Following in the footsteps of Bolivia and Ecuador, Colombia’s Ministry of Health has published new travel restrictions as a preventative measure against the spread of yellow fever. All domestic and foreign travellers will be required to present proof of yellow fever vaccination to enter the following areas: Santa Marta (Tayrona Park and Palomino area), La Guajira area, Chocó (Pacific Coast), the Amazon region, Orinoco, Meta, Vichada, Guaviare, Inírida, Vaupés, Putumayo and Caquetá.
This measure began the 1st of April 2017. All airlines flying to these areas will be requiring vaccination cards from all passengers.
If you cannot have the vaccine due to medical reasons (infants less than one year of age; Pregn
ant women, people with severe allergy to egg proteins, people with severe immunodeficiency and those passengers over 60 years of age, etc.) they must have a medical certificate stating their exemption, as the airline will require it.
The measure addresses the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization’s alert for the outbreak of yellow fever reported in six countries, most severely in Brazil. No case of yellow fever has been confirmed in Colombia in 2017, and hopefully with this measure, no case will.
by Haley Zaremba | Colombia Requiring Yellow Fever Vaccine for Travellers on 'The Happy Nomad'