cdngeese Posted September 12, 2012 #1 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Albert and I are having a dilemna over whether we should be getting the yellow fever vaccine. Some places they say definitely if you are going into Brazil in any national parks, etc.. while others say it is not necessary. Yes, we are aware of wearing long sleeves and such and having Deet (which I am not fond of- we don't even use suncreen because of the chemicals.) Yellow fever is a serious illness and you also can die. Don't want to play around with this. Does anyone have any advice and has anyone had these vaccinations.? Advice welcomed. Dale and Albert:( Cdngeese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted September 12, 2012 #2 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Albert and I are having a dilemna over whether we should be getting the yellow fever vaccine. Some places they say definitely if you are going into Brazil in any national parks, etc.. while others say it is not necessary. Yes, we are aware of wearing long sleeves and such and having Deet (which I am not fond of- we don't even use suncreen because of the chemicals.) Yellow fever is a serious illness and you also can die. Don't want to play around with this. Does anyone have any advice and has anyone had these vaccinations.? Advice welcomed. Dale and Albert:( Cdngeese I spoke to my doctor about it before we went and did end up getting the yellow fever vaccine..shot did not bother me and I was unworried on the trip..(and ever since) Jancruz1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tansy Mews Posted September 12, 2012 #3 Share Posted September 12, 2012 I can only tell you what my doctor said - that it is a safe vaccine and that it is possible that if immigration officials know you have been somewhere where there is yellow fever, you may have to show your yellow fever certificate. For example, Pitcairn Island requires it if you have been to somewhere with Yellow Fever. See this from WHO: http://www.who.int/ith/chapters/ith2012en_countrylist.pdf I don't have any personal experience with this though. We decided not to go to Iquassu Falls before our upcoming cruise after all. Yellow Fever vaccine is recommended for that area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Coastal Posted September 12, 2012 #4 Share Posted September 12, 2012 We took the vaccine before going to Brazil. We werenot going to be in infected areas but were planning on going to China and understood that we would need the certificate if our passports showed we had entered Brazil. The vaccine is expensive but we had no ill effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Knitter Posted September 12, 2012 #5 Share Posted September 12, 2012 If my memory serves me well the vaccine is good for 10 years. I needed it for the Amazon cruise and my Safari to Africa last year. Safe vaccine and as Jancruz said, there were "no worries" to worry about. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oceansandseas Posted September 12, 2012 #6 Share Posted September 12, 2012 DH and I had the yellow fever shots for our cruise on the Regatta to go up the Amazon in March of 2011. It was a requirement and we could not get on the cruise unless we had the certificate for the yellow fever shots. I think between the time we booked the cruise and the time we went on the cruise in March 2011 that requirements were changed. It was no longer mandatory to get the yellow fever shots. However we were not advised of this from Oceania before the cruise. We had the shots and had no problems from them. We are Canadian and the cost was out of pocket. $100.00 for each of us. They also charged a $70.00 fee (per person or per couple) which was mandatory to get the shots. It was to explain travel health. The shots are good for 10 years so we have them if going to another country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kuldalai Posted September 12, 2012 #7 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Better safe than sorry . In travelling to South America Yellow Fever vaccination is adviseable . It is simple and lasts for years . It is important to note that many countries we regard as home will not let you re-enter if you have been to South America unless you have been vaccinated for Yellow Fever . (As an Australian citizen I have to have YF to get back into Aus if I have been to Sth America.) Make sure you get the vaccination at an approved/accredited International Vaccination Centre for Yellow Fever, and carry you yellow Vaccination Booklet with your Passport . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderlust Living Posted September 12, 2012 #8 Share Posted September 12, 2012 The YFV last 10 years and it has to be administered at a government approved clinic that issues the yellow certificate. For us it also cost around $150. Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time because these vaccines are ordered and clinics often do not have them, but will ordered them for you. Here is the kicker many foreign countries offered them for free for tourists at the airport clinics, but they may be out. As was the case when I went to Istanbul. I got mine in Cairo for $10 at the government clinic. It is safe. The shot is vacuum wrapped and they pop it open like a glow stick and the needle is inside. I was asked for the certificate at an airport only once even though I have traveled to many YFV destination and even lived in Africa. In Cairo, coming back from Sudan. The officials that ask for it the most are organized tours and this includes cruise ships. Also, I have never seen tourists get malaria or YF. Now, Dengue Fever, yes. Ask your doctor about Dengue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted September 12, 2012 #9 Share Posted September 12, 2012 There are also private physicians who specialize in immunizations and your primary care physician might be able to refer you. We had a boatload of shots before trip to Southeast Asia (including yellow fever) and had no reaction whatsoever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geekybiker Posted September 12, 2012 #10 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Yellow fever isn't something to mess around with. Aside from that you'll get barred entry to some countries without the vaccine. I've done it twice at this point. If you want to travel to countries where it is endemic you should consider it part of your entry cost just like passports and visas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Knitter Posted September 13, 2012 #11 Share Posted September 13, 2012 OMG. All of my vaccines were free of charge and I have had more shots in the last year to Africa than puppies:D:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaitape Posted September 13, 2012 #12 Share Posted September 13, 2012 You must have super health insurance if all of your travel vax were free.......happy for you!!! YF cost us $175 each! