Another Yellow Fever Thread

[Travelcat2]

There is a current discussion hidden in a thread that I feel would do better on a new thread in hopes of getting more input.  Unless otherwise stated, I'm referring to the U.S. but are also interested in other countries - kindly identify your country if not U.S.

 

Within the last few months, there have been news reports indicating that Yellow Fever inoculations are effective for a lifetime and no booster is needed.  When doing some research on this topic, I learned that this information came out in newspapers in 2013 (both in the U.S. and U.K.).  The more research I did, the more conflicting stories I found (and many outdated articles).  

 

Regent also seems to have conflicting information.  Many people spent quite a bit of money to get the vaccination as it was "required" for our Amazon cruise.  My DH and I got waivers (letters from our family doctor on his letterhead).  No one asked for anything related to Yellow Fever.  I understand Regent's confusion as some countries still state that they require proof of vaccination or a letter from your physician.  Some countries state that only an "official waiver" is acceptable.  

 

As a result of all of this information, it would be nice to hear the experiences of other Regent passengers:

 

1.  Have you had a Yellow Fever vaccination for a cruise only to have no one ask for it?  If so, where?

 

2.  Have you been refused entry into a port when you have a doctor's note rather than an "official waiver"?

 

3.  Where was your "official waiver" issued and did you need information from your doctorate provide to them that indicated that you should not have the vaccination?

Edited January 31, 2019 by Travelcat2

[BBWC]

Only replying to point 3:

We went to a local travel clinic. I got the yellow fever shot, but my husband got the waiver which is documented on the same yellow World Health Organization card ( the “official” waiver).There was a doctor at the travel clinic that did the evaluation on whether to give the shot or do the waiver.

[gb58]

With regard to point 1: We had the YF shot for our Amazon cruise in December 2018. No-one expressed the slightest bit of interest at any of our ports whether we had had the shot, the waiver, or anything else. Hardly saw a mosquito all trip, & didn't get bitten. Not sure if the whole thing is hype, or rumour, or hearsay. Just my 2 cents worth. Most of the people we talked to had either had the shot, or had a waiver...

[bgauger]

Interesting questions. I don't know about yellow fever specifically, however many vaccinations need booster shots if one is not exposed to the thing being vaccinated against. We get flu shots every year so that we have a strong immune response when exposed to the virus' in the vaccine. It takes a few days to weeks for the body to ramp up after exposure to prevent the illness. Perhaps yellow fever is one that needs a booster after a few years. Some vaccines, like rabies, can be given after exposure because it takes so long to become symptomatic. I don't think I'd take the chance of visiting an area where the illness was present without being vaccinated, however I understand some people cannot be immunized and some refuse vaccinations.

[GOARMY]

O.K.  I will try to contain my response to our specific experience. This was Navigator, May-June 2017 cruise. Miami-Amazon River-Miami.  I have posted detailed information on the matter of Yellow Fever inoculations, taking malaria pills, getting a range of Hept. shots (A and B), and such, on three or four prior Threads.  Frankly, will not spend time to direct others to these, as they are lost in the mist of time. 

 

This is an important matter, not to be brushed off, or just-figuring that, what the heck, no one will actually check for documents when one arrives at the Port of Departure to board whatever Regent ship.  Do NOT assume same.  You have already spent too much money on this cruse.  The additional money we spent to get necessary shots was a pittance.

 

Our experience in Miami prior to boarding was a very-detailed check of our Passports; then to confirm we had current Brazilian Visas; then confirm that Yellow Fever entry on an yellow-colored document showing inoculation.  We had stapled this form, provided by Evergreen Hospital, Kirkland, WA, onto our Passports.  In our case, having a Doctor's letter as to reason not to have the inoculation did not apply.  We got that shot based on my wife's and my medical histories. 

 

Six months prior to this cruise, we made an appointment with Evergreen Hospital's Communicable Disease Department (CDD), and specifically, a consultation with a Tropical Disease Specialist.  This guy, as we found out during our subsequent visit, spent six months of his Residency in New Guinea while completing M.D. studies at Johns Hopkins University Hospital.

 

Good enough credentials for us.  Also nice that my wife completed her R.N. career at Evergreen Hospital.  Nice to have a medical professional in the immediate family.    

