Yellow Fever

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Yellow Fever Vaccine Card for Bolivia

Yellow Fever vaccination is required for any person older than twelve (12) months traveling to Bolivia. The traveler entering Bolivia must have the International Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, which is basically a yellow card that shows proof of the yellow fever vaccination.

Doctors normally recommend getting the yellow fever shot 10-14 days prior to traveling. When you get this vaccine, your doctor must issue a certificate showing the date you got the shot, and you must carry it with you along with your passport when you travel to Bolivia.

If a pediatrician or primary physician decides that for health reasons a person cannot receive a Yellow Fever vaccine, they may issue corresponding certification. This certification must be translated into Spanish and the traveler must hold a copy of both Certificate and translation and is to be submitted before Bolivian Immigration Authorities.

Tourists who do not have a International Vaccination Certificate for yellow fever will still be allowed to enter Bolivia, but they have to pay a $100 fee upon entry.

Certain areas in Bolivia have a higher risk of yellow fever epidemics. Moslty, Bolivia's eastern lowlands and the northern tropical jungle regions are typically the high risk areas in Bolivia. The Andes region of Bolivia are low risk areas for yellow fever because of the cooler temperature, however, mosquitoes can exist anywhere temperatures are just warm enough and water exists; therefore transmission of the yellow fever virus can be possible in these areas as well.

What is Yellow Fever?

Yellow fever is a viral disease that is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Yellow fever is preventable by immunization and travelers visiting countries with high yellow fever risk should get the yellow fever vaccine.

It occurs predominately in the tropical regions of South America. The following South American countries are in the yellow fever-endemic zones: Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. See map below.

Yellow Fever Symptoms

The severe form of the disease starts with fever, chills, bleeding of the skin, rapid heartbeat, headache, and back pains. Also, nausea, vomiting, and constipation are common.

Yellowing of the skin (jaundice) usually appears on the second or third day. After the third day the symptoms recede, only to return with increased severity in the final stage, during which there is a marked tendency to hemorrhage internally. The patient then lapses into delirium and coma, often followed by death.

Yellow Fever Vaccine & Treatment

The yellow fever vaccine is a live attenuated (weakened) viral vaccine. Because it is a live vaccine, it should not be given to infants or people with immune-system impairment.

Reactions to yellow fever vaccine are generally mild. Some vaccine recipients have reported mild headaches, low-grade fevers, or other minor symptoms that may begin within days after vaccination and last 5-10 days. Some have reported no reactions.

Currently there is no immediate cure for yellow fever, therefore vaccination is important. Non-aspirin pain relievers, rest, and rehydration with fluids decrease discomfort. In non-severe cases the disease usually passes within a few weeks.

Further Resources

The current information about yellow fever is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). If you are planning international travel, you can learn about the risk of yellow fever in that geographic area by contacting:

The CDC at its toll-free phone number (1-877-394-8747) or Web site (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/YellowFever/index.html).

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Bolivia Health Main Page Altitude Sickness Malaria Dengue Fever Botfly