By Vishani Ragobeer

GUYANA is currently working towards being certifiably free of yellow fever but is currently a “high risk” zone for the virus due to relatively recent cases of this disease in the neighbouring countries of Brazil and Suriname. These vaccines, however, are mandatory only for travellers and for children under one year of age, but the entire public is advised to be immunized, Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud said.
Dr Persaud and Dr Omeka Scott from the Maternal and Child Health Department of the Ministry of Public Health at a press briefing on Thursday addressed a number of issues regarding the recent mandate for citizens to be immunized against yellow fever.
The yellow fever vaccination, once given to a person, is valid for life, according to the World Health Organization, so once you have been vaccinated, you are immunized for life.
Currently in Guyana, according to Dr Scott, these vaccines are offered at all health centres and once you have been vaccinated, you will receive a “blue card” which does not authenticate you for travel, but validates that you have indeed been vaccinated.
However, a “yellow card” can be uplifted from the Public Health Office at the Ministry of Public Health, the Public Hospitals at Suddie, New Amsterdam and Lethem, as well as St Joseph Mercy Hospital, which is the only private hospital integrated in this campaign.
The yellow card is a certificate of validation that you are immunized and allows you to travel into countries that impose yellow fever regulations.
Dr. Scott noted that this vaccination cannot be administered at the airport before travel and citizens should not make such a demand, as reported recently.
Meanwhile, Dr Persaud explained that the vaccine is to be administered 10 days prior to travel, so as to stimulate the anti-bodies in your body to fight off any contact with the pathogens.
And if the cards are misplaced, persons can go to the centre where they received the vaccine in order to uplift replacement cards, as long as the centre has records of the persons being immunized. The vaccines are free of cost, but a fee of $1,000 is required to obtain the certificate.
The shortage of these vaccines is not due to the lack of funds, but is a result of the global demand for these vaccines. All vaccines, Dr Persaud added, are procured by the government.
The recent requirement for travellers to be immunized before entry into some countries has come as a result of the outbreak of yellow fever in Angola, Africa. Guyanese citizens are required to be immunized 10 days prior to travel into certain countries such as Suriname and Brazil. However, this vaccine is not required for travel into the U.S., Europe and most Caribbean countries.
Guyana is internationally recognised for its highly impeccable immunization coverage for the yellow fever virus and other such viruses, Dr Scott added.