Do I need a yellow fever jab certificate to enter Tanzania from the UK?

Question

I'm going to Zanzibar for January and I've been given mixed advice on whether I need my yellow fever jab certificate to get into the country.... anyone know for certain?

Answer 1

Bring your WHO (World Health Organization) card if you have one, which lists your immunizations. Going into the country they usually don't check your immunizations, but you'd hate to be stuck at the airport going home because you didn't have the vaccination prior to departure. Yellow fever is a must, and many doctors will recommend Hepatitis A & B vaccinations. The US information is on the nhs website or the National Department of Health website. I would look at the UK entrance needs as far as immunizations are concerned to determine which ones you might need before you leave.

Also, I agree that you should take the Malaria prophylaxis. East African mosquitos feed at night, so using a mosquito net might be enough, but malaria is a very tough disease, especially if you are misdiagnosed. I have a friend who spent 4 months in the hospital with malaria when she was diagnosed in the UK with the flu because no one thought to mention that she'd visited Africa.

Have a great trip. Zanzibar is beautiful & the snorkeling & sight-seeing can be great!

Answer 2

No you definatelty do not need a yellow fever jab certificate to get into Tanzania from the UK. You only need the certificate if you are coming from an infected country BUT if you ever want to leave Tanzania then you may very well need one especially if you're travelling to surrounding countries - so I'd definately reccomend getting the jab and the certificate - who knows may stop you from dying aswell - always a bonus..

Answer 3

I'm in the same situation going to Uganda [on the border of Tanzania].. on December 31st 2006, and essentially I got conflicting advice.. the situation is that you don't need it if you are coming from an area without yellow fever... BUT IT IS RECOMMENDED YOU GET IT AS THAT REGION AS A WHOLE HAS YELLOW FEVER... which is a pretty serious affair..

Get it.. it isn't worth getting ill.. it is going to cost me £42 at a local travel clinic... and lasts for 10 years!! I'm not coming from an infected area as I'm from the UK as well.. but I certainly don't want to Yellow Fever either!!

Check if you need Malaria tablets as well for Tanzania. I thought I could get mine at the local chemist until I was told that the Malaria which kills is in this region. I have to get a private presciption £12 and get the specialist malaria tablets this way..[they are not available on an NHS prescription]...

Answer 4

Legally probably not, but it's a good idea. There are lots of diseases in that part of the world (I lived and worked there for many years, but I'm not trying to scare you with dangerous stuff like AIDS, more yellow-fever, Cholera, things like that).

To innoculate against all of them takes time - some of the vaccines have to be administered in multiple doses over a period of time before you're "immune", but then you're "safe" for years, 10 or 20 depending on the particular disease - people who live locally have developed natural resistance to most of them, so you won't see thousands of people dying in the streets from them. You don't have time to get them all right now. Get whatever the embassy says is the most risky stuff you're likely to be exposed to.

To protect yourself, most of these things are water-borne - don't drink water that isn't bottled mineral water - don't even brush your teeth in tap-water. If you buy a drink, don't ask for ice in it unless you're in one of the up-market (expensive) hotels or bars.
Don't eat any Raw vegetables, especially Salads - these things are sometimes washed in contaminated water - rather than take the chance, avoid those foods. And it gives you the perfect excuse to drink more beer than water - it's cheaper.

With a little care - the worst you'll get is Sunburn - remember you're a lot closer to the equator down there. SPF 5000000, if such a thing exists. You can still burn even if your racial heritage is darker skinned rather then lighter skinned becuase you're not accustomed to it.

Enjoy it, It's a very beautiful part of the world - All of Africa is.
I'm jealous - do you need someone to carry your luggage for you?

I got bored (okay, scared of the pain, I'm a coward) with all the pin-pricks in the arm and other places, so eventually gave up the course, but I'm still here.

Answer 5

I lived in TZ for many years, both as a child and a second time as an adult, over all those years it is the one thing that they will ask you for at the airports most of the time. And although in theory you don't need one if you come from a "cleared" country, I would recommend you have it done. It will save you a lot of hassle should they decide to ask you for it. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk/ is an NHS site that gives simple, reliable advice on vaccinations but does not go into detail.
http://www.masta.org/ gives the similar info but goes into far more detail to the point they discuss the different regions in the destination country.

Answer 7

I had to get it for Kenya so I would imagine you need it for Tanzania as it is just next door to kenya. Have a good time.

Answer 8

Check with both embassies;Tanzania and UK,

Answer 9

hi i went 5 years ago and definately had to have yellow fever along withs lots of other innocs and maleria tabs.

Answer 10

if your uncertain, i'd get it anyway just to be on the safe side. i went on a school trip to australia and we had to get Hep B shots before we could go, although it wasn't required in order to get into the country.