1.3 Million Ethiopians to Receive Yellow Fever Vaccination

The Ethiopian Ministry of Health started a 2nd vaccination campaign to protect high-risk populations against the yellow fever virus (YFV). 

This 7-day vaccination campaign will reach more than 1.3 million people above 9 months of age in high-risk areas of Offa and 8 surrounding woredas: Kindo Didaye, Kindo Koysga, Sodo Yuria, Sodo Town, Damot Sore, Humbo, Boreda, and Kucha. 

This area of Ethiopia is located on Africa’s east coast.   

A previous, smaller, YFV vaccination campaign reaching 32,000 people was completed during October 2018. 

As of November 5, 2018, the mosquito-borne yellow fever disease was reported to have killed 10 people in southwestern Ethiopia. 

Since the end of October 2018, no new cases have been reported in Ethiopia. 

The response to the outbreak in Ethiopia is part of a global Strategy to Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) by 2026.   

“This expanded vaccination campaign is focusing on people who are most at risk, to keep them safe from yellow fever and to prevent any further spread of the virus in Ethiopia,” said Dr. Paul Mainuka, the acting World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Ethiopia.   

In addition to helping coordinate the reactive vaccination campaign, WHO is contributing to the yellow fever response in Ethiopia through providing technical guidance on the disease and how to treat patients, controlling the mosquitoes that spread the disease, and working with communities to help them understand how to protect themselves. 

Yellow fever is a viral infection transmitted by infected mosquitos, which can be deadly but easily prevented by a safe and effective vaccine. 

The YF disease has re-emerged as a public health threat in many parts of Africa and South America, due to several factors including climate change, rapid urbanization, and increasing population movements. 

Ethiopia is a priority country for the EYE Strategy, which intends to protect more than 80 million people from yellow fever through nation-wide preventive mass vaccination campaigns over the next few years. 

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 15 percent of people who get yellow fever develop serious illness that can be fatal. 

As of October 30, 2018, the CDC had not issued a Travel Alert for Ethiopia.     

Additionally, on October 29, 2018, the US State Department issued a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, Travel Advisory for Ethiopia.

And, the State Department says visitors to Ethiopia should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Providers and patients can visit CDC Travel for information about which countries require yellow fever vaccination for entry and for which countries the CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination.

To prevent getting sick from yellow fever, use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and get vaccinated, says the CDC.

To schedule a travel vaccination appointment, please visit Vax-Before-Travel.

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides private sector vaccine prices for general information.

And, vaccine discounts can be found here.

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the FDA or CDC.