Jamaican travellers reminded to get Yellow Fever vaccine

The Ministry of Health & Wellness is reminding Jamaicans of the importance of getting vaccinated and showing proof of Yellow Fever vaccination when travelling to and from affected countries.

All persons older than one year, who are travelling from a country where there is a risk of Yellow Fever transmission, and persons who are transiting through a country with risk of Yellow Fever transmission for more than 12 hours, are required to show proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever before entering Jamaica.

In its latest epidemiological alert, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) noted that in 2025 and as of May 25, 235 confirmed human cases of yellow fever have been reported in five countries in the Americas Region, including 96 deaths (case fatality rate (CFR) 41%).

These yellow fever cases have been reported in the Plurinational State of Bolivia, with four cases, including two deaths; Brazil with 111 cases, including 44 deaths; Colombia with 74 cases, including 31 deaths; Ecuador with eight cases, including six deaths; and Peru with 38 cases, including 13 deaths.

According to Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie, CD, “while most people develop mild or no symptoms, a small number of persons can develop severe disease.

Severe illness has a high mortality rate ranging from 20-60%.

It is therefore critical that persons who are travelling to endemic countries protect themselves by getting the vaccine.

They will also protect the population by preventing any cases from coming into country.”

Yellow Fever vaccinations are administered at the Slipe Pen Road Comprehensive Health Centre in Kingston on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and the Montego Bay Type 5 Health Centre in St James on last Thursdays from 10:00 am. – 2:00 p.m. at a cost of J$1,500.

Jamaica is Yellow-Fever-free and has a travel requirement in place for travellers from the following countries, who need to show proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever:

Angola, Argentina, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Cote d’Ivorie, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Suriname, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda and Venezuela.

“As a Class 1 notifiable disease, suspected Yellow Fever cases are to be reported to the Ministry of Health & Wellness within 24 hours on suspicion by a healthcare professional”, added the CMO.

At the same time, the Ministry of Health & Wellness continues to undertake surveillance at the ports of entry for persons arriving from these destinations.