Need International Yellow Fever Certificate clarification
Dec 14th, 2018 | 04:31 AM
#1
Original Poster
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Need International Yellow Fever Certificate clarification
Im visiting Uganda and other parts of East Africa in February 2019. An International Yellow Fever Certificate is absolutely necessary. However, the question is how up-to-date that certificate must be. I received the vaccine and have a certificate dated 2001. When originally given, the vaccinations were said to be good for 10 years but now are said to be good for a lifetime. My question is whether my 2001 certificate will be excepted in Uganda. I cant find any info stating that the actual vaccination given has changed its formula to make it good for a lifetime. Does anyone have knowledge in this concern? I can speculate but dont want to take any chance of being turned away at the border.
Dec 14th, 2018 | 06:09 AM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,991
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Personally, I'd consult with a travel medicine physician. I would not rely on any forum online to give you accurate advice and possibly risk your trip because you're not allowed into the country. Here all you're likely to get is anecdotal experience that will vary from person to person and country to country. I think a visit to a physician is worth protecting your trip. Won't you have to go to one to get an anti-malarial anyway?
Dec 14th, 2018 | 05:42 PM
#3
Joined: Jan 2012
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I also wouldn't rely on the recommendation of a travel clinic who, in my experience, are in the business of selling shots & meds whether you need them or not. But I do agree that I wouldn't necessarily take the word of anyone here.
You might consult, firstly, the CDC about the current validity of the shot when you got it. Then you need to ask those who will let you into the countries that care, including after you leave the places concerned. The real difficulty can come later when entering countries that simply won't let you in after visiting those affected if your vaccination doesn't coincide with the current rules. That information may be the most difficult to come by.
You might consult, firstly, the CDC about the current validity of the shot when you got it. Then you need to ask those who will let you into the countries that care, including after you leave the places concerned. The real difficulty can come later when entering countries that simply won't let you in after visiting those affected if your vaccination doesn't coincide with the current rules. That information may be the most difficult to come by.
Dec 15th, 2018 | 03:48 AM
#4
Joined: May 2004
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I agree entirely with MMmePerdu’s comments re travel clinics, they are extremely unlikely to have any accurate info on any country’s entry requirements and practice.
The formula of the vaccine has not really changed, it is that the World Health Organisation has decreed that the vaccination is good for life, not the ten years previously thought. They issued a teh afollwing amendment to the International Health Regualations(2005) annex7-ihr.pdf
“The relevant extract - The amendment to Annex 7 of IHR (2005) (see below) enters into force and will be legally binding upon all IHR States Parties on 11 July 2016.”
The big question is whether that has filtered down to the guy on the immigration desk in Uganda! IME of travelling in many countries in Africa and elsewhere, I have never been asked to produce it ( and that includes working for a time in Sierra Leone where they have the most beuracratic and pedantic immigration procedure of anywhere I have ever been).
In your position I would probably just print the above pdf. And place it with my certificate
should it be asked for.
Even if I had visited last week and got through ok with an old certificate, there is no guarantee that the same will be the case this week.
The formula of the vaccine has not really changed, it is that the World Health Organisation has decreed that the vaccination is good for life, not the ten years previously thought. They issued a teh afollwing amendment to the International Health Regualations(2005) annex7-ihr.pdf
“The relevant extract - The amendment to Annex 7 of IHR (2005) (see below) enters into force and will be legally binding upon all IHR States Parties on 11 July 2016.”
The big question is whether that has filtered down to the guy on the immigration desk in Uganda! IME of travelling in many countries in Africa and elsewhere, I have never been asked to produce it ( and that includes working for a time in Sierra Leone where they have the most beuracratic and pedantic immigration procedure of anywhere I have ever been).
In your position I would probably just print the above pdf. And place it with my certificate
should it be asked for.
Even if I had visited last week and got through ok with an old certificate, there is no guarantee that the same will be the case this week.
Dec 15th, 2018 | 11:42 AM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,991
Likes: 6
I maintain my advice about finding a travel medicine specialist. The first thing mine does is consult a CDC advisory as well as those from the UK, Canada and Australia for the countries I'm planning to travel to. He then asks how I'm transiting through the countries, realizing that while I may not need the immunizations to enter countries directly from the US or Europe, some intra-African travel requires it (like when I went from Rwanda to Kenya, Kenya required YF vaccine since I was coming from Rwanda and asked that I show the certificate). It's unfortunate that there seems to be a shortage of reliable travel medicine and infectious disease doctors in other parts of the world. Here in Boston, we must be extremely lucky. You'll need one for an anti-malarial here in the US anyway, as primary care/general practitioners do not know how to prescribe them and will refer you out anyway.
Dec 16th, 2018 | 09:21 PM
#6
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
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Likes: 0
Cordon
I also wouldn't rely on the recommendation of a travel clinic who, in my experience, are in the business of selling shots & meds whether you need them or not. But I do agree that I wouldn't necessarily take the word of anyone here.
You might consult, firstly, the CDC about the current validity of the shot when you got it. Then you need to ask those who will let you into the countries that care, including after you leave the places concerned. The real difficulty can come later when entering countries that simply won't let you in after visiting those affected if your vaccination doesn't coincide with the current rules. That information may be the most difficult to come by.
You might consult, firstly, the CDC about the current validity of the shot when you got it. Then you need to ask those who will let you into the countries that care, including after you leave the places concerned. The real difficulty can come later when entering countries that simply won't let you in after visiting those affected if your vaccination doesn't coincide with the current rules. That information may be the most difficult to come by.
I agree entirely with MMmePerdus commentCrellston - Youre amazing. re travel clinics, they are extremely unlikely to have any accurate info on any countrys entry requirements and practice.
The formula of the vaccine has not really changed, it is that the World Health Organisation has decreed that the vaccination is good for life, not the ten years previously thought. They issued a teh afollwing amendment to the International Health Regualations(2005) Attachment 1568
The relevant extract - The amendment to Annex 7 of IHR (2005) (see below) enters into force and will be legally binding upon all IHR States Parties on 11 July 2016.
Crellston - Youre amazing. You have given me exactly the information I need and couldnt find on the CDC site or from and travel medicine offices.
The big question is whether that has filtered down to the guy on the immigration desk in Uganda! IME of travelling in many countries in Africa and elsewhere, I have never been asked to produce it ( and that includes working for a time in Sierra Leone where they have the most beuracratic and pedantic immigration procedure of anywhere I have ever been).
In your position I would probably just print the above pdf. And place it with my certificate
should it be asked for.
Even if I had visited last week and got through ok with an old certificate, there is no guarantee that the same will be the case this week.
The formula of the vaccine has not really changed, it is that the World Health Organisation has decreed that the vaccination is good for life, not the ten years previously thought. They issued a teh afollwing amendment to the International Health Regualations(2005) Attachment 1568
The relevant extract - The amendment to Annex 7 of IHR (2005) (see below) enters into force and will be legally binding upon all IHR States Parties on 11 July 2016.
Crellston - Youre amazing. You have given me exactly the information I need and couldnt find on the CDC site or from and travel medicine offices.
The big question is whether that has filtered down to the guy on the immigration desk in Uganda! IME of travelling in many countries in Africa and elsewhere, I have never been asked to produce it ( and that includes working for a time in Sierra Leone where they have the most beuracratic and pedantic immigration procedure of anywhere I have ever been).
In your position I would probably just print the above pdf. And place it with my certificate
should it be asked for.
Even if I had visited last week and got through ok with an old certificate, there is no guarantee that the same will be the case this week.
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