Yellow Fever

[Carmen866]

Hi , has anyone over 60 had a yellow fever jab ? We visiting Brazil this year visiting Iguazu Falls in June , mozzies are apparently there in the forest but low
I’m just wondering that if you had the jab did you experience bad side effects as apparently the older you are the worse it is , I understand that everyone is different

@Carmen866 , it’s not a case of bad side effects; Yellow Fever vaccine is not recommended for those of us over 60 because it can be fatal. My husband and I have very sadly come to terms with the fact that there are places we cannot go as a result. Anyone here under 60 have the vaccine because it lasts a lifetime, I wish we’d known but we started traveling once we retired and it was too late by then.

I had the yellow fever vaccine several years ago when I was 69. It was require to get into Rwanda. Of all the many vaccines I had for my trip to Africa, this one caused me the least trouble. Not even a sore arm

Our government says yellow fever not required for Brazil. So don’t have it. Some countries only require it if you enter from certain countries. GB is never on that list.

Thankyou for your reply , sorry but why could the vaccine be fatal for over 60’s

@Carmen866 It’s not, but do you really need it? Government says not.

Many areas of Brazil including Rio are classed as needing yellow fever vaccine. The risk is significant enough that most people benefit from the vaccine.https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/media_lib/mlib-uploads/full/yellowfever-map-brazil.png

https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/news/765/yellow-fever-update

https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/18/yellow-fever

However at 60+ the risks of the vaccine can outweigh the risks of the disease. It isn’t recommended for areas at low risk of transmission, however much of Brazil is classed as ‘significant risk’.

@Sidge It’s recommended. It’s not a requirement and people can make up their own minds based on their sutustion. Some people cannot have it but all people should be risk assessed - benefits vs risks of the vaccine. So the op needs to consult a registered yellow fever clinic because this vaccination is controlled.

I’ve been to Iguazu falls and some lodges are indeed in wooded areas. The falls are much more open where tourists go. It’s borne by mosquitos and avoiding hot humid terrain with standing water helps. Mosquito protection at all times too. Obviously if you have no health issues preventing vaccination, take it.

I know. That’s why I wrote what I did and linked to the guidance lol.

The OP needs to see a professional to discuss her requirements and ensure a full risk assessment is done.

Several years ago I remember reading about a prominent person from the UK who was a consultant or scientist, something like that. He had the vaccination before travelling and died as a consequence . He was over 60. I had the vaccination many years ago when it was thought to only last ten years. I understand it is a live vaccine and I am now immune compromised so I couldn’t have it again anyway but if you are over 60 I would take medical advice before considering it.

just checked on the tinterweb and it says it was Professor Martin Gore a leading cancer specialist at the Royal Marsden. The date was in 2019.

Thankyou all for your replies & info tbh if we had known about the yellow fever I think we would have given the falls a miss . I will get in touch with our Dr on Monday ,

@Carmen866 Your GP almost certainly cannot give you a yellow fever jab. Well unlikely. Read the uk government advice and find a clinic. I doubt if a GP does any vaccinations. Ours has a travel clinic occasionally with around 8 weeks notice. We use a pharmacy for general jabs but yellow fever is highly controlled and you need to read up about it and where you can get it.

The falls can be seen from Brazil and Argentina. I really cannot recall being inundated with mosquitos there. Our lodge was in a wooded area but I don’t remember there being any there either. Yes, yellow fever jab is a faff but so are many of the others. Have you had everything else that’s recommended? It’s a bit of a cocktail. It’s worth it though. It’s a great trip.

GPs (in England anyway) are contracted to offer basic travel health services, however usually you need to submit your travel plans many weeks in advance and they can only offer NHS travel vaccines which are diphtheria/tetanus/polio, Hepatitis A, typhoid and cholera.

You would need to see a private provider (travel clinic or pharmacy) for non-NHS vaccines such as rabies, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya etc. Not that you need all of those for South America by the way!)

Yellow fever vaccine can only be given by registered yellow fever centres.

It’s worth looking at your surgery’s website to see what their process is for travel health, and starting the process, as the sooner you get sorted the better in most cases. Then you will have time to get booked in for your NHS vaccines, and source private ones if needed.

@Sidge Our GP surgery frequently removes their travel service. Our boosters have been done by our pharmacy. Far less fuss. GPs don’t offer a reliable service here. Contract or not. Who checks on it? No one I imagine. They certainly would not offer a GP appointment to discuss jabs. It’s an in line form and then they email to say they are not operating the service. NHS is crap here!

Thankyou all for your replies and advice but I agree about surgeries no longer having travel clinics ours doesn’t but I’ll get in touch with them tomorrow as my first port of call

Mine just says they don’t do
it so make your own arrangements. Alternatives are easy to find and there won’t be many yellow fever clinics anyway. They will advise you.

@OhDear111 that’s really poor and slightly shocking as the core contract says travel health is mandatory and part of the global sum. They’re on thin ice not providing it and CQC wouldn’t be impressed. I suspect they have no travel health trained nurses…

You shouldn’t have to pay for NHS vaccines.

I am 67 and had a yellow fever jab in my 20s when it was recommended for Greece for some reason. DH and I both had quite a reaction of fever for two days plus a sore arm.

OP, I had mine in my late 50s . This was also because I was visiting Brazil, including the Iguasu Falls. They are amazing. I am sure at the time, the cut of age was 70 not 60.
Are you stopping anywhere else on your trip? If you have been to a country that has yellow fever then other countries can refuse to let you in without your yellow fever vaccination card. Having said this, I have never been asked for my yellow fever vaccination card, nor do I know anyone who has.

It’s not 60 as far as I know. It’s based on your health. We went to Brazil in our 60s. Just fine.

@Sidge You cannot get everything on the NHS. Malaria tablets being one item you cannot get. We’ve had vaccination issues for years here with GP.

The service is frequently not available. Note the charging comment. Malaria - they won’t supply the one you take for the least time.

No I know. I said earlier on the NHS you can have hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera and dip/tet/polio. These are NHS vaccines and everything else including malarial prophylaxis is private.

GP practices should be offering the above where needed and recommended but direct you elsewhere for non-NHS requirements.

And to complicate it further some practices will offer non-NHS vaccines as a chargeable service, but this is separate to their NHS contractual obligations. As per your screenshot.

It’s always cheaper to buy malarial tablets directly at the pharmacy, as GP surgeries have to charge for the private prescription too.

@Sidge Not here. Most of the time! Just had boosters done at a pharmacy.

Thankyou all for your advice , my friend has just come back from Brazil and just sprayed herself with deet however she didn’t visit Iguazu falls
I am 60 and tbh have had all my other jabs Typhoid , dip etc all up to date but I don’t really want the yellow fever due to the fact the nurse said 60 is a risk with possible serious side effects .
We are now thinking about giving the falls a miss due to it being in a wooded area and mosquitos