yellow fever shot requirements

[wiseoldowl]

We are planning a cruise from Buenos Aires around the Horn all the way back to Fort Lauderdale visiting ports in Chile ,Peru, Equador, Columbia and Panama with Celebrity in 2012.

In beginning a review of private shore excursions, and then further online investigations, it would appear that Peru, Equador, and Panama among others require proof of yellow flu shots if coming from an infected country - which according to the CDC they all are. We were hoping to avoid the shot if possible and limiting our excursions to low risk urban areas.

Is the shot required to visit these countries in these circumstances?

[Peregrina651]

We are planning a cruise from Buenos Aires around the Horn all the way back to Fort Lauderdale visiting ports in Chile ,Peru, Equador, Columbia and Panama with Celebrity in 2012.

In beginning a review of private shore excursions, and then further online investigations, it would appear that Peru, Equador, and Panama among others require proof of yellow flu shots if coming from an infected country - which according to the CDC they all are. We were hoping to avoid the shot if possible and limiting our excursions to low risk urban areas.

Is the shot required to visit these countries in these circumstances?

 

Immigration officials don't care where you have been in an affected country only that you have been to that country. The vaccination requirements are not to protect you personally but to protect the population in general from the spread of the disease.

 

If there are bonified reasons for your not getting the shot, then there is a process for getting a yellow card (certificate of vaccination) that shows you are exempt for medical reasons. I believe that you can find out about this on the CDC website.

 

There have been a number of good threads in this forum about this topic by seasoned travelers that layout all the issues in much more detail. I heartily suggest reading these threads as some of the contributors are seasoned and professional travelers.

 

The bottom line is not to take these requirements lightly.

[piper28]

More importantly, if the cruise line says you have to have the shot (or waiver), then you have to have it. They won't let you board without it. If the cruise line isn't requiring it, you probably don't need it. They're going to follow what the countries require of them.