Bolivia: Yellow Fever vaccine requirements for tourists as of March 2, 2017.
Feb 20, 2017, 10:51 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: YUL
Programs: Skymiles Silver Medallion
Posts: 955
Bolivia: Yellow Fever vaccine requirements for tourists as of March 2, 2017.
Just received word last week from my travel agent: Bolivia, in the wake of a recently-diagnosed case of yellow fever, is updating its requirements for tourists entering the country. As of March 2nd, it seems that all foreign travellers will be required to present a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever.
In the past, the requirement seemed to only be in place if you were coming from an endemic country, and/or travelling to an at-risk area within Bolivia. And it seems like it was rarely enforced at air or land crossings. Now, as best as I can gather, it seems like it will be much more strictly enforced.
It seems unclear as to whether this applies to all foreign tourists, or only those who visited elsewhere in South America prior to their trip. At any rate, I'll be visiting Peru and crossing by land, so I'd be affected either way.
This puts me in a bit of a tight spot. I don't have the vaccine, and I have travel to Bolivia booked (though not to any at-risk zones). And there's a worldwide vaccine shortage going on for several years now, and none of the clinics here in Canada have any supply, nor do they expect to get any between now and when I depart.
The Bolivian embassy in Ottawa didn't seem to have the updated information either; when I phoned on Friday, I was told I wouldn't have a problem as long as I wasn't planning to travel to any low-lying areas. But the employee I spoke to seemed a bit confused and wasn't willing to put anything in writing to that effect. And my travel agent is adamant that it will be a problem.
So... yeah. Not sure yet what I'm going to do. I'm loathe to cancel (can't get any costs back for this as it's not covered by insurance), but I may have no choice if I can't find anyone who has a supply of the vaccine in Canada.
Just thought I'd give anyone else the heads up, or see if anyone had heard anything further.
In the past, the requirement seemed to only be in place if you were coming from an endemic country, and/or travelling to an at-risk area within Bolivia. And it seems like it was rarely enforced at air or land crossings. Now, as best as I can gather, it seems like it will be much more strictly enforced.
It seems unclear as to whether this applies to all foreign tourists, or only those who visited elsewhere in South America prior to their trip. At any rate, I'll be visiting Peru and crossing by land, so I'd be affected either way.
This puts me in a bit of a tight spot. I don't have the vaccine, and I have travel to Bolivia booked (though not to any at-risk zones). And there's a worldwide vaccine shortage going on for several years now, and none of the clinics here in Canada have any supply, nor do they expect to get any between now and when I depart.
The Bolivian embassy in Ottawa didn't seem to have the updated information either; when I phoned on Friday, I was told I wouldn't have a problem as long as I wasn't planning to travel to any low-lying areas. But the employee I spoke to seemed a bit confused and wasn't willing to put anything in writing to that effect. And my travel agent is adamant that it will be a problem.
So... yeah. Not sure yet what I'm going to do. I'm loathe to cancel (can't get any costs back for this as it's not covered by insurance), but I may have no choice if I can't find anyone who has a supply of the vaccine in Canada.
Just thought I'd give anyone else the heads up, or see if anyone had heard anything further.
Feb 20, 2017, 12:39 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Paris, France
Programs: Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 760
Yeah, got an e-mail from my travel agent a few days ago saying yellow fever vaccine is now mandatory for people entering Bolivia from Argentina. I can see them enforcing this at airports, but at the (extremely caothic) land crossings between our two countries I doubt it.
Are you going to Bolivia straight from Canada? The yellow fever vaccine is readily available in Buenos Aires for a reasonable price - a friend just got her shot two weeks ago without any issues.
Are you going to Bolivia straight from Canada? The yellow fever vaccine is readily available in Buenos Aires for a reasonable price - a friend just got her shot two weeks ago without any issues.
Feb 20, 2017, 6:17 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 203
Are you nearby any US clinics? In some states also Walgreens offers vaccines.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellow-...clinics/search
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellow-...clinics/search
Feb 20, 2017, 6:51 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Mendoza, Argentina
Posts: 164
Feb 20, 2017, 7:28 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: YUL
Programs: Skymiles Silver Medallion
Posts: 955
Are you nearby any US clinics? In some states also Walgreens offers vaccines.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellow-...clinics/search
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellow-...clinics/search
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/yf-fj/index-eng.php
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/news-an...-shortage-2016
Mar 10, 2017, 12:07 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: YUL
Programs: Skymiles Silver Medallion
Posts: 955
Update from my travel company as of last week:
On February 17th we advised that as of 2rd March, all travellers entering Bolivia will be required to produce a Yellow Fever Certificate of vaccination. On the back of this news, the Tourism industry (ourselves included) were swamped with calls and e-mails from travellers and medical professionals advising there is a severe Yellow Fever vaccination shortage – especially so in North America.
Considering this, the Bolivian authorities have suspended the policy and its enforcement. The exception to this is when entering Bolivia from a lowland border where mosquitos are more prevalent, where it is likely the Yellow Fever Documentation will still be likely be asked for. Also those who have travelled to or from countries designated as Yellow Fever pandemic areas, the Yellow Fever Vaccine would still be required.
Our strong recommendation is to continue efforts to obtain the vaccination and to keep your Yellow Fever Certificate with your travel documents when entering Bolivia.
Considering this, the Bolivian authorities have suspended the policy and its enforcement. The exception to this is when entering Bolivia from a lowland border where mosquitos are more prevalent, where it is likely the Yellow Fever Documentation will still be likely be asked for. Also those who have travelled to or from countries designated as Yellow Fever pandemic areas, the Yellow Fever Vaccine would still be required.
Our strong recommendation is to continue efforts to obtain the vaccination and to keep your Yellow Fever Certificate with your travel documents when entering Bolivia.