Yellow Fever certificate requirements
 

I want to clarify a misunderstanding/misinformation regarding the yellow fever shots required for entry into South Africa after visiting Zambia (Victoria Falls).
The TravelVax doctor who consulted us on our itinerary told us we would all need yellow fever shots since at the end of our trip we were flying home out of the Joburg airport AFTER visiting Victoria Falls (stayed in Zimbabwe but flew out of Zambia airport). I also found info on Fodors agreeing with that. The yellow fever shots are pricey ($125 US). And there were 7 of us. But we were told that we wouldn't be allowed off the plane in Joburg without them. So we all got them.
Didn't need them. There was never any mention of having them at any point. We assume that is because we flew directly back to the U.S. out of the JNB airport and never left the airport. We found out that it's only South Africa that requires the yellow fever shot if you've been in Zambia and the airport is international territory and not South Africa. So we technically never "reentered" South Africa.
Just didn't want anyone else to make that mistake.

But you are better to have had the Yellow Fever vaccination that not have it and then have trouble at Customs.

Yes it is pricey but it last for 10 years .

Mine cost me $ 89.00

That is $ 8.90 per year.

Worth it to be worry free and hassle free

Agree YF inoc doesn't come cheap, but good for 10/yrs. And, even though you might not actually need as in your instance, know that countries can just as easily change rules while you are in transit. Better to have than not, being sent home or having some Immigration agent send you to someone at airport to have the jab.

Now that you have, keep that yellow card safe, as you never know when it might be required in the next 10/years.

Ag, I think this is more a case of what you experienced vs. what official policy is. How these health policies in Africa get implemented is kind of a mystery, seemingly random and hit-or-miss. But I don't believe that the advice given previously represents a misunderstanding/misinformation.

The written statement from the SA Dept of Health is clear that if you go to Zambia, you need a YF cert ( http://www.doh.gov.za/docs/policy/20...ellowfever.pdf ) to enter SA. Many seem to think that policy even applies if only transiting JNB after being in Zambia, though I don't know that for a fact (but I think JNB is under South African jurisdiction and once you leave that plane you're on their ground and subject to their rules). However, there are anecdotal reports of passengers not being allowed to board SAA flights from Zambia to SA without a YF cert and the US Embassy in Zambia issued a statement to that effect ( http://photos.state.gov/libraries/za...accination.pdf ).

It might well be that SA is not currently enforcing their policy or is doing it in some random way. But I think any travel agent or consultant, knowing there's a written statement on the policy, would rightly recommend getting the shot, even if they thought you might make it through. Can you imagine the hell-to-pay for a consultant if one of their clients wasn't allowed to board their flight in Zambia because the consultant ignored official advice? And despite the high cost, I would think most would prefer getting the shot at home rather than while away.

You are all correct. I guess it's better to be safe than sorry!