Yellow Fever Certificate

[_TheTraveller_]

Hey guys, going to Barranquilla in Colombia. I'll be going via the US will I be required to have a YF cert on arrival for either the US or Aus? Its a bit odd given that I'll leave BAQ on the 5th and arriving into SYD on the 10th and departing the same day to SIN. I forgot about this issue and I'm leaving on Wednesday so I'm concerned.

 

[JohnM]

I'm not sure on the details of specific locations requiring YF vaccination, but as someone who goes to S America fairly often, I've always maintained YF vaccination currency, irrespective. It's a vaccination that's never caused me any side effects - like all others.

As I go to Africa and S America quite often, I get vaccinated for everything known to man and have my vaccination card stapled into the back of my passport.

IIRC, the entry card back to Aus simply asks whether you've been in S America in the last 6 days. If 'yes', as soon as I point to my vaccination card in the back of my passport, all is sweet.

Why take any risks - both with disease and entry requirements?

A visit to your GP or a travel Dr in the next two days will easily assuage any concerns.

 

[JohnM]

PS. BTW, enjoy! Colombia is a great place!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hey guys, going to Barranquilla in Colombia. I'll be going via the US will I be required to have a YF cert on arrival for either the US or Aus? Its a bit odd given that I'll leave BAQ on the 5th and arriving into SYD on the 10th and departing the same day to SIN. I forgot about this issue and I'm leaving on Wednesday so I'm concerned.

As per TIMATIC:

Australia (AU)


Passengers arriving within 6 days after leaving or transiting

countries on Australia's list of yellow fever declared places,
at www.health.gov.au/yellowfever and not holding a yellow
fever vaccination certificate are subject to quarantine for 6

days. Australia's yellow fever declared places reflects the
list of countries with risk of yellow fever transmission
For details, click here with these exceptions:
- addition of Paraguay;

- Argentina limited to only the Misiones Province; and

- Galapagos Islands excluded from Ecuador.

However - the link in TIMATIC to the official Australian govt website dealing with yellow fever: Department of Health | Yellow fever - general fact sheet suggests it's not an isolation quarantine... pax will still be allowed to enter Australia after a 'talking to' and given instructions on how to self-monitor for symptoms and what to do if you have them.

If you are arriving in Australia from a yellow fever declared country but do not hold a vaccination certificate you will still be permitted to enter Australia without one. On arrival in Australia, Department of Agriculture, Biosecurity officers will reinforce the seriousness of the disease to you and provide you with a Yellow Fever Action Card. The card provides instructions on what you should do if you develop any symptoms of yellow fever in the six-day period following your departure from a yellow fever declared country.

You should however cross check with Singapore - it says you may be refused entry without a yellow fever certificate - so I'm not sure how that may affect an airline uplifting you to singapore in the first place:

(from TIMATIC)

Singapore (SG)


Passengers arriving within 6 days after leaving or transiting

countries with risk of yellow fever transmission For details, click here
must hold a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate.

Passengers not holding one are subject to medical screening
upon arrival and could be refused entry.

Exempt from Yellow Fever vaccination:

- Passengers transiting countries with risk of yellow fever

transmission within 12 hours if not leaving the transit
areas.
Recommended:
- Malaria prophylaxis: malaria risk of Human P. knowlesi
reported. Recommended prevention: A.

 

[Anna]

pax will still be allowed to enter Australia after a 'talking to' and given instructions on how to self-monitor for symptoms and what to do if you have them.

I can vouch from personal experience that this is exactly what happens.

 

[RooFlyer]

Also be aware that some countries with Yellow Fever may demand to see your vaccination certificate before they let you in. If you can't evidence a vaccination, if you want to enter they might take you aside and give you an injection there and then. I'd much rather have it at home!!

 

[Mal]

Yellow Fever Vax generally takes 7 days to be recognised as vaccinated BTW.

 

[Mattg]

I wouldn't "risk" it. Have it done before you go. I don't recall there being any side effects.

 

[RooFlyer]

Yellow Fever Vax generally takes 7 days to be recognised as vaccinated BTW.

I would think there would be some delay, but on checking my current YF certificate, it was "Valid from" the same day as injection (in 2010).

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Thanks everyone. Just got vaccinated. Was quicker than I expected. MEL_Traveller did bring up a good point with SIN entry reqs which I did not think of. The things we do for SC runs .

 

[drron]

You've done the right thing.Mainly for yourself.
The YF certificate is necessary even though often it is not looked at.We flew from Ecuador to MIA a month ago and not even asked.But I have heard of people having major problems entering the US without it.

 

[amaroo]

I would think there would be some delay, but on checking my current YF certificate, it was "Valid from" the same day as injection (in 2010).

We just received the jab ... FWIW our cert is not valid until the 12th April i.e. 10 days time. Good for 10 years.

Department of Health | Yellow fever - general fact sheet

Where can I get a yellow fever vaccination and vaccination certificate?

Yellow fever vaccinations must be provided by an approved yellow fever vaccination clinic. These clinics will provide a vaccination certificate in the form approved and required by WHO. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is valid for 10 years and begins 10 days after vaccination. For details of your nearest yellow fever vaccination clinic, please contact your state or territory health department. Contact details for state or territory health departments can be found below.

 

[straitman]

I would think there would be some delay, but on checking my current YF certificate, it was "Valid from" the same day as injection (in 2010).

We just received the jab ... FWIW our cert is not valid until the 12th April i.e. 10 days time. Good for 10 years.

Department of Health | Yellow fever - general fact sheet

The discrepancy is interesting. Mine was valid from the day of the jab also.

 

[lakeman]

Yellow Fever Vaccination will be valid for life , not 10 years from June

Per WHO website
The WHO World Health Assembly in May 2014 adopted an amendment to Annex 7 of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), which stipulates that the period of protection afforded by yellow fever vaccination, and the term of validity of the certificate will change from 10 years to the duration of the life of the person vaccinated.

 

[jxv]

Yellow Fever Vaccination will be valid for life , not 10 years from June

Per WHO website
The WHO World Health Assembly in May 2014 adopted an amendment to Annex 7 of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), which stipulates that the period of protection afforded by yellow fever vaccination, and the term of validity of the certificate will change from 10 years to the duration of the life of the person vaccinated.

Would that be retrospective for those already vaccinated?

 

[Mal]

Would that be retrospective for those already vaccinated?

It's a good question, and one I haven't seen answered anywhere yet. Personally, I'm thinking no, it's for new vaccinations after that date, but honestly that's just a guess.

 

[straitman]

It's a good question, and one I haven't seen answered anywhere yet. Personally, I'm thinking no, it's for new vaccinations after that date, but honestly that's just a guess.

I'm guessing you are right Mal but logic says it should be inclusive of all who are vaccinated and still have the paperwork.

I had mine after May 2014 so I'm in the middle.

 

[kpc]

Yellow Fever Vaccination will be valid for life , not 10 years from June

Per WHO website
The WHO World Health Assembly in May 2014 adopted an amendment to Annex 7 of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), which stipulates that the period of protection afforded by yellow fever vaccination, and the term of validity of the certificate will change from 10 years to the duration of the life of the person vaccinated.

Would that be retrospective for those already vaccinated?

It's a good question, and one I haven't seen answered anywhere yet. Personally, I'm thinking no, it's for new vaccinations after that date, but honestly that's just a guess.

i would like to know as well as my 10 year YF vaccine expired last year...and it did cost a few $$ and time to get!


edit found this: WHO | World – Yellow fever vaccination booster

The WHO World Health Assembly in May 2014 adopted an amendment to Annex 7 of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), which stipulates that the period of protection afforded by yellow fever vaccination, and the term of validity of the certificate will change from 10 years to the duration of the life of the person vaccinated.

This change will enter into force legally in June 2016. Until then the current IHR text on yellow fever vaccination and certificates continues to apply, and some countries may continue to request proof of vaccination or a booster within the last 10 years from travellers.

...so probably will have to wait til June 2016 for those of us with expired (after 10 years) YF vaccines

from the post below

Individuals who are travelling to yellow fever declared countries and are due to have a booster vaccination before 16 June 2016 should note that this is not required for health protection purposes.

so hopefully common sense prevails, and those of us who now have expired YF vaccines no longer need to get a booster if we travel to endemic areas post June 2016!

 

[amaroo]

Department of Health | Yellow fever - general fact sheet

[h=2]Update on yellow fever vaccination for travellers[/h]The Australian Government is adopting the World Health Organization amendment to the International Health Regulations (2005), that the period of protection afforded by yellow fever vaccination, and the term of validity of the certificate, will change from 10 years to the duration of the life of the person vaccinated. This is based on data demonstrating for the majority of recipients, a single dose of yellow fever vaccine results in life-long immunity.
However, the current legal requirements for travellers entering Australia from yellow-fever declared countries will remain in place until the commencement of the Biosecurity Act 2015 on 16 June 2016. Therefore, individuals without a yellow fever vaccination certificate that has been issued in the period of 10 years prior to arrival will still be required to go through border control processes when entering Australia. As is current practice, entry to Australia will not be refused on the basis of non-compliance with yellow fever monitoring and control requirements.
Individuals who are travelling to yellow fever declared countries and are due to have a booster vaccination before 16 June 2016 should note that this is not required for health protection purposes.
Vaccination is still strongly recommended for travellers who have never been vaccinated for yellow fever and who intend to travel to countries where there is a risk of transmission. Border biosecurity processes will remain in place for unvaccinated travellers post June 2016.

 

[JessicaTam]

Good news. I am having my YF jab this week, so it will be a one-off and not something I will have to keep up to date.