Yellow fever in Tanzania Mainland
If you are planning to travel to Tanzania, please consider reading the below article on yellow fever in Tanzania.
Yellow fever is a serious disease that is monitored internationally and therefore classified by the International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005 as a Public Health Emergence of International Concern (PHEIC). All PHEIC require specific monitoring procedures and measures that commensurate with and restricted to public health measures to meet the IHR, 2005 purpose.
The World Health Organization maps Tanzania as a low risk country because no Yellow fever virus has been isolated in the country. However, the abundance of Yellow fever vector and other favorable ecological conditions pose potential risk for Yellow fever if the virus is new into the country. Furthermore, being bordered with Yellow fever endemic countries has also increased the vulnerability of Tanzania being infected with the virus.
In order to conform to IHR, 2005 requirements and safeguard public health security in Tanzania, Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory to travelers arriving from Yellow fever endemic countries. This condition also applies to travelers subjected to long flight connection (transit) in Yellow fever endemic country for twelve hours (12hrs) or more.
Vaccination
Yellow fever vaccination which is given as a single dose should be administered ten (10) days before entering the country. A single dose is capable of providing a life protection against the virus. Exempted people due to medical reasons and age (above 60 and below 1 year) should seek medical attention in case of fever, headache, muscle and joint aches. Failure to produce a valid certificate of vaccination against Yellow fever to those eligible may lead to refusal of entry or vaccinated upon arrival and kept under close public health observation for not more than 10 days.
Cost of yellow fever
The cost of yellow fever vaccination is 50 USD for foreigners and 30,000 Tsh for residents and East Africa Community members. A government receipt shall be issued for any vaccination charges paid.
The following are endemic countries for which a valid certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is a requirement for entry into Tanzania:
| Countries from Africa | Countries from South America |
| Angola Benin Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Central Africa Republic Chad Congo Cote d’Ivore Democratic Republic of Congo Equatorial Guinea Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea Bissau Kenya Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Rwanda Senegal Sierra Leone South Sudan Sudan Togo Uganda | Argentina Plurinational state of Bolivia Brazil Colombia Ecuador French Guiana Guyana Panama Paraguay Peru Suriname Trinidad and Tobago |
Note:
- Travelers arriving from countries NOT ON THE LIST ABOVE will not be subjected to yellow fever screening and vaccination at the port of entry.
- Travelers from Yellow Fever-endemic countries who do not show proof of Yellow Fever vaccination may be denied entry or vaccinated and kept under close public health observation for no more than 10 days.
- For Tanzanians traveling to Yellow Fever-endemic countries (see list above), it is recommended that they be vaccinated 10 days before travel.
- For Tanzanians coming from Yellow Fever-endemic countries who will not produce a valid certificate of vaccination against Yellow Fever, they will be vaccinated upon arrival and kept under close public health observation for not more than 10 days.
