South America Cruising

[AVACTION]

We are doing a transatlantic cruise originating in Brazil in March. My wife's doctor has INSISTED that she get yellow fever vaccination, as well as the recommended typhoid, hepatitis A and tetanus booster. We are staying a few days in Sao Paulo/Santos and we will be going ashore at the Brazil ports, Rio de Janeiro, Fortazela & Salvador de Bahia, has anybody else's doctor insisted on this inoculation?

 

According to the CDC website and other websites yellow fever inoculation is not recommended for the areas of Brazil we are visiting, Hepatitus A, Typhoid and Tetanus are recommended.

[Aus Traveller]

We went ashore in the ports you mention (Rio de Janeiro, Fortazela & Salvador de Bahia) but sailed from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco. Therefore we didn't stay ashore.

 

We did not have the Yellow Fever vaccinations, although some people on the cruise did. I would certainly have the shot if we were going up the Amazon River, but we didn't see even one mosquito.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

When we did SA , our cruise documenation said that we would be denied boarding if we did not produce a YF innoculation card to show we had one in the last 10 years. At boarding it was never checked.

 

Brazil was the only country for which it was neccessary .We also had several stops there, and never saw a mosquito.

What swung it for us was being told that upon your return to your home country, Au or NZ, you have to list all countries visited and if Brazil is one, then they may insist on an innocultaion before you can enter.

Again this did not happen to us.

A YF Innoculation should noit be undertaken lightly. It needs to booked in advance as a live vaccine has to be ordered in. We did get it before we travelled ...we also got a long lecture and a grilling on the state of our health from the doctor before she would administer it.

 

Enjoy your SA cruise. ....we did.

 

Edited January 28, 2015 by Kiwi Kruzer

[roaming_kiwi58]

We did a land trip to South America in December 2013. As we had 2 nights in Iguacu Falls it was recommended we had Yellow Fever vaccinations, which we did. At the end of our trip, after leaving South America, we had two nights in Sydney. When we arrived in Sydney, off a flight from Santiago, they wanted to see our YF vaccination documentation before they would let us into Australia. We weren't asked for it at any time while travelling in South America, nor when returning to NZ.

If there are medical reasons why you can't have the vaccination, get a letter from your doctor.

Iguacu Falls and the Amazon are areas of travel where Yellow Fever vaccinations are recommended.

[Brisbane41]

We are doing a transatlantic cruise originating in Brazil in March. My wife's doctor has INSISTED that she get yellow fever vaccination, as well as the recommended typhoid, hepatitis A and tetanus booster. We are staying a few days in Sao Paulo/Santos and we will be going ashore at the Brazil ports, Rio de Janeiro, Fortazela & Salvador de Bahia, has anybody else's doctor insisted on this inoculation?

 

According to the CDC website and other websites yellow fever inoculation is not recommended for the areas of Brazil we are visiting, Hepatitus A, Typhoid and Tetanus are recommended.

 

I went last year to South America and was fully immunised for Hep, Typhoid and Tetanus as well as whooping cough. I was vaccinated against Hep A and B for life.

 

My thoughts were its handy to have the vaccinations just in case.

[PerfectlyPerth]

Personally - why would you not have it ? Wouldn't you prefer to be vaccinated for any "just in case" moment ? It's no different to any other vaccine in my opinion. I update all of mine regularly.

 

The vaccination is not the requirement of the country you are visiting. It's the requirement of your home country and many other countries you may visit immediately after visiting a region in yellow fever zones.

 

For arrival back in Aus you will note that your arrivals declaration asks you to declare if you have been in Sth America in the previous 6 days (considered to be the period where symptoms would appear). See copy of card

http://www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/border-security/travel/passenger-cards/_pdf/english-ipc-sample.pdf

When you tick yes they will ask you where, when you state Brazil, they will ask to see your yellow book.

 

If it's outside the 6 day period they rarely ask to see your yellow book. But mine lives in my passport wallet anyway as it has been requested in several random countries.

[Aus Traveller]

Personally - why would you not have it ? Wouldn't you prefer to be vaccinated for any "just in case" moment ? It's no different to any other vaccine in my opinion. I update all of mine regularly.

 

The vaccination is not the requirement of the country you are visiting. It's the requirement of your home country and many other countries you may visit immediately after visiting a region in yellow fever zones.

 

For arrival back in Aus you will note that your arrivals declaration asks you to declare if you have been in Sth America in the previous 6 days (considered to be the period where symptoms would appear). See copy of card

http://www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/border-security/travel/passenger-cards/_pdf/english-ipc-sample.pdf

When you tick yes they will ask you where, when you state Brazil, they will ask to see your yellow book.

