Persons intending to travel to yellow fever affected areas now have greater access to yellow fever vaccinations. This as the Ministry of Health has increased the number of days Yellow Fever vaccinations are administered. The decision was made based on the increase in the number of persons attending health centres recently for yellow fever vaccination.
The new schedule to access Yellow fever Vaccinations started on Monday May 30, 2016. Yellow Fever vaccinations will be administered at the Slipe Pen Road Comprehensive Health Centre in Kingston on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30am – 4pm; and the Montego Bay Type 5 Health Centre in St. James every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10am – 2:00pm. The cost is $1,500 per vaccine. It is also advised that the vaccines be (done) administered at least ten (10) days prior to travel. In order to reduce waiting time persons, especially groups, are being asked to make appointments.
The Ministry of Health is reiterating the importance of persons getting vaccinated when travelling to or transiting through affected countries as has always been required. The Ministry recently increased public education on the matter in light of the current yellow fever outbreak in Angola and ongoing transmission in the Americas.
Minister of Health, Dr. Christopher Tufton says “We are trying to make the public aware of this possible threat and in so doing reduce the risk of persons becoming ill by encouraging everyone to get vaccinated once travelling to or transiting through an area with risk of yellow fever transmission”.
Yellow fever is an acute illness caused by the yellow fever virus which is found in the tropics of South America and Africa. The virus is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes such as the Aedes; the same vector that transmits the chikungunya, dengue and zika viruses.
Yellow Fever is a Class 1 notifiable disease which means it is to be reported to the Ministry of Health within 24 hours on suspicion by a healthcare professional.