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floridiana Posted September 13, 2012 #13 Share Posted September 13, 2012 We had yellow fever shots last year for Brazil, no side effects. There were passengers on the Regatta without the vaccine and a doctor's note that they were 'too old'. (in their sixties) We were there at the end of the dry season and never saw a mosquito. But I'd rather have the vaccine now and travel without worrying that a country might deny entry because I don't have the yellow fever vaccination but have a Brazilian visa in my passport. We are planning to travel to several South American countries in the next two years. However, speak to your doctor if you have a health condition that might interfere with the vaccination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Knitter Posted September 13, 2012 #14 Share Posted September 13, 2012 You must have super health insurance if all of your travel vax were free.......happy for you!!! YF cost us $175 each! Yes, I am blessed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louby-Lou Posted September 14, 2012 #15 Share Posted September 14, 2012 We had yellow fever shots last year for Brazil, no side effects. There were passengers on the Regatta without the vaccine and a doctor's note that they were 'too old'. (in their sixties) We were there at the end of the dry season and never saw a mosquito. But I'd rather have the vaccine now and travel without worrying that a country might deny entry because I don't have the yellow fever vaccination but have a Brazilian visa in my passport. We are planning to travel to several South American countries in the next two years. However, speak to your doctor if you have a health condition that might interfere with the vaccination. Dale and Albert We always go with the advice of our family doc and had YV in 2002, for a trip to Kenya and Zambia, with no side-effects. We were on the same cruise as Floridiana and no-one from Oceania even looked at our certificates! In fact, in all the years since we had the vaccination we have never been asked to show them despite extensive travel by land and sea :confused:. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palmetto Lady Posted September 19, 2012 #16 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Yesterday we went to a travel clinic to get the yellow fever vaccine. The nurse/counselor refused to administer it to us as we were over 65. She said that the older you are the more chance of adverse reactions many of which are very serious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tansy Mews Posted September 19, 2012 #17 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Yesterday we went to a travel clinic to get the yellow fever vaccine. The nurse/counselor refused to administer it to us as we were over 65. She said that the older you are the more chance of adverse reactions many of which are very serious. Some areas don't have a problem - for example, coastal Brazil doesn't have a problem, I believe. Iguassu Falls does have a problem. Did you get a letter from them (or your doctor) saying you couldn't have the shot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelglobetrotter Posted September 19, 2012 #18 Share Posted September 19, 2012 We just got our docs for the Amazon cruise, and it states that yellow fever inoculations are required. We were both over 65 when we got them, and had no problems whatsoever. Less discomfort than from a flu shot. In 2008 when we got them, we were on a land tour that included Machu Picchu as well as Igaussu Falls, so the County Health Dept. Travel Clinic advised the shots, and also prescribed meds for Malaria. Whether anyone looks at the yellow cards or not, we're glad we're protected, which is the main thing for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palmetto Lady Posted September 21, 2012 #19 Share Posted September 21, 2012 We went to get yellow fever shots. The Travel Health Nurse refused to give them to us as we are both over 70. She will not give them to anyone over age 65 because the potential complications become more severe the older you are. She gave us waiver forms - "reason for waiver - age". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdngeese Posted September 21, 2012 Author #20 Share Posted September 21, 2012 We went to get yellow fever shots. The Travel Health Nurse refused to give them to us as we are both over 70. She will not give them to anyone over age 65 because the potential complications become more severe the older you are. She gave us waiver forms - "reason for waiver - age". Since we first posted our concerns about the vaccine we have had many replies and thanks to everyone. Our experience was that we set out for the vaccine one day only for the doctor to tell us it was not necessary. A phone call to the cruise line also said it was not necessary. My daughters insisted we get it or do not go on the trip. Amazing how the roles reverse with parent and child as we get older. We went back to the hospital (infectious disease centre) and asked for the shot just the same. The Dr never asked our ages and my husband is 75 yrs old. We had the shots and there was no pain at all and we are glad we are protected. We will be protected 10 days from now as she told us. We will see how Albert reacts. We are both glad now to have this vaccine and so are our kids. Dale cdngeese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benita Posted September 21, 2012 #21 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Michael and I had yellow fever shots prior to going to Brazil 6 years ago - we were in our late 40s and had no problems with reactions. We are going to South Africa and Namibia on a land trip and when we received our documents were notified we needed the shots because we were changing planes in Zimbawe - not even leaving the airport- but we were required to have the shots or we would not be allowed on the plane.. As the shots are deemed good for ten years (and possibly forever), we are still covered and from what my infectious disease specialist friend said, you can have the requirements waived if you are over 65, but there is paperwork that your doctor, or travel clinic would have to fill out. If you get the shot, make sure you get the yellow colored certificate and also that the batch number of the vaccine is filled out. I have heard of people coming from Iguazu Falls into Rio who were not allowed in because this was not on the form. The form is actually convenient - when we went to India, we needed a polio booster and a few other shots and it is a handy place to have all that noted. There is even a spot for your eyeglass prescription. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palmetto Lady Posted September 21, 2012 #22 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Fortunately, it appears that there is no yellow fever where we are going. If one is going down the Amazon, that is another issue. We did get the yellow certificates saying that we have an age waiver. I'm glad that we didn't plan to add an Amazon cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmjh Posted September 23, 2012 #23 Share Posted September 23, 2012 We visited a Travel Clinic (do an online search) and he strongly recommended YF inoculations for the Amazon trip and we're both "pushing 70". YF is a very serious disease ... better safe than sorry. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorisis Posted September 28, 2012 #24 Share Posted September 28, 2012 My husband and I both had YV shots prios to our Amazon cruise in 2005. i have my yellow certificate but he does not. How can we prove he had the shot??? ~Doris~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaitape Posted September 28, 2012 #25 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Where did you receive the immunization? Call them. Perhaps they still have a record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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