yellow fever vaccination Kenya

JanineCaldwellJanineCaldwell
in Africa

I am debating getting yellow fever vaccination and would like feedback from others.
Did you get vaccinated or not. Side effects?
Thanks,
J

Comments

  • MikeHendersonMikeHenderson

    If you're fairly young, go ahead and get the vaccine. If you're older, there's some indication that you might not want to get the shot. We're fairly old and got waiver documents. Didn't have any problems in any of the African countries we went it.

    But if you have the vaccine record, you're guaranteed not to have any problems.

  • BritishBritish

    Mike, with all your traveling why didn’t you get the shots when you were younger? There are quite a few countries that require it. With climate change we might start getting yellow fever here in the US

  • Kazootripper1Kazootripper1

    I was 68, my wife 69. We both got the YF vaccine last year, along with other recommended shots. No side effects at all. Hurt less than COVID shots. We had no ill effects from those either. I rather risk a few side effects than actually catching the disease.

  • MikeHendersonMikeHenderson
    edited June 11

    Mike, with all your traveling why didn’t you get the shots when you were younger? There are quite a few countries that require it. With climate change we might start getting yellow fever here in the US.

    Couple of reasons:
    1. I was in the military and served in Vietnam (1970-71). I received the yellow fever vaccine before deploying. But I no longer have my medical records from that time so I can't prove it.
    2. Most of my travel while I was working was to first world countries, since I was working in a hi-tech area. Didn't need yellow fever vaccine where I went.

    Once I retired and we started traveling for pleasure, we went to places that require yellow fever vaccine. I re-married about 15 years ago (my first wife passed away) and wife #2 had not traveled to any places that required the vaccine earlier in her life. Now, we're older so we got the waiver. Our days of travel are probably numbered. Eventually, one of us will have some health issue which will limit our travel.

    [I would have gotten the vaccine but my wife was concerned about it. Didn't make sense for one of us to have the vaccine, especially me, since I had it before and it's good for life, so we both got waivers. That way, if we get rejected, it's both of us.]

  • BritishBritish

    Ah, I understand. Keep traveling!

  • JanineCaldwellJanineCaldwell

    I appreciate all your comments. I hope I receive a few more comments as I am over 60 and have an immune disorder but don’t want yellow fever either. I will consult my doctor and trying to collect as much info as I can before deciding .

  • OurTravels34OurTravels34

    I had the yellow fever vaccine last August (age 72) with no issues whatsoever. Yes, I get more of a reaction from the flu shots as I did with the Covid vaccines.

  • BritishBritish

    Ah. If I recall correctly, being immunocompromised is a contra indication so you really must discuss with your doctor instead of relying on strangers.

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