So you're traveling to a foreign country and you're wondering if you need to get any shots. The answer is: it depends! According to the CDC, there are a few things to concern yourself with when it comes to vaccinations, diseases, and travel to Mexico.

Routine Vaccinations

To begin, the the CDC recommends that you be up to date on all of your routine vaccinations. That includes all those childhood shots you got, like Chickenpox, DPT, MMR, and polio. By the way, turns out that MMR shot wears off as you age, so you may need a booster. Additionally, they recommend having your flu shot, and the shingles vaccine if you're over 49.

Travel Vaccinations

In addition to the routine vaccinations, there are a few other vaccines that they recommend for travelers in general. These include COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid. The last one is currently recommended if you're going to be in rural areas or staying with locals.

Disease Concerns

Finally, the CDC lists a few diseases that you should be aware of when traveling to Mexico. These are pretty much all insect-borne diseases. These include Chikungunya, Dengue, Malaria, and Zika. The CDC recommends that you take precautions to avoid bug bites. On Cozumel, it's mostly about mosquito's and sand flies. Cozumel in particular has engaged an aggressive program of fogging and powdering the island and residential areas to eliminate breeding grounds. The resort itself also fogs the area around the resorts each week. I've not had any mosquito bites in the past, and you can avoid sand flies if you stay off the sand after sunset.

Resources

You can read more comprehensive list in the Vaccination and Disease section of the FAQ, as well as the CDD's Travelers' Health Mexico page:

• Vaccination and Disease
• CDC - Travelers' Health - Mexico