Based upon my limited on-line research, it appears that Tanzania no longer requires proof of a Yellow Fever vaccine unless you are coming from a country with known Yellow Fever exposure and the U.S. isn't one of them.

Anyone have any definitive knowledge about that?

The reason I ask is that my wife will be accompanying me for the first time next year and she has never had the vaccine. Also, mine is expiring soon and I'm getting to the age that organ failure is an increasingly possible side effect.

Any ideas on whether the recent outbreak in Congo will change that?

There maybe good new for you, I just read where WHO is no longer going to require the every 10 year booster as of June 2016, however its up to each country to adopt the new rule, and some may not.

I would get the the yellow fever, better safe, than sorry.

As of 2011-2015, I was not asked to show my card there. I did get it, but probably did not need it.

Looks like if the CDC is right your is good for life for Tanzania.

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/ye.../tanzania#seldyfm707

http://www.flysaa.com/lv/en/pl...ews/YellowFever.html

Thanks for the comments.

It's Tanzania, there are no hard and fast rules that will be followed all the time. Best to just have it.

I was only asked for proof landing at Zanzibar. Never a problem coming into Tanz from Dubai, Kenya (flying or driving) nor Sth Africa.

Cheers, Chris

https://www.sciencedaily.com/r.../05/160523130808.htm

Did you say Yellow Fever ?? Please check the article then decide how to proceed !

If you decide to get it, don't wait until the last minute. It's a live virus....they take your contact info, and then get in a supply when there are enough patients in need. You're called in when the supply arrives, as it only last 24 hours or so. Might take a week or more to complete the process.

quote:

Originally posted by StormsGSP:
It's Tanzania, there are no hard and fast rules that will be followed all the time. Best to just have it.

+1

Only once in the last 10 years have I needed my yellow card entering Tanzania. I believe it was 2014. They were stopping everybody flying into Julius Nyerere. If you didn't have proof of vaccination, they would pull you aside and make you pay for the vaccination there on the spot. Not sure what the price for the shot was, it was probably a money making situation. If I hadn't had the card, I wouldn't have let them give me the shot at the airport. I would have been forced to fly out and get the shot before returning. There are plenty of acceptable places to get injections in Tanzania. Getting one from whoever was giving them at the airport would not have passed the acceptable medical people for me. I waived my yellow card and passed 90% of the people ahead of me.

I would recommend carrying the card to be safe.

quote:

Originally posted by AilsaWheels:

quote:

Originally posted by StormsGSP:
It's Tanzania, there are no hard and fast rules that will be followed all the time. Best to just have it.

+1

Only once in the last 10 years have I needed my yellow card entering Tanzania. I believe it was 2014. They were stopping everybody flying into Julius Nyerere. If you didn't have proof of vaccination, they would pull you aside and make you pay for the vaccination there on the spot. Not sure what the price for the shot was, it was probably a money making situation. If I hadn't had the card, I wouldn't have let them give me the shot at the airport. I would have been forced to fly out and get the shot before returning. There are plenty of acceptable places to get injections in Tanzania. Getting one from whoever was giving them at the airport would not have passed the acceptable medical people for me. I waived my yellow card and passed 90% of the people ahead of me.

I would recommend carrying the card to be safe.

Yep, sounds right. So far, in 2016 alone, I have flown into TZ from Dubai/USA (twice), South Africa, Kenya, and Zambia(flight stopped in Zim)- and I haven't been asked for my Yellow Fever Card once. That said, on previous trips coming from the states I have been asked. You never know.

AW

I heard about that a couple of years ago. I think it was a scam. Some of those who had to pay for and get the shots were later asked what the vaccine looked like and they said it was clear. Looks like they got saline.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
AW

I heard about that a couple of years ago. I think it was a scam. Some of those who had to pay for and get the shots were later asked what the vaccine looked like and they said it was clear. Looks like they got saline.

Interesting. I hadn't heard about that.

As I remember the people checking cards and giving shots were in white lab coats. My thoughts were it was a way to make some money.

I just didn't feel comfortable getting my shot from them. If I hadn't had my card and if they wouldn't have let me leave the airport, I would probably have taken a flight to Nairobi or Kigali and gotten my shot there, then returned.

The Yellow Fever vaccine is a live virus. It is not clear! I didn't witness this I just heard it. That's why hearsay isn't admissible in court.

Are the reasons for not obtaining or needing immunization vaccine for Yellow Fever? I do not judge cost to be a valid reason when going on an African safari.

Is/was Yellow Fever endemic to southern Africa?
***
Tangentially, I would have identical questions pertaining to Malaria - substituting "prophylactic" for "immunization vaccine."

I know this wasn't the initial question, but I understand it is good for life now, and as someone said, no 10 yr boosters. When we went to Burkina in January, I tried to get a booster and my university travel clinic said that was no longer the standard and not required.

Naphtali,

Cost is not an issue at all. There are two. One, it is an uncomfortable vaccine to receive, but most importantly, over age 60, the risk of multiple organ failure as a side effect increases rather substantially.

quote:

Originally posted by Naphtali:
Are the reasons for not obtaining or needing immunization vaccine for Yellow Fever? I do not judge cost to be a valid reason when going on an African safari.

Is/was Yellow Fever endemic to southern Africa?
***
Tangentially, I would have identical questions pertaining to Malaria - substituting "prophylactic" for "immunization vaccine."

There can be some very severe reactions to the yellow fever vaccine. I don't know the percentages, but they are real. A friend who was around 65 got his yellow fever shot about 10 years ago so he could visit his son and family in Rwanda. The reaction was bad and he nearly died. He was in the hospital for weeks. He barely gets around now and is very feeble compared to the active individual he was prior to the shot.



lavaca,

I know you have hunted quite a bit in the Chunya area. I have a friend who was affiliated with a hospital in the Mbeya region from apx. 1985-2005. During that time he only knew of one confirmed case of yellow fever.


http://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever...yf_africa_forweb.jpg


If I didn't have a YF shot and was going to Tanzania, I wouldn't be concerned about getting YF. The problem is the government at the port of entry possibly messing up your safari. As StormGSP said, it is probably better to have it so your plans aren't screwed up.

Its best to play it safe and get the vaccine.You never know what the folks at Passport Control are going to do. And like has been mentioned don't let a potential issue screw up your hunt.

AilsaWheels,

I know you are quite familiar with the area and I agree with you that there is no real risk of getting the disease. The tsetses are fierce near Mbeya, but while I haven't been there during the rains, mozzie's have never been a real issue for me.

Concern is more about the government red tape, as you said. The problem is that even if it's not required, someone either may not have "got the word" or may be trying to capitalize on a situation.

Good news Tim. Thanks.