Friday, August 7, 2015

Travel With A Yellow Fever Certificate

By Jonny Blair


To travel the world with the correct precautions and health awareness you really need to get your Yellow Fever Certificate. It is compulsory for some countries and comes in extremely handy, not just for your own safety but for laws within each countries. It is strongly recommended to get this vaccination before heading to Africa and parts of Asia.

I got my latest batch of injections in 2010 just before I headed to Africa and South America. I lived in Australia at the time and used The Travel Doctor in Parramatta. Some of these were just top up injections, but the Yellow Fever Injection was for the first time. Important things you need to know about the Yellow Fever Injection:

1. Some countries ask for it on border control so its better to have the certificate ready to show them rather than risk not having it and being turned away.

2. You almost always have to pay for it. I cannot remember the cost of my Yellow Fever Vaccination, though it was somewhere in the region of $60 AU Dollars (in 2010).

3. Trust travel Doctors - when I'm heading to a new country and I am not sure if I am covered or not, I go to the doctor and don't think twice about paying for the injections. This is my style and you don't have to follow it - but generally I don't take any risks with it. The reason I trust them is it's their job. If someone asks me something as a travel writer, I expect them to trust me as it's my job. I ought to know about it, and a doctor should know about vaccinations for different countries. You can do what research you want online, BUT I don't generally trust it - I go to a doctor. The information sections in Lonely Planet books are also useful.

4. Ensure your Yellow Certificate is valid. It needs to have a stamp and a doctor's signature on it.

5. Your Yellow Fever Certificate needs to be from an Accredited Yellow Fever Vaccine Centre.

6. Make sure you take your Yellow Fever Certificate everywhere you go. Carry it at all times - you never know when it will be asked for.

7. It will be valid for 10 years.

On a final note, subjects like this are very serious and while this is my view on it, remember I am not a doctor so please, please check with your travel doctor first on what injections you need for certain countries.

It's really worth getting to keep you safe on your journeys!

As a traveller don't take the risk of visiting Africa and SOuth America etc. without your Yellow Fever Certificate.

What is Yellow Fever? - A potentially deadly, fatal hemorrhagic disease consisting of fever, headache, vomiting, chills, nausea, muscle pain (in brief - you don't want it!!)

How does Yellow Fever spread? Similarly to most diseases it is through the bite from a mosquito. Take all precautions.

What Countries Are Affected? - According to the doctors I have spoken to, most of Africa and parts of South America are affected by Yellow Fever. And let's be honest those are two of the best continents to travel in, so you'll need your Yellow Fever Certificate.

How much does a Yellow Fever Vaccination cost? - Depends on country, and individual cost of clinic. As a good estimate, I'd say $40 US is a good price and $90 US and you're being ripped off. But again, TAKE NO RISKS!




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment