We are NOT authorized by Govt of India for Yellow Fever Vaccination

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Yellow fever vaccine out of stock, travellers to Africa in a soup

SURAT: Swamini Bagul has completed the procedure for her immigrant visa to Nigeria where her husband lives. But her plans to meet him in Nigeria soon could go awry because ofyellow fever vaccination certification. 

Swamini and her father Sanjay Bagul, who is employed in Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), have been searching for the yellow fever vaccine for the past fortnight. Be it the New Civil Hospital (NCH), SMC-run SMIMER Hospital, private hospitals and pharmacists in the city and other cities across the state, they had returned empty handed. 

Many international travellers to African countries, especially tourists and diamantaires from the city, are facing problems because of non-availability of yellow fever vaccination in the diamond city for the past four months. The New Civil Hospital (NCH) authorities said the stock of yellow fever vaccination is not available in the market. 

Indian travellers to the designated countries in Africa and South America are required to have yellow fever vaccination done ten days before they travel. Immigration officers at the Indian and international airports demand a certificate showing one is vaccinated against yellow fever. The vaccination is valid for ten years, but lack of vaccine certification means that the travellers are required to spend seven days at the quarantine centre. 

Commissioner health, medical services and medical education, P K Taneja told TOI, "There is a severe shortage of yellow fever vaccine as the stock is not coming from the Central government. This is the situation for the past four months. We have asked the hospital authorities across the state to procure it locally and make them available to the passengers travelling to the designated African countries." 

Official sources said central government has not supplied the yellow fever vaccine stock to the states as the Himachal Pradesh-based pharmaceutical company manufacturing the vaccine has stopped its production. 

A diamond trader Chandrakant Savalia, who wants to travel to Tanzania for purchasing rough diamonds, said, "The yellow fever vaccine is a prerequisite when you travel to Africa and other designated countries. I am searching for the vaccine for the past 20 days, but in vain. Even the pharmacists and drug dealers in Mumbai and Gujarat do not have the vaccine. I do not want to spend seven days in quarantine centre there. However, I will have to re-schedule my visit." 

President, Surat Diamond Association (SDA), Dinesh Navadia, said, "On an average more than 300 traders and manufacturers from the city visit different African countries for procuring rough diamonds. Those who are regular are not facing any problems as the vaccine lasts for 10 years, but the first-timers are facing a lot of difficulties."

Source
Comments: As per the last communication with vaccine manufacturer, the vaccine is likely to become available by 20th to 30th May, 2013

1 comment:

  1. Dear Doc,

    I need to take YF vaccine, is it available now?
    I am currently in Jamshedpur which will be my nearest location and what will be cost of vaccination for me?

    Thanks
    Anit Kumar Roy

    ReplyDelete