Job Discussion Forums

vanVlaanderen · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 21

I was told by the Saudi embassy that I must have a Yellow Fever vaccination for the visa. When I went to the doctor, a specialist in the field, I was informed that there is risk involved - that the vaccination can cause the disease and that 60% of those who get sick DIE. The doctor said that there is no Yellow Fever problem in Saudi Arabia and no reason for the vaccination. Any feedback on this?

007 · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject:

Well, your doctor is either 'clinically' or 'medically' flummoxed! Laughing

I would rather believe my grand mother than your doctor!

The Yellow Fever Vaccine is a safe and highly effective vaccine against the yellow Fever . Over 400 million doses of vaccine have been given over 60 years.
200,000 cases of Yellow Fever are estimated to occur yearly on this planet. There is no known treatment to cure the disease.
The fatality rate of the disease is reported as 10-50%.

Deaths from Yellow Fever disease have occurred in unvaccinated tourists.
http://www.yellowfever.com.au/vaccinations.html

If you want to protect yourself and your 'soul', then have the vaccination and get your visa.

littleoldlady · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 286 Location: knitting heaven

I had one and I am still here. Old, frail, and with lots of crinkles, BUT still alive and kicking.

vanVlaanderen · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 21

I am interested in knowing if all foreigners MUST have these vaccinations or just those from certain countries. Someone told me that the Saudi embassy in the USA does not require them.

About the doctor's comments, the individual in question is an expert and gave me written information which states the risks. The percentage of those who get sick due to the vaccine is low but the consequences to those who DO get sick are serious to grave/fatal.

Is there a Yellow Fever risk in Saudi Arabia?

Afra · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 389

There are government websites which give up-to-date information about vaccination requirements - US, UK and probably Saudi.

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:32 pm Post subject:

I doubt that there is any actual risk of yellow fever in Saudi Arabia itself, but you have to consider that KSA hosts millions of pilgrims from all over the world for Hajj and Umra each year. Even though the government takes precautions, there are still all kinds of diseases and illnesses that arrive via visitors to Mecca. This might be the reason for the requirement.

I don't remember if I had to have a vaccination for yellow fever myself before coming to the Kingdom.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 12:26 am Post subject:

Other information:
1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers arriving within 6 days from countries of which any parts are infected.

2: Vaccination against typhoid is advised.

3: Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists throughout the year in most of the Southern region except the high altitude areas of Asir Province, and the urban areas of the Western Province (Jeddah, Mecca, Medina and Taif). Resistance to chloroquine has been reported. The recommended prophylaxis is chloroquine plus proguanil.

http://www.learn4good.com/travel/saudi_arabia_visa.htm

But only if . . . .

Although yellow fever is not a disease risk in Saudi Arabia, the government requires travelers arriving from countries where yellow fever is present to present proof of yellow fever vaccination. If you will be traveling to one of these countries where yellow fever is present before arriving in Saudi Arabia, this requirement must be taken into consideration."

http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/SaudiArabia.aspx

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

Does one have to return to one's country of citizenship to fly to KSA, or can one fly directly from another country one is working in, which is NOT one's home country, to KSA?

What if one who is Canadian is working in Brazil, and one's contract expires tomorrow, and one's KSA contract begins let's say 7 days from tomorrow? Can one fly from Brazil to KSA, or must one fly back to Canada and THEN fly to KSA?

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

1,1,1,1,1,.......that's alot of "ones".......

johnslat · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:08 am Post subject:

Dear eclectic,
But not a lot of alots.

Regards,
John

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

Dear Johnslat,

One thing one must recall is once a wonderful world is won, we won't want to win one for the gipper.

Confused

vanVlaanderen · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 21

There is another thread on these vaccinations with some interesting information.

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

Problem here is, if the CDC and FDA both advise strongly against getting "any live vaccine whatsoever" within a 30 day period of having received the Yellow shots (and there are a series of boosters one must get in order for the Yellow shot to work right, needing to be received on a strict time-table, like 1 booster every 14 days), we're now talking about getting a Yellow AND a Meningitis vaccine, and to avoid risk, these 2 properly done with boosters for Yellow would require atleast 60-70 days, safely speaking.

I think if the Retinal scan is done within those 70 days, the optic nerve merges with the retina in a Big Brother Tribute to Invasion of Privacy dogma, thereby fusing the nano-chip brain implant to the frontal lobes of their brains. Even worse, the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine will shortly be a requirement.

Then the CELTA and TESOL are worth nothing. Only the TEFL will count.