 

If it's outside the 6 day period they rarely ask to see your yellow book. But mine lives in my passport wallet anyway as it has been requested in several random countries.

I agree with the comments about having the 'usual' vaccinations, but I am querying the necessity of having YF if the person is not travelling to the Amazon or Iguazu Falls (where someone mentioned it is required).

 

We have travelled to South America three times - once on a land trip where we spent close to three weeks in various South American countries. We did not travel to the Amazon. When we returned from that land trip some in our tour group (who all went to the same Customs officer at Brisbane airport) were asked about YF vaccinations. When they provided details on where they went in Sth America, they were told they could go. Others in the group (including us) who went to other Customs officers, weren't even asked about YF vaccination.

 

On our fairly recent cruise from Fort Lauderdale around Sth America to San Francisco, at first Princess advised that we must have the YF vaccination before we could board. Well before the cruise, they reversed this advice, saying it was a mistake. At no time, either at boarding on the cruise were we asked about YF vaccination.

 

Why didn't we want to have an unnecessary vaccination? The Yellow Fever vaccination is a live virus and can have complications, particularly for older people - we are well into our 60s. After researching the matter we decided not to have it unless it was necessary. If it was, we would have had it.

 

Everyone has to make their own decision.:)

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Personally - why would you not have it ? Wouldn't you prefer to be vaccinated for any "just in case" moment ? It's no different to any other vaccine in my opinion. I update all of mine regularly.

 

The vaccination is not the requirement of the country you are visiting. It's the requirement of your home country and many other countries you may visit immediately after visiting a region in yellow fever zones.

 

For arrival back in Aus you will note that your arrivals declaration asks you to declare if you have been in Sth America in the previous 6 days (considered to be the period where symptoms would appear). See copy of card

http://www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/border-security/travel/passenger-cards/_pdf/english-ipc-sample.pdf

When you tick yes they will ask you where, when you state Brazil, they will ask to see your yellow book.

 

If it's outside the 6 day period they rarely ask to see your yellow book. But mine lives in my passport wallet anyway as it has been requested in several random countries.

 

 

It is different from others , in that it is a live virus. Not all doctors can administer it . They need to have a special licence to handle it ...(at least thats the case in NZ.)

[bronte2]

When we did our cruise around South America a couple of years ago we went to a specialist Travel Medicine centre in Sydney where we were living at the time. Our ports of call in Brazil were Recife, Salvador and Rio.

 

As well as the usual updates to tetanus it was recommended we have Yellow Fever vaccination which we did with no ill effects. Our trip originated in the UK and I seem to recall the YF vaccination was part of the boarding requirements but I may be wrong here. Even though you may not go into any of the YF areas of Brazil your passport entry will not reflect which part of Brazil you did/didn't visit so subsequent immigration authorities may require the YF vaccination. Of course they might not too.

 

With all due respect to those who say they didn't see a mosquito. I have had around 5 bites in the last 2 or so weeks and I didn't see any of the little devils either :eek:

 

At the end of the day, it's your decision and you can always seek a second medical opinion. Perhaps seek the advice from a reputable travel medicine clinic if there is one nearby. You really need to consider your own personal circumstances in relation to your travel plans and your medical situation.

The experiences of those of us who have posted here don't necessarily reflect what your experiences or circumstances will be.

 

Whatever you decide, have a great trip. :)

[bronte2]

It is different from others , in that it is a live virus. Not all doctors can administer it . They need to have a special licence to handle it ...(at least thats the case in NZ.)

 

It's the same here. We had to go to s specialised clinic.

[MicCanberra]

We have had the YF shots because of several factors, one it was recommended by the tour company, two we were told Australia (officials) would require the YF shots in order to re-enter Australia. We also have an African trip planned so would need them for that.

The YF stamped booklet was looked at several times by officials in various countries, both in South America and when we returned. Would they have stopped us if we hadn't had the shots, I don not know but I tend to play it safe in regards to what countries may require for travel, it is just part of the cost of travelling.:D

[Brisbane41]

If Yellow Fever was recommended to me I would have had the vaccination done. I know most of my vaccinations now are life long. The cruise I did last year left enough time on the ship to arrive in Los Angeles and not even have to declare it as it was past the number of days. When you are on a ship for a month then there are less chances of officials asking for documentation of vaccinations.

 

It may cost money but it is worth it. Even though risks are low and you may play things safely being smart and being up to date with your vaccinations protects you from other peoples stupidity.

[The_Big_M]

If Yellow Fever was recommended to me I would have had the vaccination done. I know most of my vaccinations now are life long.

 

YF vaccination is for 10 years.

