As the peak holiday season arrives, the Paraguayan Ministry of Public Health has emphasised the importance of being protected through vaccination before traveling abroad, especially to risk areas, and reminds that possessing a certificate confirming yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entering Paraguay.
The health authority stresses that the international yellow fever vaccination certificate must be presented to authorise the entry of foreign travelers from risk zones and the exit of nationals and residents traveling to these destinations.
This Yellow Fever vaccination certificate can be presented in physical or digital format. To ensure effective protection, the yellow fever vaccine must be administered at least 10 days before travel.
Yellow fever risk zones
– Regions in Bolivia (Beni and Santa Cruz),
– Brazil (Pará, Tocantins, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Amazonas),
– Colombia (Villagazón, Orito, and Valle del Guamuez, Putumayo),
– French Guiana (Massara, City of Lethem),
– Peru (Junín, Ucayali, Ayacucho, San Martín, and Madre de Dios),
– African countries such as Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, and South Sudan.
Additionally, the Ministry urges parents and caregivers to verify their children’s vaccination status and ensure they receive the vaccines included in the national immunisation schedule. Children must be immunised against preventable diseases.
The following vaccines are highlighted, in addition to Yellow Fever:
– Rotavirus vaccine: recommended at 2 and 4 months of age.
– Measles vaccine: first dose at 12 months and second at 18 months.
The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has recently issued an epidemiological alert due to the increase in measles cases in the Americas.
As of October 5, 2024, over 14,000 suspected cases had been reported, with 376 confirmed cases in eight countries, including the United States, Canada, and Argentina.
Most of these cases are imported or related to importation, underscoring the need to maintain high vaccination coverage and effective epidemiological surveillance.
“With these measures, the Ministry seeks to protect the Paraguayan population and prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases within the country,” said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health.
“All travelers and parents are urged to follow these recommendations to ensure the well-being and safety of the entire community.”
