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Dubai Health Authority in dilemma over shortage of Yellow Fever vaccine

Travel plans of thousands of people are in a quandary as a global shortage of Yellow Fever vaccine has affected the UAE as well. A senior official from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said on Tuesday that the shortage has been persisting for the last two months.

“The DHA is in a dilemma over the shortage,” Dr Fatma Al Attar, Consultant Family Physician and Head, Travel Clinic, DHA, told Khaleej Times after a session on Travellers Clinic at the Arab Health Conference and Exhibition. “But we have been informed by the CDC that the problem is global due to a manufacturing issue,” she explained. Reportedly, the vaccine is not available in Abu Dhabi and Ministry of Health (MoH) centres as well. Yellow Fever vaccine is the most in demand among travellers, especially businessmen, from the UAE since a certificate is required before they embark on a journey to Africa and South America.

The certificate can only be issued by the DHA, Abu Dhabi Health Authority and MoH.

“I have written to the World Health Organisation (WHO) but haven’t received a response as of yet,” said Dr Fatma. “There is no way out.” In 2013, nearly 26,000 travelers had visited the DHA Travel Clinic for vaccine related services, according to data released by the authority.

Majority of them were expatriate males on business trips followed by families for travel and tourism. Statistics also showed that majority of the travellers visited urban areas while only five per cent planned to travel to rural areas. The numbers also showed diabetes is the main medical condition among travellers, followed by cardiac problems.

Dr Fatma also said travel agencies in Dubai had been asked to refer travellers to the clinic so as to increase awareness on the vaccination services provided by the DHA.

Vaccines are free for UAE nationals while expats have to pay the cost of each vaccine.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com