IS A YELLOW FEVER VACCINE REQUIRED FOR TANZANIA?

Is A Yellow Fever Vaccine Required for Tanzania?

Is A Yellow Fever Vaccine Required for Tanzania? / Image: @sofiyakozy

Amidst all the excitement of preparing for a wild and wonderful safari through Tanzania, you'll need to consider the immunizations required for your trip.

Most travelers know about Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus but things get a little more confusing when it comes to yellow fever. This leads us to the all-important question: is a yellow fever vaccine required for Tanzania?

Throughout this article, we'll answer all your questions about Tanzania's yellow fever specifications, giving you the need-to-know information before you travel to Tanzania.

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Is A Yellow Fever Vaccine Required for Tanzania? / Image: @anniespratt

What Is Yellow Fever?

Yellow fever is a viral infection transmitted by a specific mosquito species that can cause symptoms like nausea, fever, vomiting, muscle pain and headaches. The disease can cause more severe side effects and be fatal in some instances, particularly if it spreads to the kidney, liver or heart.

In mild cases, symptoms typically appear within 3 to 6 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito and usually fade around 3 to 4 days later. Some patients may not show any signs or symptoms at all.

Vast swathes of Africa and South America are affected by yellow fever. Though a cure has yet to be found, yellow fever is entirely preventable with a vaccine, and just one jab is enough to provide life-long immunity.

What Does the Yellow Fever Vaccine Do?

Like most inoculations, the yellow fever vaccine introduces a weakened form of the virus into the body. This causes the body to develop antibodies that can fight off the disease and serve as a protective barrier should you come into contact with the virus again.

For most people, it takes 10 to 14 days from the date of the jab to become fully immunized. For this reason, it's essential to plan the timing of your vaccine appropriately and to schedule your yellow fever shot at least a few weeks before your trip if you require one.

Is A Yellow Fever Vaccine Required for Tanzania? / Image: @kahiriken

Who Needs the Yellow Fever Vaccine in Tanzania?

A yellow fever vaccine is necessary for Tanzania, depending on where you're visiting from.

If you're entering Tanzania from a country that's been declared a risk area for yellow fever, you'll need to be vaccinated against the disease before arriving. The World Health Organization has designated these countries as at-risk.

Even if you're traveling to Tanzania and merely transitioning through a listed country for 12 or more hours, you'll be asked to provide proof of your yellow fever vaccination. It's crucial to keep this in mind if your flight route to Tanzania involves a layover longer than 12 hours in one of these countries, even if you don't plan to vacate the airport throughout this time.

It's worth noting that visitors of all ages are required to have the vaccine if arriving from affected countries, except children under the age of 1.

When inquiring about vaccinations for Tanzania, your doctor may advise you to avoid the yellow fever jab due to underlying medical issues or other health concerns. In this case, as long as you can provide a signed letter from your doctor outlining why you weren't deemed fit for the vaccine, you can still enter the country.

Yellow Fever in Tanzania - Where Are the High-Risk Areas?

Although several of its neighboring countries are considered high-risk, yellow fever has never been reported in Tanzania. Despite this, the World Health Organization has dubbed Tanzania as low-risk rather than no-risk due to its proximity to affected nations like Kenya and Burundi.

Currently, nowhere in Tanzania is thought to be exposed to yellow fever. However, the areas near the country's northern and western borders pose a slightly greater threat of potential infection than the rest of Tanzania. Additionally, the presence of mosquitos capable of carrying the virus brings another small risk.

Because the risk of contracting yellow fever is so low, this vaccine isn't regarded as one of the injections needed to visit the country. This means that the entry requirements for Tanzania concerning yellow fever are in place to keep the country free of the disease.

Unless you're visiting from an at-risk country, getting a yellow fever shot is not recommended when traveling in Tanzania, as the risk of exposure is so low.

Is A Yellow Fever Vaccine Required for Tanzania?

Is A Yellow Fever Vaccine Required for Tanzania? / Image: @2photopots

Getting the Yellow Fever Vaccine at Home vs in Tanzania - What Are the Rules?

If you're coming to Tanzania from a country with a risk of yellow fever, one of the requirements for the visa is that you get your vaccine at home before your visit. You'll likely be asked to present proof of vaccination after landing, and your shot must have been administered at least 10 days before you touch down in Tanzania.