[joybook]

I'm not certain that Yellow Fever injections are compulsory but we had ours following advice from our doctor prior to our South American cruise (LA to Rio) in December. But I do know that our Yellow Fever documentation was asked for and checked by immigration when we got back to Sydney. Yes we had our little yellow books.:)

[PerfectlyPerth]

It is different from others , in that it is a live virus. Not all doctors can administer it . They need to have a special licence to handle it ...(at least thats the case in NZ.)

 

Not how it works here. Doctors, nurses, "travel doctors", and pharmacists can all administer it. In country towns that don't have local doctors the chemist can order it up and administer it to save the person having to travel to the city for the day. Travel doctors have ongoing stocks so no appointment needed. Doctors - depends on their location as to whether they hold stocks. Mine was next for to a chemist who had stocks do I was able to scoot out and fill the script and scoot straight back into doctors for the jab.

 

And that wasn't what I was referring to re it being no different to any other vaccination. I was referring to the fact that they are all a protection.

 

Baffles me the people who refuse to do it based on price. (Many on Trip Advisor use that as their number one reason). To me the cost of my travel is the total cost at the end - including vaccinations and insurance. I don't consider them to be extras - just standard practice.

[PerfectlyPerth]

Would they have stopped us if we hadn't had the shots, I don not know but I tend to play it safe in regards to what countries may require for travel, it is just part of the cost of travelling.:D

 

I know for a fact they do more than "stop" you.

 

Two co workers of mine a couple of years ago (hmmm actually time has flown - more like 4 years now) - first time travellers but the kind who feel they know more than people who have filled their passports year in year out for 4 decades.

Insisted they didn't need the shot. 4 of us implored them to get it after looking at their itineraries and seeing they would be coming home within the 6 day period.

Nope - flat out ignored us.

 

Lost their jobs because they were questioned, unable to produce yellow card, and placed in quarantine for 2 weeks. (I've heard it's been reduced to a week more recently).

 

Boss was not prepared to give them that extra time off and needed to hire new staff. So both were fired.

 

Expensive lesson to learn for the sake of an $80 jab.

[MicCanberra]

Not how it works here. Doctors, nurses, "travel doctors", and pharmacists can all administer it. In country towns that don't have local doctors the chemist can order it up and administer it to save the person having to travel to the city for the day. Travel doctors have ongoing stocks so no appointment needed. Doctors - depends on their location as to whether they hold stocks. Mine was next for to a chemist who had stocks do I was able to scoot out and fill the script and scoot straight back into doctors for the jab.

In the ACT, only doctors with certification can order and store the vaccines so if your regular doctor is one of them then no worries, otherwise you need to find one that does..

 

And that wasn't what I was referring to re it being no different to any other vaccination. I was referring to the fact that they are all a protection.

 

Baffles me the people who refuse to do it based on price. (Many on Trip Advisor use that as their number one reason). To me the cost of my travel is the total cost at the end - including vaccinations and insurance. I don't consider them to be extras - just standard practice.

 

Agreed.:D

[MicCanberra]

I know for a fact they do more than "stop" you.

 

Two co workers of mine a couple of years ago (hmmm actually time has flown - more like 4 years now) - first time travellers but the kind who feel they know more than people who have filled their passports year in year out for 4 decades.

Insisted they didn't need the shot. 4 of us implored them to get it after looking at their itineraries and seeing they would be coming home within the 6 day period.

Nope - flat out ignored us.

 

Lost their jobs because they were questioned, unable to produce yellow card, and placed in quarantine for 2 weeks. (I've heard it's been reduced to a week more recently).

 

Boss was not prepared to give them that extra time off and needed to hire new staff. So both were fired.

 

Expensive lesson to learn for the sake of an $80 jab.

 

Goodness, don't know why people wouldn't get it, and I know some people have health concerns but getting YF for real would be much worse IMO.

[PerfectlyPerth]

They didn't get much sympathy from all of us who had warned them ! One tried to sue the department for job loss but she failed dismally. Personal responsibility at the end of the day.

 

And yes - to me - I am the person who could potentially get a vile disease with long lasting side effects or death. Exactly what vaccinations were invented to prevent. Really can't see any reason valid enough to not utilize them.

[Aus Traveller]

A couple of people have questioned why people wouldn't get the Yellow Fever shot. I will ask a couple of questions.

 

Would you have the Yellow Fever shot if you were staying at home? Would you have the shot if you were travelling only in Australia? I think I can assume the answer to these questions is "no". Then I ask, would you have the shot if you were travelling to areas where Yellow Fever is NOT a risk? My answer again is "no". That is why we didn't have one on our three visits to South America. One was a land tour (not including the Amazon) and the other two were cruises.

 

On returning to Australia after these three trips we were not even asked about YF injection.

