India Barres Ugandan Travelers without Yellow Fever Vaccination

The Ugandan government, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, embarked on a national program to safeguard its at-risk population against the devastating impact of yellow fever through a comprehensive vaccination campaign with the aim of eliminating yellow fever epidemics by 2026. 

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Yellow Fever vaccination card
A sample of the Yellow Fever vaccination card received after vaccination from a legalized medical facility. Courtesy photo

The Republic of India has introduced stringent yellow fever vaccination requirements for travelers from Uganda and other 41 countries, stating that no traveler above the age of eight months will be allowed to enter India without a valid vaccination certificate.

According to vaccination requirements issued by India, travelers must be vaccinated at least 10 days before departure to the country, as a certificate becomes valid only 10 days after vaccination. Failure to provide a valid certificate will result in a six-day quarantine at designated facilities in India.

Following India’s strict requirements, Simon Peter Mundeyi, the Ministry of Internal Affairs Spokesperson, while speaking to the press on October 7, 2024, advised that travelers above eight months who are intending to go to India must obtain a yellow fever vaccination certificate from authorized centers.

Mundeyi advised Ugandan travelers to strictly adhere to these measures to avoid inconvenience and ensure a smooth journey to India.

“It is important to note that the yellow fever vaccination certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination, and therefore, travelers must be vaccinated at least 10 days before their departure to India to avoid the inconvenience of quarantine,” Mundeyi said.

Read Also: Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements for Foreigners coming to Uganda

Other countries barred from entering India without the Yellow fever vaccination include, Togo, South Sudan, Niger, Ghana, Gabon, Cameroon, Angola, and Burkina Faso, among others.

This year, the Ugandan government, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, embarked on a national program to safeguard its at-risk population against the devastating impact of yellow fever through a comprehensive vaccination campaign with the aim of eliminating yellow fever epidemics by 2026.

This campaign represents a significant milestone in the country’s effort towards this goal. Yellow fever is a viral infection spread by a particular species of mosquito. Initial symptoms can include fever, chills, severe headache, back pain, general body aches, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and weakness. Severe symptoms include high fever, yellow skin or eyes (jaundice), bleeding, shock, and organ failure.