Nov 6, 2015, 7:02 pm
Last edit by: Ocn Vw 1K
Yellow Fever Vaccination for South America or Africa
Please edit this wikipost as necessary
Please edit this wikipost as necessary
Some countries or areas may require proof of vaccination - alternately, a certificate from a physician stating YFV is contraindicated for a patient - to enter YF areas, or in cases where travelers have visited Yellow Fever areas, generally in Africa or South America. "Travelers who arrive in a country with a yellow fever vaccination entry requirement without proof of yellow fever vaccination may be quarantined for up to 6 days, refused entry, or vaccinated on site." ((USCDC)
The US Center's for Disease Control and Prevention (Nov 2015):
Yellow fever vaccine is a live-virus vaccine which has been used for several decades. A single dose protects against disease for 10 years or more. If a person is at continued risk of infection, a booster dose is recommended every 10 years. See this page for caveats, etc.
As well, note:
Vaccine Administration
For all eligible people, a single injection of reconstituted vaccine should be administered subcutaneously. Revaccination has been required by certain countries at 10-year intervals to comply with International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Note: In February 2015, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved a new recommendation that a single dose of yellow fever vaccine provides long-lasting protection and is adequate for most travelers. The updated recommendations also identify specific groups of travelers who should receive additional doses and others for whom additional doses may be considered. The official ACIP recommendations were published on June 19, 2015 (see http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6423a5.htm). All current ACIP yellow fever vaccine recommendations can be found on the ACIP website at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/index.html.
Although ACIP no longer recommends booster doses of yellow fever vaccine for most travelers, clinicians and travelers should review the entry requirements for destination countries because changes to the International Health Regulations (IHR) have not yet been fully implemented. In 2014, the World Health Organization adopted the recommendation to remove the 10-year booster dose requirement from the IHR as of June 2016. Once this change is instituted, a completed International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis will be valid for the lifetime of the vaccinee. Some countries have already adopted this change, which is noted under the yellow fever vaccine requirements on each country’s destination page. However, it is uncertain when and if all countries with yellow fever vaccination requirements will adopt this change. (Updated August 26, 2015)
As well, note:
Vaccine Administration
For all eligible people, a single injection of reconstituted vaccine should be administered subcutaneously. Revaccination has been required by certain countries at 10-year intervals to comply with International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Note: In February 2015, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved a new recommendation that a single dose of yellow fever vaccine provides long-lasting protection and is adequate for most travelers. The updated recommendations also identify specific groups of travelers who should receive additional doses and others for whom additional doses may be considered. The official ACIP recommendations were published on June 19, 2015 (see http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6423a5.htm). All current ACIP yellow fever vaccine recommendations can be found on the ACIP website at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/index.html.
Although ACIP no longer recommends booster doses of yellow fever vaccine for most travelers, clinicians and travelers should review the entry requirements for destination countries because changes to the International Health Regulations (IHR) have not yet been fully implemented. In 2014, the World Health Organization adopted the recommendation to remove the 10-year booster dose requirement from the IHR as of June 2016. Once this change is instituted, a completed International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis will be valid for the lifetime of the vaccinee. Some countries have already adopted this change, which is noted under the yellow fever vaccine requirements on each country’s destination page. However, it is uncertain when and if all countries with yellow fever vaccination requirements will adopt this change. (Updated August 26, 2015)
The proof of vaccine must generally be from an authorized vaccination center, and is generally in the form of a "international certificate of vaccination or prophylaxis" standard proof of vaccination.
ICVP Form
Also see the Australia Department of Health page here
Also see the Canada Government page here
Also see the UK NHS "fitfortravel" page here
Updated 6 November 2015
Yellow Fever Vaccination - Requirements for Africa
Mar 29, 2015, 11:25 pm
#136
Join Date: Oct 2011
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This link (updated Feb2015) directly from the South African Gov't may ease your mind. I have flown twice (2011/2013) direct from US-SA (from JFK and IAD - fuel stop DKR) and was not asked or denied entry upon arrival into JNB.
http://www.gov.za/south-africa-revie...r-requirements
http://www.gov.za/south-africa-revie...r-requirements
Mar 30, 2015, 1:58 am
#137
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Firstly, no South African would ever be denied re-entry to South Africa if they don't have a yellow fever certificate. The worst case scenario would be to see a nurse/doctor on arrival and possibly be administered the vaccine on arrival. However, non-South African citizens may be denied entry for any number of reasons, including not having been vaccinated against yellow fever.
That said, you will not be asked for a yellow fever vaccination card if you take the SA flight from Washington via Dakar, and you are also unlikely to be asked for a yellow fever vaccination care if you transit in Nairobi. Only if you transit for more than 12 hours in a yellow fever area are you required to have the vaccination.
That said, you will not be asked for a yellow fever vaccination card if you take the SA flight from Washington via Dakar, and you are also unlikely to be asked for a yellow fever vaccination care if you transit in Nairobi. Only if you transit for more than 12 hours in a yellow fever area are you required to have the vaccination.
Mar 30, 2015, 2:43 am
#138
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Mar 30, 2015, 8:40 am
#139
Join Date: Dec 2006
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It's quite cheap to get in South Africa and even cheaper in other parts of Africa where it's actually needed. Problems though for people who need it and live in other parts of the world, it can be expensive and difficult to get. There are only a very few places in Japan for example that can administer it as its under strict control here, it costs about $120 and is really hard to get an appointment for one anywhere near major travel periods.
