Panama Canal - Yellow Fever injections

[roadrunner1949]

We are looking at booking a cruise with Celebrity next January through the Panama Canal. The TA says we need to see our GP about Yellow Fever

injections because we will be cruising to Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia. Has anyone else had this information given to them? Have you had the injections?

[CruiserBruce]

You don't need them unless you are going deep into the jungle. Have been in each of those countries and thru the Canal 3-4 times. Never got the shot.

[Scrapnana]

I am going to Costa Rica and through the Panama Canal (we do not stop in Panama) next January. We are not required to get a yellow fever immunization. I looked this up on the Centers for Disease Control website about Colombia. It looks like it all depends on where you are going in Colombia.

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2014/chapter-3-infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/travel-vaccines-and-malaria-information-by-country/colombia#5441

[fishywood]

The USA Center for Disease Control website seems to advise a yellow fever innoculation if you are travelling between two countries where it is at risk. "Certain parts" (ie the forests and jungles) of Colombia and Panama are cited.

 

You may want to check the UK versions of these advisories for its citizens. And as insurance is (I believe) mandatory on your booking, either getting the injection or a letter from your GP that it is not necessary may be required in the policy your travel agent is foisting upon you.

[sugarsnap1981]

Doing this same route at the end of September. Just got back from my GP and only received tetanus and hep a shots. Since we are staying within the touristy areas malaria or yellow fever were not needed.

 

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[Keith1010]

I have done this route numerous times.

 

You will not need the yellow fever vaccination for this specific itinerary.

 

So, your TA is wrong and I would not take this unless you are required to which you are not.

 

You might want to just be sure your other vaccinations are up to date which is a good idea anyway but even more so when you travel.

 

Keith

[Husky61]

Why not ask your personal physician for his or her advice?:)

[Keith1010]

Why not ask your personal physician for his or her advice?:)

 

Most personal physicians are really not up on travel requirements with respect to travel vaccinations.

 

In terms of it being required it is not and I will assure you the physician will say "I don't know".

 

For all just things such as tetanus, hepatitis they can recommend those and then when you do traveling which is not applicable here to places such as africa best sources are the CDC web site and going to a travel medical specialist.

 

Keith

[Husky61]

Most personal physicians are really not up on travel requirements with respect to travel vaccinations.

 

In terms of it being required it is not and I will assure you the physician will say "I don't know".

 

For all just things such as tetanus, hepatitis they can recommend those and then when you do traveling which is not applicable here to places such as africa best sources are the CDC web site and going to a travel medical specialist.

 

Keith

 

I respectfully disagree with you. My physician was always current on travel vaccinations, and I suspect many others are as well. Although unlike you, I have never conducted a study on physicians who are current on travel vaccinations.

 

I'm interested where you found this information.:)

[CABCruiser]

I've done a similar cruise twice. Never needed it, only on a Safari in Africa. A good Travel Doctor that specializes in international travel would be a good resource. Mine just checks the CDC site and proceeds from there.

 

 

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[Dayenu]

We never knew any shots were needed for full transition Panama canal cruise - and nobody asked. I did check the CDC website for requirements.

 

We also had a 2-week land tour of Costa Rica without any shots.

[roadrunner1949]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I will see my GP to see if I need boosters for other injections needed. As the cruise and flights are on hold for a few days I wanted some information to work with.

[Sekhmet]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I will see my GP to see if I need boosters for other injections needed. As the cruise and flights are on hold for a few days I wanted some information to work with.

 

If it's the same in your part of the UK as ours, your Practice Nurse may well be the appropriate person to see. As well as consulting the books, she has access to a series of on-line country by country maps for various diseases which show what injections are needed. For instance, the last time we went to India, her map showed which parts of our itinerary included malarial areas, and which of the various anti-malaria treatments worked best.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Our Yellow Fever shots expired in 2008. Due to health reasons we are unable to get new ones.

And we have done the partial Panama Canal cruise as well as several full transits since that time. We have also visited all the countries you listed and we were not required to get the yellow fever shot.

[Keith1010]

I respectfully disagree with you. My physician was always current on travel vaccinations, and I suspect many others are as well. Although unlike you, I have never conducted a study on physicians who are current on travel vaccinations.

 

I'm interested where you found this information.:)

 

That's good that you have a physician who is an expert on travel medicine. Most are not particularly if you are not going to standard types of places. We take world cruises and visit some remote countries and wen I worked it was like that too. Most do not know and most will tell you that. Again, it's no reflection on them. It is just not their expertise.

 

We go to a travel medical specialist.

 

We also do our homework on the CDC web site. You can figure out most things from that site. By the way I've also called the CDC for more information.

 

Keith

[Keith1010]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I will see my GP to see if I need boosters for other injections needed. As the cruise and flights are on hold for a few days I wanted some information to work with.

 

Good approach.

 

Be sure things like tetanus are up to date which is good to verify anyway.

 

Ask about Hepatitis Vaccines as well.

 

Not sure if they recommend them in the UK but ask about flu shots too.

 

Keith