 

Of course we would have the shot if we were travelling in an area where YF is a risk, but if we aren't, then I don't think it makes sense to take the risk of having the shot with the possibility (however small) of complications. Some people have complications even after having a flu jab (which we have every year), but the chance of complications after the YF shot is much much more.

 

Everyone has to make their own decision.

 

I recall a time years ago when we were cruising to Asia with a couple of ports China, but not staying on land. A travel doctor insisted we have a whole series of shots including Cholera and typhoid. It was reasonable that he recommended polio, tetanus and flu immunisations, but the cholera and typhoid were totally unnecessary because were not staying ashore and not eating ashore. Afterwards when I was feeling rather "seedy" as a reaction to the injections, I wondered if the travel doctor was wanting to sell extra services. :) He probably wasn't, but maybe being overly cautious.

[PerfectlyPerth]

A couple of people have questioned why people wouldn't get the Yellow Fever shot. I will ask a couple of questions.

 

Would you have the Yellow Fever shot if you were staying at home? Would you have the shot if you were travelling only in Australia? I think I can assume the answer to these questions is "no". Then I ask, would you have the shot if you were travelling to areas where Yellow Fever is NOT a risk? My answer again is "no". That is why we didn't have one on our three visits to South America. One was a land tour (not including the Amazon) and the other two were cruises.

 

On returning to Australia after these three trips we were not even asked about YF injection.

 

Of course we would have the shot if we were travelling in an area where YF is a risk, but if we aren't, then I don't think it makes sense to take the risk of having the shot with the possibility (however small) of complications. Some people have complications even after having a flu jab (which we have every year), but the chance of complications after the YF shot is much much more.

 

Everyone has to make their own decision.

 

 

While Brazil remains on the list I will continue to maintain my up to date vaccinations. My preference is to not contract the disease.

 

http://www.health.gov.au/yellowfever

http://www.yellowfever.com.au/news.html

 

As for being asked upon arrival - you sign a declaration re the 6 day period. Its then up to the arrivals staff as to what they ask you based on that declaration.

[MicCanberra]

A couple of people have questioned why people wouldn't get the Yellow Fever shot. I will ask a couple of questions.

 

Would you have the Yellow Fever shot if you were staying at home? Would you have the shot if you were travelling only in Australia? I think I can assume the answer to these questions is "no". Then I ask, would you have the shot if you were travelling to areas where Yellow Fever is NOT a risk? My answer again is "no". That is why we didn't have one on our three visits to South America. One was a land tour (not including the Amazon) and the other two were cruises.

 

On returning to Australia after these three trips we were not even asked about YF injection.

 

Of course we would have the shot if we were travelling in an area where YF is a risk, but if we aren't, then I don't think it makes sense to take the risk of having the shot with the possibility (however small) of complications. Some people have complications even after having a flu jab (which we have every year), but the chance of complications after the YF shot is much much more.

 

Everyone has to make their own decision.

 

I recall a time years ago when we were cruising to Asia with a couple of ports China, but not staying on land. A travel doctor insisted we have a whole series of shots including Cholera and typhoid. It was reasonable that he recommended polio, tetanus and flu immunisations, but the cholera and typhoid were totally unnecessary because were not staying ashore and not eating ashore. Afterwards when I was feeling rather "seedy" as a reaction to the injections, I wondered if the travel doctor was wanting to sell extra services. :) He probably wasn't, but maybe being overly cautious.

I agree with what you have said, if you do not need it then why have it.

However, the OP posted that the doctor said they should have it, why question the doctor's advice, that is why they went there in the first place, to get the necessary shots. If people do not want to listen to the doctor, then why bother going.:D

[Kiwi Kruzer]

While we are on South America and the YF topic....just an aside for the information of anyone thinking of a Round the Horn cruise..

Holland America and Princess both do that itinerary.

HAL usually does Rio to Valparaiso(Santiago) , whereas Princess used to start at Rio but changed to Buenos Aries as their changeover port as people were not booking as they did not want to have to get the YF for Brazil.

 

 

 

[MicCanberra]

While Brazil remains on the list I will continue to maintain my up to date vaccinations. My preference is to not contract the disease.

 

http://www.health.gov.au/yellowfever

http://www.yellowfever.com.au/news.html

 

As for being asked upon arrival - you sign a declaration re the 6 day period. Its then up to the arrivals staff as to what they ask you based on that declaration.

 

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/

Smart Traveller is another good site with lots of information.:D

[The_Big_M]

If people do not want to listen to the doctor, then why bother going.:D

 

Hoping for positive affirmation. :D

 

Seriously, sounds like looking for a second opinion. Which is accepted as fair reason by genuine doctors, and reasonably done if grounds exist.

Edited January 31, 2015 by The_Big_M