 

I go into this detail because it is important.  Every medical situation is different because medical histories are unique.  The bottom line is the Doctor had been provided with our complete medical histories (to include my prior problems with malaria while an Army Officer in Vietnam).  We had, of course, given the CDD a complete cruise itinerary, to show anticipated ports-of-call off the ship.  The Doctor had also reviewed the latest CCD web-site as to warnings as to any area we were to visit.  All this was very-reassuring. 

 

Bottom Line:  Evergreen Hospital had all the necessary medications on-site. We got the shots; were provided with necessary malaria pills; and a prescription for a medication if any adverse reaction occurred when taking those pills onboard (none did).  No issues.   

 

Of course, when at Miami, I did not linger at the check-in line to double-check that our fellow travelers were being similarly checked. Not my business.  Got on the ship, and on to a nice lunch.  

 

BTW:  Great cruise.  Just be prepared for extreme heat.  Do take the Devil's Island excursion.   

 

GOARMY!

 

 

 

 

 

[2012_Alaska_bound]

17 hours ago, gb58 said:

With regard to point 1: We had the YF shot for our Amazon cruise in December 2018. No-one expressed the slightest bit of interest at any of our ports whether we had had the shot, the waiver, or anything else. Hardly saw a mosquito all trip, & didn't get bitten. Not sure if the whole thing is hype, or rumour, or hearsay. Just my 2 cents worth. Most of the people we talked to had either had the shot, or had a waiver...

 

I was on this cruise too.  I left my immunization card along with my Brazilian e-visa tucked into my passport and turned it all in during cruise check-in.  It all was returned a couple days before the end of the cruise.  I do know that Brazilian immigration was on board during the whole Amazon portion of the cruise, along with various other countries immigration folks at other ports.  Whether they looked at the immunizations, I have no idea.

 

When I researched the subject, I saw the French Guiana (Devil's Island) was the only country who "required" a yellow fever shot if you were coming from a country with a yellow fever warning (which Brazil still has), so I didn't want to take a chance.

 

I heard 3rd hand that there was an Australian couple that would not get off the ship in Brazil, because they did not have the shots, and Australia can quarantine you on return if you have been in a yellow fever country and did not have the shot.  I did not talk directly to this couple.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

My experience is old (2006 or thereabouts), and I've told it here multiple times.  Back then, on Voyager, no one looked at our yellow immunization cards, with their YF entries, at all, ever.  Which was good, because I had lost mine at the airport coming into Rio.  I was worried that they wouldn't let me get off at Barbados since that country then had the YF shot requirement for those coming from YF countries (like Brazil.)  But there was no problem there either.

 

I am looking forward to confirming with my travel doctors that the YF shots are now considered good for life.  No boosters, no repeats, whatever.  Then I'll get a reprint of my card when and if I need it.  Otherwise we'd probably get the waivers at this point in our lives (Don't think I need it for my 2021 WC.)

Edited February 1, 2019 by Wendy The Wanderer

[Hambagahle]

In Africa we all had the Yellow Fever shot and I still have my "yellow books" from then. - My current "carnet des vaccins" - World Health Org. immunization booklet where the doctors stamp the pages when you get an immunization - says every 10 years.  It also says that for someone who has not been vaccinated for YF before the vaccine is "valid" 10 days after the date stamped.  For someone who is re-vaccinated during the validity of the vaccine it is valid immediately.  No need for boosters etc for YF.

[1982CruzStart]

For our Lisbon to CapeTown cruise in Nov 2018 we received numerous emails from Regent telling us we must have the yellow fever vaccine or the official waiver or boarding could be denied.  On check in we were specifically asked for proof of the vaccine or an official waiver. We had a waiver as my DH has a compromised immune system and therefore can not have any live vaccines which yellow fever is.   We didn't ask anyone else if they had theirs so don't know how Regent handled the situation if someone didn't have either. Don't know if anyone was refused boarding if they didn't have either. 

Our official waiver was issued by a doctor at a travel medicine clinic that reviewed our itinerary and our medical situation and then signed an official waiver form issued by the Government of Canada. 

 

We have been on other cruises in the past where we were told we must have the vaccine or official waiver and were never directly asked for the proof of either.  In all cases we did have the official waiver and when advised handed it in with our passports. 

Edited February 1, 2019 by 1982CruzStart