For the OP though, I've only came into SA once from a Yellow fever zone and they asked nothing, but actually I flew from BBK and Botswana is not a Yellow Fever country although where I was actually staying in Zambia is (or was, think they are off the list now). My last entry when I came on SA from HKG the immigration officer did ask which flight we were coming in from but don't know if that was about Yellow Fever or not, he was satisfied with HKG once he realized there was actually a SA flight arriving from there (he kept insisting we must have been on CX) so the conversation didn't go any further.
For the OP though, I've only came into SA once from a Yellow fever zone and they asked nothing, but actually I flew from BBK and Botswana is not a Yellow Fever country although where I was actually staying in Zambia is (or was, think they are off the list now). My last entry when I came on SA from HKG the immigration officer did ask which flight we were coming in from but don't know if that was about Yellow Fever or not, he was satisfied with HKG once he realized there was actually a SA flight arriving from there (he kept insisting we must have been on CX) so the conversation didn't go any further.
Mar 30, 2015, 9:45 am
#140
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The reason why immigration in SA generally don't ask for it is that it is the responsibility of the airline to check when boarding. That said, immigration reserve the right to check again on arrival in SA.
Mar 30, 2015, 1:12 pm
#141
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Johan
Mar 30, 2015, 6:05 pm
#142
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 306
The toughest place to fly out of and transfer in regards to needing the certificate in GRU. If they think you left the airport in anyway or cannot prove you came in from a safe country in transit, they will deny you boarding without the certificate.
Mar 31, 2015, 3:18 pm
#143
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Yellow fever confusion resolved at OR Tambo
"Health officials at OR Tambo International Airport have re-communicated to immigration officials that a yellow fever certificate is no longer required for travellers to and from Zambia. A list of countries for which the certificate is required will also be displayed in every immigration cubicle. These new measures were implemented after an investigation was conducted by the Department of Health after Tourism Update reported that travellers were still requested to show the certificate at the airport, despite an official announcement that it was no longer required.
Meanwhile, the Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) has said that scrapping the requirement could result in more than a 20% increase in international arrivals as a result of the changes. “The yellow fever certificate demanded by South Africa was the most significant single factor negatively affecting the arrival of international tourists to Zambia,” Felix Chaila, MD ZTB told Bloomberg"
Source.
Johan
Meanwhile, the Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) has said that scrapping the requirement could result in more than a 20% increase in international arrivals as a result of the changes. “The yellow fever certificate demanded by South Africa was the most significant single factor negatively affecting the arrival of international tourists to Zambia,” Felix Chaila, MD ZTB told Bloomberg"
Source.
Johan
Apr 1, 2015, 9:37 am
#144
Join Date: Oct 2011
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Please note that this only applies if you are arriving from GRU and transiting in excess of 12 hours. If you are departting to GRU from South Africa, this should not be an issue as you are entering the yellow fever country AFTER you leave South Africa. The last time I flew from JNB-GRU the SA check in agent almost insisted that I need to have a yellow fever vaccination, and we almost were denied bourding (despite the fact that this was very incorrect). For any travel now, I keep a printed copy of the most recent SA Department of Health updates regarding yellow fever requirements.
Apr 7, 2015, 1:41 pm
#145
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In January I was in Zambia for a day and went through JNB (passport control/customs) before flying back to Canada and was not asked for my yellow fever vaccination certificate. That said, it is worth getting as the vaccination is good for ten years and you never know when you might need it.
Apr 8, 2015, 3:41 am
#146
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In January I was in Zambia for a day and went through JNB (passport control/customs) before flying back to Canada and was not asked for my yellow fever vaccination certificate. That said, it is worth getting as the vaccination is good for ten years and you never know when you might need it.
Agree though, anyone traveling through (even just passing through) Africa or affected areas of South/Central America should definitely carry the certificate as some countries are quite strict on this. Coming into SEZ I saw the heath officer pull a couple out of queue for not having theirs and they were directed to a room to get them on the spot. This was arriving on ET (and KQ flights are similarly affected), doesn't matter if you leave the airport in ADD (or NBO), you have to have it to enter Seychelles if you passed through an affected area.
Last edited by dvs7310; Apr 8, 2015 at 5:39 am
Apr 8, 2015, 4:01 am
#147
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I saw an interesting thread in the Kenya forum of TripAdvisor recently that mentioned the WHO recommended doing away with the 10 year booster. I looked this up and the advice came out in 2013, so will be interesting to see if governments actually act on this and go to a lifetime vaccination schedule.
I think some countries may already accept certificates as valid for life-time - but at more remote border crossings, it seems quite possible that even after June 2016, some officials may not be aware of the new rules...
May 7, 2015, 12:41 am
#149
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i realize this is just one data point, but we're considering a safari in kenya as part of our african trip which begins and ends in JNB...if i don't need the jab, i'd rather not get it. do i need it?
May 7, 2015, 9:16 am
#150
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I went on safari in Kenya within a month before going to South Africa; and I returned to the United States during that time.
Despite arriving by airplane from the United States and crossing borders into and from four neighboring countries, not once did anyone ask for my yellow fever certificate.
Then again, I did not enter Johannesburg directly via a flight from Nairobi; so I cannot comment on that...
...but you might want to consider getting that yellow fever shot anyway, just in case — especially if within the next ten years you might visit parts of Africa or South America which require it.
