Brady Collins
As of 2025, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that most adults aged 18 and older receive a COVID-19 vaccine for the 2024-2025 season. This recommendation extends to people who have previously been vaccinated or infected with COVID-19. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has restricted the latest COVID-19 vaccines to individuals at high risk of developing severe COVID-19 complications. These restrictions have been criticised by some experts, who argue that they will limit vaccine access and increase hospitalisations and deaths. While the CDC and FDA guidelines focus on COVID-19 vaccines, the USCIS outlines general vaccination requirements for immigrants, which include vaccines against diseases eliminated or in the process of being eliminated in the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can get the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine? | Most adults ages 18 and older |
| Who should discuss the benefits of vaccination with a healthcare provider? | Parents of children ages 6 months to 17 years |
| Who should get vaccinated against respiratory illnesses? | Heart disease patients |
| Who is restricting access to the COVID-19 vaccine? | The Trump administration |
| Who has tossed out last season's COVID-19 vaccine doses? | Many pharmacies and clinics |
| Who has expressed hesitation among doctors to prescribe the COVID-19 vaccine? | Ricciardi |
| Who has approved a new COVID-19 shot? | The FDA |
| Who is restricting access to the COVID-19 vaccine? | Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary and prominent vaccine skeptic |
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What You'll Learn
Do immigrants need to be vaccinated to enter the US?
The US has specific vaccination requirements for immigrants. These requirements are outlined by the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). According to the USCIS, immigrants must receive vaccines that protect against diseases eliminated or in the process of being eliminated in the United States and that are appropriate for their age category.
During the immigration medical examination, a civil surgeon will review an immigrant's vaccination records. If an immigrant lacks any required vaccines, the civil surgeon will administer them. Immigrants can also choose to obtain the necessary vaccines from their private healthcare provider but must return to the civil surgeon with proof of vaccination.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that immigrants receive the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine, which is available to most adults ages 18 and older. Parents of children ages 6 months to 17 years should discuss COVID-19 vaccination with a healthcare provider.
It is important to note that the vaccination requirements for immigrants may change, and immigrants should refer to official government sources for the most up-to-date information. Additionally, some immigrants may be exempt from certain vaccines due to medical conditions or immunity, as evidenced by written documentation from their healthcare provider.
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What vaccines are required for entry into the US?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that most adults aged 18 and older receive the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine. This includes people who have previously received a COVID-19 vaccine or had COVID-19. The CDC also recommends that parents of children aged 6 months to 17 years discuss the benefits of vaccination with a healthcare provider.
In addition to the COVID-19 vaccine, the flu vaccine is available for everyone aged 6 months and older. The vaccine for RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is also available for those who qualify.
For immigrants to the US, there are general vaccination requirements that must be met. These requirements include vaccines that protect against diseases that have been eliminated or are in the process of being eliminated in the United States. A civil surgeon will review an immigrant's vaccination records at the time of their medical examination and administer any missing vaccines as needed. Immigrants must provide written documentation of their vaccination history, including any evidence of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases. The civil surgeon will then determine which vaccines are required for the individual's age category.
It is important to note that the availability and accessibility of vaccines in the US have been impacted by changing guidelines and restrictions implemented by the Trump administration and the FDA. These changes have created barriers for healthy individuals seeking vaccination and have limited the availability of certain vaccines in pharmacies and clinics.
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Are there any exceptions to the vaccination requirements?
Yes, there are exceptions to the vaccination requirements for entry into the United States. The specific exceptions depend on the circumstances of the individual and their reasons for travel.
Firstly, unvaccinated US citizens and legal permanent residents can enter the country but must provide a negative test taken within one day of travelling.
For non-citizen, non-immigrant travellers, there are some exceptions to the vaccination requirement. Those with a passport or proof of citizenship from a country where less than 10% of the population is vaccinated are eligible for an exception. However, this exception does not apply to individuals residing in a covered country who are not citizens of that country.
Additionally, individuals whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretaries of State, Transportation, Homeland Security, or their designees, may be granted an exception. These individuals must present an official US government letter documenting the approval of the exception.
Certain COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial participants, those with medical contraindications to the vaccines, and those travelling for emergency or humanitarian reasons may also be exempt from the vaccination requirement.
It is important to note that unvaccinated foreign nationals who are exempt from the vaccination requirement will still need to comply with more stringent testing requirements, such as providing a negative test taken within one day of travel.
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What about COVID-19 vaccines—are they mandatory for entry?
As of September 2025, the CDC recommends a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine for most adults aged 18 and older. This includes people who have previously received a COVID-19 vaccine, people who have had COVID-19, and people with long COVID. The 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines more closely target the JN.1 lineage of the Omicron variant and are designed to give the best protection from the currently circulating strains.
However, the latest COVID-19 vaccines come with new FDA restrictions. While the vaccines are approved for all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors, they are now limited to adults aged 65 and older and those with at least one underlying condition that puts them at higher risk of severe COVID-19. This is a significant shift from previous guidelines, which approved COVID-19 vaccines for all Americans aged six months and older.
The new restrictions have been praised by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine skeptic, who stated that the framework ends Biden-era vaccine "mandates" while keeping "vaccines available to those who want them". Federal health officials justify the changes by arguing that most people have a significant amount of immunity at this point. However, critics argue that the restrictions will create barriers for people who want the vaccine but do not have insurance or access to primary care doctors.
While the CDC and FDA continue to recommend and approve COVID-19 vaccines, respectively, it is important to note that vaccine availability and accessibility may vary across states and healthcare providers.
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What if I have a medical condition that prevents vaccination?
If you have a medical condition that prevents you from receiving a particular vaccine that is appropriate for your age, the civil surgeon will annotate Form I-693 accordingly and mark the vaccine as contraindicated. A contraindication is a condition that prevents you from receiving a particular vaccine. The CDC lists in its Technical Instructions what is considered a contraindication. It is up to the civil surgeon to determine whether you have such a condition that prevents you from receiving a particular vaccine at the time of the immigration medical examination.
For example, certain vaccine series can only be completed with multiple visits to the civil surgeon. You are only required to receive a single dose of each vaccine when you visit the civil surgeon. You are encouraged to follow up with your private healthcare provider to complete the series. Once you have received the single dose appropriate at the time, the civil surgeon can sign and certify Form I-693.
Additionally, if you have written evidence of immunity from your private healthcare provider, you should take this documentation to your civil surgeon so they can determine which vaccines you need to receive.
It is important to note that the civil surgeon will let you know if you can receive all the vaccines at once or if there is a concern based on your particular medical condition that will not allow you to receive all the required vaccines simultaneously.
For refugees applying for adjustment of status, health department physicians may only complete the vaccination record portion of Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, as blanket-designated civil surgeons.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on your age and medical condition. Currently, the CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines for most adults aged 18 and older. There are different recommendations for those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
No. During your immigration medical examination, a civil surgeon will review your vaccination records to see if you have proof of the required vaccinations appropriate for your age category.
If you lack any of the required vaccinations, the civil surgeon will administer the vaccines as needed. Alternatively, you can obtain the required vaccines from your private healthcare provider and return to the civil surgeon with proof of vaccination.
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