Nicaragua to Charge $ 30 for Yellow Fever Vaccine for Travelers

(Credit: MIGUEL SCHINCARIOL / AFP via Getty Images)

(CNN Spanish) –– The Ministry of Citizen Power for Health in Nicaragua, through a press release published on the official website “El 19 digital”, reported that travelers who want to receive the yellow fever vaccine must pay 30 dollars. According to the government, the measure responds to "the demand of people who need to travel to countries at risk of transmission" of this disease "according to the WHO / PAHO list."

The vice president and government spokesperson, Rosario Murillo, during her call to official media on July 28, indicated that the tests will be applied at the Ministry of Health facilities, 10 days before traveling to the destination country to ensure the required care. Murillo added that the applicant must present a certificate or passport, ticket and flight itinerary, and that they will issue the certificate after the test.

• READ: Nicaraguan Ministry of Health will strengthen epidemiological control at all points of entry into the country

Independent epidemiologist Leonel Argüello told CNN that this new charge, for a vaccine that was free, casts doubt on the publicized free public health. "The Nicaraguan health system, managed by the Ministry of Health, and all prevention services should not be charged, because the health service would be being privatized."

In addition, on the case of vaccines, he stated: "It should be noted that if I vaccinate against yellow fever because I am going to travel to a country where it is required, it will protect me, but I will also protect the entire population Nicaraguan, because when I return I will not bring the virus, since here we have the Aedes aegypti (transmitting mosquito) that can transmit it, ”said Argüello.

Since January 2017, Nicaragua requires the international vaccination certificate against yellow fever from all travelers entering the country from an area where PAHO / WHO has determined that there is a risk of active transmission.

According to the Ministry of Health, among the priority countries of origin are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Panama, Venezuela, Paraguay and Peru.

On July 17, the Ministry of Health, through a statement, had also authorized testing for covid-19 for people who want to travel outside the country at a cost of $ 150.

yellow fever vaccine