south american vaccinations

Yellow Fever is mandatory, you will have to prove that you've got this one...

Yellow fever isn't mandatory. You have to show proof only if coming from a yellow fever area. Are you planning to enter the jungle and then cross borders in the jungle? If not..then don't worry. Hep A is a must... should have that at home... same goes for typhoid. Tetanus...always up to date..it knows no borders. Hep B is endemic in the highlands of Bolivia. Your profile says TTWorld. You haven't had the Hep B shots? Given the high rate of IV drug use I'm surprised. Get it anyway. While you may plan to lay off the needles for a bit... and even a TTWer would have to be desperate for a Bolivian Indian there is always the chance you will get in an accident and end up in a grotty clinic. BTW... yeh.. Hep B is 3 shots. You don't have time for all. But the first two are a month apart and give some protection to all and full protection to some. Skip rabies unless going way out in the boonies.

Where I live you simply can get advice at the Health Office or family doctor or the pharmacy, is it not the same where you live ? Because they can tell you and show you nice maps of all the area's in the whole wide world where all the endemic diseases exist and therefore whether you need vaccinations or not. For example, there is a risk of getting Hep A in a lot of countries even in the Western world, so definitely in Peru!!!!!! And typhoid is advised, but if you really watch what your eating and drinking (clean your hands etc.) then it doesn't have to be a problem, I didn't take one. Yellow fever is present in only tropical SA and tropical Africa, so if you go there have a vaccination. You only have to show your stamp when you are coming from a yellow fever area (but I always have a copy with me). Hep B is only when you are a long period of time in SA and are likely to be in direct contact with people (like working or something) and yes if you plan to have sex, just take precautions. Same like TBC, if you are going to work there in none hygenic environments, take a Mantoux test. So, I don't know where you're living or where you are at the moment but get some advise from a medical authority in your country. Reading all these posts about vaccinations etc. doesn't anybody who travels should know this already ????? And for new travelers, go see some medical authorities !!!!

Just to clarify a point made above about taking a Mantoux test. It doesn't provide protection against tuberculosis, just indicates whether you've been exposed. The best time to take it would be about 6 months AFTER you return from your trip.

As Bob said, you don´t need any yellow fever except for sume jungle areas (not all) of Bolivia or Peru. For the others it depends on you. I travelled without them. Argentina and Chile are pretty developed and vaccines are really not necesary. For Peru and Bolivia it depends on your fears and the cautions you take with the food and water.

Hep A should be mandatory anywhere. Back in the '70s there were numerous outbreaks in the US. #1 cause... the upsurge in popularity of salad bars in restaurants.

thanks for the advice

When I applied for my work visa in Chile I was told to bring a copy of my vaccinations and copy of a recent STD/AIDS test. I've never been vaccinated for yellow fever, Hep A, or typhoid fever, and of course the lady didn't even so much as glance at my health or criminal history records when I brought them all in and I still got my visa. It was never any problem at all in any country- I went to Chile, Peru, and Argentina. I'm home again and all my body parts are still functioning properly. And Goodtime Bob is right on the yellow fever; it really isn't necessary unless you're coming from Africa, the jungle, or other high-risk area.

I'd say just make sure you are up to date on all your vaccinations that you'd get even if you were staying in the States, plus a good dose of Hep A shot (booster now, and a follow-up in six months when you come back that will protect you for life) will be all you really need.