yellow fever

I guess it's better for your own security, since you're visiting some part of the Amazon (although only some parts of the Amazon are yellow fever zones) to get a proper safe travel.

I do not know where you heard that information about CDC, but it is totally inaccurate. Their website is updated daily. As far as the yellow fever shot goes, I do not know the situation in the U.S., but if you are flying from Canada you cannot enter Peru without having the yellow fever shot. The international certificate of yellow fever vaccination has to be shown upon entry. If not, then there is the option of having the shot right at the Lima airport.

According to this site here coming from Canada you do not need the shot if going only to Lima, Cuzco and Machu Picchu. This is where I am going. Does anyone else from Canada have any experience with this?

My understanding is that this regulation comes from the Peruvian government, not the Canadian. I was told this at the travel clinic I went for the vaccinations. I guess I will find out when I get there the 23rd of June and will update accordingly.

my 2005 LP Peru guide says the yellow fever vaccination is NOT required if you come from a country where YF is not a threat, i.e., the US or Canada. but i'm not clear if i'll need proof of YF vaccination when i return to the US.

also, as this is my most exotic trip to date and i'll only be spending 3 days in the rainforest, i'm not sure if i should trouble with getting malaria and YF vaccinations. a few people who've been to the rainforest in peru have said insect repellent is more than enough precaution. i know anything can happen and it's my responsibility, but what do those of you who've been think?

christabelle: the shots and malaria tabs are only recommended for jungle/rainforest travel below 2300 feet. lima, cuzco and machu picchu don't fall under that. in other words, you do not need the vaccines.

It is my understanding that proof of the shots is required (by Peru) upon leaving the jungle/rainforest areas of Peru, just to go elsewhere in Peru. This agrees with #4. And, you had to get the shots at least 10 days before going to the jungle area. Yellow fever shots and malaria protection are "recommended" by the CDC for US tourists going to the jungle areas. Personally, I would do both in addition to using good insect repellent, if heading for the jungle/rainforest areas. (Shots & malaria protection not needed for Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Puno.)

You do not need this injection to return to the US. You should not need this shot to enter Peru either. Whether you need this in country(Peru) after visiting an endemic area I don't know. I've seen lots of posts on YF and none have ever said this is required within the country. The main concern is if your visiting or live in an endemic area and carrying the disease elsewhere, however I believe the new direction also needs to be an area of concern therefore places like the US don't consider this a threat. Usually the biggest problem with this is land crossing from an endemic area from border countries with Brazil and trying to enter Brazil also an endemic area. They are just trying to stop the spread. Agian not sure about in country Peru. Brazil does at times stop persons traveling within the country as I've seen posts saying this at times and make them show proof, but I've never heard or seen posts of this in Peru. That doesn't mean it 's not possible as this past rainy season was very bad and these diseases are more prevalent this year. As above you can get this shot even at the airport there in Lima though as stated 10 days is needed for complete protection. Take some good DEET from home whatever you do as many times the DEET ingredient of products in SA isn't a very high %. You don't want to take many chances with the mossies there especially this year, Dengue is also a problem in many areas this year.

Well, there is no vaccine currently available for malaria, just medication for prevention. As you said, it is of course your personal choice whether or not to take the vaccine and/or the malaria tablets. Personally, I would do both. In fact, I had the yellow fever shot 2 months ago, with no side effects and I also decided to go for the tablets. I would rather do that, than have either of these diseases for life.

ok this is my story. I did get a yellow fever vaccine in the states before I left for Peru. I was in Peru for 2 weeks I hiked Machu Picchua and went out into the junlge for a week. I never had to show my yellow card to get back into the states. So I am going to have to NO to your questions. I was there 4 years ago, you knows maybe it has changed since then.