelers from illnesses that occur routinely in other parts of the world. Doctors determine which vaccines are recommended for international travel on an individual basis, taking into consideration your destination, whether you will be spending time in rural areas, the season of the year you are traveling, your age, your overall health status, and your immunization history.

Some examples of vaccines that may be recommended for international travelers (remember you may need more, fewer, or different vaccinations, depending on your individual circumstances) include:

Hepatitis A 鈥?This condition is spread by person-to-person contact, through contaminated water, shellfish harvested in contaminated water, or other food products contaminated during preparation or handling. Hepatitis A may be contracted where sanitation conditions may be lacking. For more in-depth information, please read the Hepatitis article.
Rabies 鈥?Rabies virus is endemic in dogs in many countries throughout the world, including, but not limited to, parts of Thailand, Viet Nam, Brazil, China, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. For more in-depth information please read the Rabies article.
Typhoid fever 鈥?This condition may be contacted in many areas of the world through contaminated drinking water or food, or by consuming food or beverages that have been handled by an infected person. For more information, please read the Typhoid Fever article.
Many travelers to tropical countries are concerned about the possibility of contracting malaria, a potentially fatal infection transmitted by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. While malaria is most common in Africa, the disease occurs in over 100 countries. While there is no vaccination available to prevent malaria, your doctor can prescribe preventive, or prophylactic, antimalarial medications if you are traveling to an at-risk area.
No, you don't need any vaccinations. I travel to Paris almost every year. The only thing I would recommend is allergy medicine and lots of Kleenex. EVERYONE in Paris smokes, and at the end of the day, my nose would get stuffy quite a bit. Other than that, nothing to worry about.