Vaccination (Silje)

When travelling between the countries of Kenya and Tanzania, it is necessary to provide the International Yellow Fever vaccination Certificate! So make sure you get this when you get your immunization, to avoid trouble on the border.

Dear co-hikers!!

I have looked at the recommendations according vaccination for travellers to Kenya / Tanzania. Donīt be scared and donīt let this put you off... You donīt have to read all this, you can simply go to your doctor and ask about the current recommendations. If you are interested, some information follows below. If you find this as interesting as I do, you might want to visit www.who.int

Being hikers, I assume we will be exposed to sub-optimal sanitary and hygienic conditions. Taking this into consideration, a rather extensive vaccination program is recommended.

None of the vaccinations are mandatory. A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate IS necessary for entering Kenya/Tanzania. These contries are considered endemic for yellow fever (endemic = common, existing in the population), and some other countries will require a certificate to prove your vaccination status if you are travelling from infected areas. Hm, did I make this clear? The conclusion is that yellow fever vaccination is highly recommended but not mandatory.

Recommended vaccines are:
1. Hepatitis A
2. Yellow Fever
3. Malaria (details below)
4. Thyfoid Fever (if more than three years since last dosis)
5. Poliomyelitis (if more than ten years since last dosis)
6. Diphtheria (if more than ten years since last dosis)
7. Tetanus (if more than ten years since last dosis)
(Polio, diphteria and tetanus can often be found in one combination vaccine -> three needles in one!)
8. Some authorities recommend vaccine against meningococcal disease as we are travelling
   to the "Sub-Saharan meningitis belt". The risk is greater from December to June.
MALARIA

No vaccine exists. The most important precaution is good insect repellant to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes - especially between dusk and dawn (the active period of the Anopheles mosquito, vector of malaria). It is also necessary to take profylactic anti-malaria medication. In Kenya/Tanzania, the risk is high to be infected by the most dangerous type of malaria parasite (plasmodium falciparum), and the parasites are resistant to chloroquine. The drug-of-choice is Mefloquine, alternativley Atrovaquone/proguanil. You should start with Mefloquine (one tablet of 250 g per week) 3-4 weeks prior to departure, to see if you have any adverse effects - so that you can change drug if necessary, before you leave home.

Most of the vaccines are effective after two weeks, however you should not take thyfoid vaccine while on mefloquine, so if you finish your vaccinations in the end of May / beginning of June, that might be the best. But you will need to discuss all of this with your doctors: in case you use any medicines which might interfere with the vaccines etc etc.

I am looking forward to meeting you all!!

Best regards,
Silje