Anyone requiring the vaccine who fails to provide the relevant documentation may be refused entry into the country. Alternatively, you may be given the option to be inoculated on arrival and kept under medical supervision for 10 days until you're fully protected. As you might expect, the costs incurred with this option must be covered entirely by you, making this an incredibly inconvenient and rather expensive situation to find yourself in.

Those traveling from Tanzania to countries with a higher risk of yellow fever may consider getting the jab here rather than in their home country. Unfortunately, the standard of healthcare in Tanzania is poor, so it's best to get any necessary vaccines for the duration of your trip before you visit.

Is A Yellow Fever Vaccine Required for Tanzania

Requirements for the Yellow Fever Vaccine in Tanzania

The requirements for yellow fever are generally quite straightforward, and the conditions are as follows:

  • Visitors arriving from any of the countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission must have a valid vaccination certificate.

  • Children under the age of 1 aren't required to be vaccinated.

  • If your doctor believes the vaccine could have potential health implications for you, you'll need to travel with a signed letter from them detailing why you haven't been inoculated.

  • The vaccine must have been administered at least ten days before arriving in Tanzania.

  • Only certificates from an approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Center will be accepted.

  • Anyone without an exemption who has transited through a country exposed to yellow fever for 12 or more hours must also show proof of vaccination. This includes those who stayed at the airport during their layover.

Tanzania vaccination specifications are subject to change, so it's vital to consult the most up-to-date information several months before your visit.

Is A Yellow Fever Vaccine Required for Tanzania? / Image: @aronmarinelli

Getting Your Yellow Fever Vaccine

Obtaining your yellow fever inoculations for Tanzania is usually quick and easy.

Firstly, you must locate a vaccination center authorized to administer yellow fever shots. Depending on the rules of the center you choose, you might need to meet with a doctor first to discuss your travel itinerary and medical history.

Before you make your appointment for your shot, it's imperative to ensure that the date of your vaccine is at least 10 days before you arrive in Tanzania. After you've gotten the jab, you'll receive a certificate confirming the date of your vaccination. You'll need to show this to border security when you enter the country, so be sure to keep this safe.

In the days following your vaccination, you may encounter mild side effects, such as headaches, aches, muscle pain and a slight fever. Most people's symptoms ease within a week or two and rarely inhibit regular activities.

Unless you intend to spend extended periods in areas with a high yellow fever risk or were pregnant when you were first vaccinated, one vaccine should give you sufficient protection for life.

How You Can Avoid Catching Yellow Fever

While some diseases in Tanzania, like tuberculosis and malaria are widespread, this isn't the case for yellow fever. Thankfully, this means you won't need to do a whole lot to avoid catching this infectious virus.

The risk of becoming unwell with yellow fever is already extremely low in Tanzania, but you can take a few additional precautions for added peace of mind.

These include:

  • Applying mosquito repellent that's proven to work in East African countries day and night.

  • Covering up with loose-fitting clothing, including full-length trousers, long-sleeved shirts and socks, minimizing skin exposure.

  • Sticking to light-colored clothing, as dark colors attract mosquitos.

Is A Yellow Fever Vaccine Required for Tanzania? / Image: @k15photos

Frequently Asked Questions

Are There Any Other Vaccines I Need for Tanzania?

Some recommended vaccines for travel in Tanzania include Hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus, polio and rabies. Those planning to visit more remote regions should also consider getting vaccines for Hepatitis B and cholera.

If I Don't Have a Yellow Fever Vaccine for Tanzania, Will I Be Refused Entry?

You only need a vaccine for yellow fever in Tanzania if you travel from a country deemed at-risk or plan to transit through an affected country for 12 hours or more. If you fall into this category but have been advised against getting the vaccine by a medical professional, you'll need a signed letter from your doctor to waive this requirement.

What Are the Chances of Catching Yellow Fever in Tanzania?

Tanzania has never had an incidence of yellow fever, meaning the risk of contracting the virus in the country is incredibly low.

A Final Note on the Yellow Fever Vaccine for Tanzania

You now know that the yellow fever vaccine in Tanzania is required in certain circumstances based on the location you're coming from.

If you have any more questions about the yellow fever vaccine for Tanzania, be sure to email us. We'll be happy to help you in any way we can before your safari with us begins.

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