Yellow fever vaccination for trip to southern Africa
 

We will be arriving at LVI in Zambia and immediately transferring to Zimbabwe. Our time in Zambia will be obviously very short.

We will go to a travel clinic here for the necessary medications and vaccinations but not until August.

In the meantime, I have done research online [CDC website] and it seems that Zambia is the only country that we will visit that has Yellow Fever risk. [along with the 2 mentioned, we will also be in South Africa and Botswana].

We aren't opposed to getting the vaccination, however in doing this research, albeit not a very comprehensive one, it has come to light that the CDC does not recommend a Yellow Fever vaccination for those over 60, which we both are -- so my concern is this-- <i>will we have difficulties crossing borders without this vaccination?</i>

We are going in this direction -- South Africa-> Zambia -> Zimbabwe -> Botswana [Chobe] -> South Africa.

Has anyone had similar situation??

Thanks~

The CDC site says all three countries you are traveling to after Zambia require proof of vaccination if you have visited a country with Yellow Fever risk. I know our certificate was asked for when we entered SA after Kenya.

Re over 60 - I believe there is a certificate of exemption you can get but I don't know what might happen at a border.

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinat.../none/botswana


http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbo...y/south-africa

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinat.../none/zimbabwe

Interesting - SA makes a distinction based on how long you're in the YF country

"Requirements: Required if traveling from a country with risk of YFV transmission and ≥1 year of age, including transit >12 hours in an airport located in a country with risk of YFV transmission.1 (Updated Jan. 23, 2015)"

I saw about the Certificate of Exemption, but wonder how that would play out in reality... :(

There is a 'waiver' section on the YF card. Otherwise, you can have your doc write on his/her letterhead the reason (age) why the YF inoc is not recommended. That should suffice.

The proof of vaccination is no longer required. http://www.southafrica.info/travel/d...ver-040215.htm

That's great news! Now if I can find something like that for Botswana and Zimbabwe.

You don't need a YF jab for your entire itinerary.

Well, this appears to indicate that no vaccination is needed for any of the countries we are visiting, as none of them are risk of yellow fever transmission.

http://www.who.int/ith/ITH_Annex_I.pdf?ua=1

The WHO has recently downgraded their YF advice on Zambia to no risk- this was the reason South Africa has dropped their requirement for the certificate. Previously, the risk was low and only in some areas- up near the border with DRC. Consequently, I don't think Botswana or Zim has ever asked for the certificate for entry from Zambia.

But in any case, now I don't think you need YF for any of your itinerary.

Yes, that does seem to be the case. Thanks all.

Great!

Howzit Deb,
stokeygirl is absolutely right, concurring with this post I made at the beginning of February...http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...uth-africa.cfm
As you'll see from the post/s, after the announcement there were some incidents whereby the South African immigration staff were still asking for proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination for travelers arriving from Zambia. Having said that, I haven't heard of any similar incidents for some weeks, so hopefully all is now in order. I also concur with stokeygirl that Botswana and Zimbabwe have never asked for proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination for travelers arriving from Zambia.
Darren

Thanks, Darren~