Finally it's coming again - Yellow Fever Vaccine has landed

The Indian government has urgently procured yellow fever vaccine from multinational companies after a severe shortage resulting in people being unable to travel to African and some South American countries.

Visas to Africa and tropical and sub-tropical South American countries can be obtained only after the applicant submits a certificate given by one of the country's 15 authorised vaccination centres.

"There was a shortage, but the government has imported the vaccine from multinational companies like Sanofi Pasteur and the stock has arrived on July 11," Director General of Health Services Jagdish Prasad admitted to IANS.

Earlier, the vaccine was manufactured at the Central Research Institute, Kasauli. But this stopped after the two machines it used for the purpose broke down.

The total requirement for the vaccine is around 10.5 million vials. While CRI, Kasauli used to manufacture around 4 million vials, the balance was met through imports, a senior health ministry official said, adding the institute was never prepared to handle the huge demand.

Utpal Kumar Chattopadhyay, a senior official at the Institute of Health and Public Hygiene Kolkata, one of the centres where the vaccine is administered, told IANS that the last shot was given on June 21.

Neelam Gupta of the Travel Safe Clinic, which is another such centre in Noida, near the capital said: "There has been a shortage for nearly one month now."

She said a shot of the vaccine at her clinic cost Rs 2,800 (against Rs.400 at a government-run facility). "But we will also administer the shot if somebody procures the vaccine from outside."

Yashpal Jain, a businessman who is scheduled to travel to Zambia and has been running from pillar to post to get the vaccine said: "There are four centres in Delhi and all of them have run out of the vaccine. I will wait for another 10 days and then try again."

Another group of people who have been hit are vacationers. Lalit Sharma, who had planned a summer holiday in South America, said: "There has been a severe shortage across the country. I have not been able to get the vaccine shot and hence have postponed the trip."

Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. It is transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti female mosquito and is found in tropical and subtropical areas in South America and in all of Africa, but not in Asia.

Apart from being important for personal protection, yellow fever vaccination and its proof is a condition of entry in many countries, especially for travellers who have recently arrived from a country in a yellow fever zone.

Failure to take the vaccination may get one past immigration, but would certainly mean quarantine for 10 days on return in a government hospital, experts said.

JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS - SOUTH KOREA: (BUSAN) ALERT

ProMED-mail: Published Date: 2013-07-08

 

Over half, or 64 per cent, of the mosquitoes recently tested in the southern port city of Busan (Pusan) were found to be carrying the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), prompting the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) to issue a nationwide alert late last week (week of 1 Jul 2013).

Officials say climate change is helping the virus-infected mosquitoes breed (probably referring to increased temperatures speeding larval development)

 

Symptoms of the disease include headaches, fever, and convulsions, and in extreme cases, coma (and death). Children are at higher risk, so officials advise parents to make sure young kids are vaccinated.

As the mosquitoes are most active until the end of October, the KCDC advises people to use mosquito nets indoors and limit the amount of time they spend outside.

 

When outdoors, the use of long-sleeved clothing and mosquito repellent is recommended.

Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts

Source: http://www.promedmail.org/ 

PAHO & WHO : International travelers: risk of measles and rubella infection

Pan American Health Organization: July 1, 2013

 

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) urges all Member States to strengthen their international travel advisories so that they are protected against measles and rubella prior to departure. This recommendation applies to both incoming travelers and for those traveling outbound of this Region.

 

Due to upcoming cultural and sporting events that will be hosted by countries in the Americas, PAHO/WHO encourages Member States in the Region to recommend vaccination against measles and rubella for all travelers to and from the countries of the Americas, in order to reduce the risk of reintroducing these diseases that have already been eliminated in the Americas.

 

Travelers who are not vaccinated against measles and rubella are at risk of getting these diseases when visiting countries where these viruses are circulating. Member States should seek to ensure vaccination, with particular attention to women of childbearing age to prevent any infection caused by the rubella virus during pregnancy.

 

Evidence of immunity to measles and rubella for travelers includes:

 

1. Written documentation of having received the measles and rubella vaccines;
2. Laboratory confirmation of rubella and measles immunity (a positive serologic test for the measles and rubella-specific IgG antibodies).

Travelers over 6 months old who are unable to present the documents indicated should be advised by Member States to obtain vaccination for measles and rubella or preferably the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Ideally, the vaccine should be administered at least two weeks before departure.

Travelers with medical contraindications against undergoing vaccination for measles and rubella are the exception to the above instructions. In addition, infants under 6 months old should not be vaccinated. Infants that receive the MMR vaccine before their first birthday must be revaccinated according to the vaccination schedule in their country.

For the duration of the trip and upon returning to their point of origin, travelers should take notice of the following symptoms:

1. Fever
2. Rash
3. Cough, coryza (runny nose), or conjunctivitis (red eyes) 

If the traveler believes that they have measles or rubella, they should: 

1. Remain in the place where they are lodging (hotel or home, etc.) except to go to a doctor. They should not travel nor go to any public places; 
2. Avoid close contact with other people for seven days following onset of rash

Source: PAHO/ Internationl travelers: risk of measles and rubella infection

The reality of Yellow Fever Vaccination at Mumbai Airport Government Center

This is a comment (unedited) from a visitor to our blog
" YFV_Aspirant has left a new comment on your post "Yellow Fever Vaccination Centers in India": 

I recently visited Airpot Health Organization at Mumbai to get vaccinated for Yellow Fever. Would like to share my experience with those who wish to visit that location.
I showed up early in the morning (~6am) and got my name and passport# written on a sheet being maintained by one of the YFV aspirant. My number was in 90s. Aparently, the list was sharted by someone previous day at 5pm, and 70th name was placed on the sheet at approx.3am.

Although only 70 vaccines are adminstred everyday and chance of me getting vaccinated that day were remote, I still hung around to see what happens. 

At approx. 8am, people started forming queue in the order their names were written on the sheet. and they were let in after checking their passport and ticket. There were a few rejects because they were not carrying proper ticket, but not enough in number for me to get within the first 70.

Anyway, for those beyond 70, a separate queue was formed. at approx, 10:30am, One of the employees at Airport Health Organization (his name is Shivaji) then declared to those waiting that they can get vaccinated for Rs. 2,000 and said that no receipt would be issued for that amount. Most of the aspirants were already restless and most agreed to pay Rs. 2,000 and they were let in.

Since I could not pay any money without getting a receipt, I wanted to talk to APHO. There are noticed in the building that if any one demands more that Rs. 300 for the vannine, a complaint must be registed with APHO. Although there are couple of phone numbers as well, but no one picked the call on those numbers.

Finally, I got to talk to APHO. He himself told me that beyond the quote of 70, the hospital has procured vaccines from the open market and therefore it costs more and therefore they charge Rs. 2,000 for it. Since it is bought in bulk, an individual receipt is not issued. He also offered an alternative to it - procure the vaccine on your own and he will adminster it and issue a certificate.

Anyway, I noticed that there are many people walking in after 12pm, paying Rs. 2000 and getting vaccinated. I reckon more than 100 people would have got themselves vaccinated by payinbg this exorbitant amount. Besides, if you are paying Rs. 2,000 the documetation required is also relaxed. I noticed that the clerk wasn't checking tickets. In one case, one person was only carrying passport photocopy and she too was administred vaccination.

In short, cash is king. Just walk in anytime after 12pm (by then most of the crowd has left), pay full amount and walk out in no time. It is open for business till 5pm. "