yellow fever vaccinations
 

Going to Burkina this summer. Got vaxxed against YF 10 years ago before I went to Ivory Coast. And 10 years is the time after a YF vaccination gets officially invalid (at least in Burkina Faso). Lucky me, it's under 10 years. Barely, though. I wasn't able to find any information on this:

Does the YF vaccination have to be valid
-just on the day of entry
-on the day of the return flight
-on the last day of your visa
-6 months after the entry (same rule as for the passport)?

Given that I don't plan other trips inthe the YF-zone I'm not too keen to refresh it (which according to medical studies is not even necessary). But I've got even less intention to get vaccinated at an african airport. I'm aware, that airport staff might not know the rules anyway and do whatever they feel like is sensible, but does anybody here know what the rules should be?

Go to this web-page of the World Health Organization:

International Health Regulations, download the book, and refer to Annex 7 of that book, where the WHO rules are set out.

Having said that - in many African countries, the front-line staff at the airport may have their own opinion on things, and there's not much you can do about that.

Easiest thing to do, I think, is to get another vaccination before you go. Besides eliminating any concern about your paperwork being in order, it will ensure you are protected against the risk of catching Yellow Fever.

Michael

As #2 said, sometimes there are the official rules and then there are the rules that local despots (border guards, police, militias or armed forces) enforce. You don't want to find yourself trying to argue WHO rules with a local enforcer; you want to show them what they ask for and let them move on to their next victim.

For the same reason, I still get periodic official notations in my yellow card stating I've either had or am exempt from cholera vaccinations. Every so often someone in a position of power says I need a cholera vaccine to proceed down the road or across a border. The fact that this is totally bogus doesn't much matter. I just show them my signed stamp and carry on.

Hope this is helpful.

Mark

My rule: take care of numero uno (yourself)
get revaccinated pronto, WHO isn't going to come and nurse you if they are wrong are they??

that way you can enjoy your trip even more!

just my thoughts.....

This is a useful resource for vacations, Malaria and yellow fever Yellow Fever Map - Overlanding Association

Just to report: at the airport in Ouagadougou nobody cared to see a vaccination proof against yellow fever (coming from Paris). However I had to hand in a copy when applying for the visa.

Today's New York Times reports a current, rapidly-expanding yellow fever outbreak in Mina's Gerrais province, Brazil. This means that neighboring countries may start requiring vaccination cards from travelers arriving from Brazil....or not. This sort of unpredictability is why I carry my yellow card almost everywhere--ya never know when it might come in handy.

YMMV, of course. Hope that's helpful.

Mark

WHO now recognizes Yellow Fever vaccine as valid for lifetime.

WHO | New yellow fever vaccination requirements for travellers

The point is (again) that what the WHO says and what a Developing World immigration official or border guard says are not necessarily the same.

And for benefit of #9, no one will ask for a yellow fever card when you fly in from a country which has no yellow fever unless you've recently been in a country which does have yellow fever. Fly in from Paris, no trouble. However, as you've noticed they often require a vaccination before selling you a visa.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Mark is correct! A classic example is that Ghana recognises WHO's new guidelines on this, but Cote d'Ivoire does not. For both countries you need your YF certificate but for CI it needs to be within 10 years!!!

WHO | New yellow fever vaccination requirements for travellers

Needed it to cross into Zambia from Tanzania because I had been through Kenya and other countries even though Tanzania had seen it on entry, told it had to be 10 years. Zambia has no requirement for it. Easier to have it (and safer) than argue.