1

No problem..they won't ask to see that.

Only really applies if you are coming in from a YF area like some parts of Africa,Colombia etc.

2

You can check th official requirements of various countries here/ "Officially required" may or may not be the same as "we always ask to see it."

The US has no immunization requirements for visitors, so you will not be asked on return.

3

Here is where I have found it is needed. Taca/Avianca/Copa and all others always ask for it (WHO yellow fever immunization card) at check in when I return to Costa Rica (where I live) from South America. There is a cut off age when it is required, maybe 60 or 65 and then it is not needed. I am not sure why. Perhaps nutrax could enlighten and elaborate.

4

Usually, the age cutoff is 1 year, that is, the shot should not be given to infants. I have not seen an official higher age limit.

People over age 60 who have never before been immunized against YF run a higher risk of a serious adverse reaction to the vaccine. The risk is not huge; about 5 in every 100,000 people vaccinated have these problems. For people over 60, it's 8 in every 100,000. Risk goes up as yo get older than that. The CDC says "If travel is unavoidable, the decision to vaccinate travelers aged ≥60 years needs to weigh the risks and benefits of the vaccination in the context of their destination-specific risk for exposure to YFV."

That basically means " if it's only for legal reasons and the person is very unlikely to run into the virus, an exemption letter might be the safer alternative." However, if the person has been vaccinated before & is just getting a new shot for the certificate, the risk is lower, so maybe they might as well get the shot.

5

Hi all,

Thanks for the reponses so far.

Does the defintion of South America include Panama? I flew here from the USA and want to travel to Costa Rica next, then Nic and so on until Mexico. Will I be asked for it when crossing boarders?

Thanks!

G.C.

6

No

7

Not needed. Read Costa Rica requirements in Nutrax's link.