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FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION SHORTAGE 2008 17 December, 2007 Planning a trip to Africa or South America in the next few months? Last Summer’s passport delays are fading but now comes a new problem--finding that other frequent essential--a Yellow Fever vaccination. Traveling to many countries without your Yellow Fever vaccine and certificate can result in your being turned away or other unpleasant situations. A manufacturing problem with the sole maker of the vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur, now finds the entire U.S. without its usual supply of this essential vaccine, leaving doctors and travel medicine clinics scrambling for a solution. This problem may persist for several months. Yellow Fever vaccine is unique in being the only vaccine that is required by some countries. As you will see, It can be a political or medical necessity, must be administered at least 10 days before you travel and the shot must be no more than 10 years old. If you don’t have it, officials at your destination may not let you in or they may demand bribes. They may try to vaccinate you on the spot--potentially with unsterile supplies. In many areas of the world, although vaccination may not be required by law, it should still be obtained before travel to avoid death from this mosquito-borne disease for which there is no treatment. Get advice about the need from your travel medicine advisor. But finding the vaccine over the next few months could be a serious challenge for reasons I’ll outline below. So plan well ahead and be prepared to accept some inconvenience. The vaccine is supplied to your doctor in two parts--as a powder and a liquid which, when mixed, must be used within one hour. Anything left at that time must be thrown away. The usual one-dose vials made this pretty simple and efficient, allowing the clinic to mix only what was necessary. Those one-dose bottles are now rare to nonexistent but some clinics have acquired a reasonable supply of 5-dose bottles which are both a blessing and a curse. Now the only option is for a traveler to buy a large 5-dose vial (extremely expensive) or get a few friends or fellow travelers together to share one. Sometimes your doctor or clinic will be willing to try to assemble a group you can join. Sometimes inconvenient but when you must be vaccinated this can be a solution. Why has this problem occurred? Producing vaccine can be as risky and uncertain as growing wheat or potatoes--sometimes you get a good crop and sometimes a bad one. Vaccines are produced by carefully growing viruses or bacteria and are subject to some of the same vagaries of nature. The most recent Yellow Fever “harvest” has been a poor one resulting in the present shortage. The next “crop” should hopefully be ready by Spring. Travelers and those of us practicing travel medicine have our fingers crossed. The conclusion of all this? If your destination country, travel group or cruise line requires you have a Yellow Fever shot or if you are going to an area of risk in Africa or South America in the months ahead, contact your doctor or travel medicine clinic now. Don’t have an expensive trip ruined because you can’t find the need immunization in time. Brian G. Terry, M.D, Healthy Traveler® Clinic Pasadena, CA 91106 626-584-1200 www.healthytraveler.com
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