Travellers planning trips to countries where an International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever is required are being urged to allow extra time to arrange their jabs. A national shortage of vaccine has resulted in waiting lists of up to two weeks at some clinics while others have run out of the vaccine altogether.
'It is a serious problem and the current shortage will continue well into the new year,' said Dr Richard Dawood, director of the Fleet Street Travel Clinic. 'I would almost guarantee there's not a GP in the country that has the yellow fever vaccine and many other clinics have run out.'
Dr Ron Behrens at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases Travel Clinic in London estimated that only 5 to 10 per cent of registered yellow fever clinics in the country were still administering jabs. 'We've had people travelling from as far away as the Midlands because they can't get the vaccine locally,' he said.
The disease, which is transmitted by mosquito bites and can be fatal, has only affected a handful of tourists but a certificate of vaccination is required for entry to some countries in South America, Africa and Asia. Travellers arriving without a certificate risk being turned back.
Production of the vaccine in the UK was halted in the spring because of a contamination problem at the processing plant. Most travel clinics have run out of single-dose vials and have had to import multi-dose batches from France. As the vaccine only has a short life-span once opened, only the larger London travel clinics have sufficient demand to justify using the multi-dose vials.
The number of reported cases of yellow fever has increased sharply in the past 20 years as mosquito populations have increased. It mainly affects remote, tropical areas of Africa and the Americas, but is starting to appear in urban centres - three cases were reported in Rio earlier this year.
Dr Paul Clarke, medical director of travel health advisory service Masta and British Airways Travel Clinics, urged travellers to telephone their healthline (0906 822 4100) to see if vaccination is required for their destination. The vaccination costs between £30 and £35 for a single injection, which is effective for 10 years.
BA Travel Clinics' location line (01276 685040) will give information on the nearest BA clinic with the vaccine. In London, Trailfinders and the London Hospital for Tropical Diseases have supplies. The Fleet Street Travel Clinic is offering a walk-in vaccination service for urgent cases.
