30 August 2011

Republic of South Africa yellow fever vaccination certificate requirements – update

The South African Department of Health has published further clarification of their yellow fever (YF) vaccination requirements for travellers entering and leaving the country [1].

As of 1 October 2011, a certificate of YF vaccination will be required from:

• All travellers arriving in South Africa from Zambia.
• Travellers transiting airports in countries with risk of YF transmission [2], regardless of the time spent at the airport.
• All travellers arriving from countries considered by South Africa to be a risk for YF transmission [1, 2]. These countries include São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia and Tanzania in addition to those listed by the World Health Organization [2].

Travellers to and from South Africa aged one year and older, whose journey includes travel or transit through other African countries, should review the YF vaccine requirements and recommendations for each of their destinations, prior to departure.

A letter of medical exemption from yellow fever vaccination can be provided, if the vaccine is contraindicated on medical grounds, and should be taken into account on arrival by the authorities.

References

1. Department of Health Republic of South Africa. Prevention of yellow fever in South Africa. [Accessed 30 August 2011]. Available at: http://www.doh.gov.za/docs/policy/2011/draft_yellowfever.pdf

2. World Health Organization. Annex 1. Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring yellow fever vaccination. In: World Health Organization. International travel and health 2011. WHO, Geneva. Available at: http://www.who.int/ith/chapters/ith2011annexs.pdf