panama canal shots

[just having fun]

???hi everyone...I have a question we are doing a 10 day panama canal in march fl/fl..do we need shots??
my DD who is doing a 14 day one in jan la/fl said she has to get 3/4 shots...now I have never heard about this..has anyone??

[Fllady]

HI we meet again on another board.  No shots needed for either full transit of canal or turn around.  We have done both.

[f-mattox]

I have never needed shots either but I"ve noticed on another board the shots are now being required for some Caribbean destinations.  If vaccinations are required it will state so right on your itinerary.

[f-mattox]

This is the itinerary for a Royal Princess Cruise, showing the destinations for which a yellow fever vaccination are required:

Dec 23 2008 FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA UNITED STATES 05:00PM CHECK IN FM 1:00PM-4:00PM
ARRIVE AFTER 2:00PM
FOR A FASTER CHECK IN


Dec 24 2008 AT SEA

Dec 25 2008 AT SEA

Dec 26 2008 ST BARTHELEMY,GUADELOUPE 09:00AM 04:00PM TENDER REQUIRED
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS LIMITED


Dec 27 2008 ST. LUCIA 09:00AM 06:00PM

Dec 28 2008 SCARBOROUGH, TRINIDAD 08:00AM 05:00PM *YELLOW FVR VAC/REQUIRED*


Dec 29 2008 AT SEA

Dec 30 2008 DEVIL'S ISLAND, FRENCH GUIANA 08:00AM 02:00PM TENDER REQUIRED
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS LIMITED
*YELLOW FVR VAC/REQUIRED*


Dec 31 2008 AT SEA

Jan 01 2009 BARBADOS 07:00AM 04:00PM *YELLOW FVR VAC/REQUIRED*


Jan 02 2009 ANTIGUA 10:00AM 06:00PM *YELLOW FVR VAC/REQUIRED*


Jan 03 2009 VIRGIN GORDA, 07:00AM 05:00PM TENDER REQUIRED
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS LIMITED


Jan 04 2009 AT SEA

Jan 05 2009 AT SEA

Jan 06 2009 FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA UNITED STATES 07:00AM

[Sailaway]

Wow, Antigua and Barbados?!?!?!?

That's new, and a little bit scary. Is it a new problem, or did they miss it before? 

[f-mattox]

I don't know any of the details.  We were having the same discussion on another site--most of us saying, "no, you don't need shots";  but she kept insisting and finally posted her itinerary.  We are all surprised.

[CTcruiser]

We just got off the Island Princess last week from a 10-day partial canal transit.  No shots were required.  We stopped at Aruba, Cartagena, Panama / Cristobal, Limon and Ocho Rios.

I'm surprised Yellow fever shots are required for Barbados and Antigua.  Is this something new?  According to CDC.gov, yellow fever is not a risk in either of these destinations.  However, if you are coming from a destination where yellow fever exists, then both Barbados and Antigua require you to have the shots.  Perhaps they are trying to avoid anyone bringing yellow fever in to the islands. 

[druke]

Many health professionals suggest making sure that your tetanus shot is current, and recommend hepatitis A & B for any travel.

[2 Cruisers]

One of the complications in understanding what locations require shots such as for Yellow Fever is that many places do not normally require you to have gotten the shots, but do require them if you are going to particular locations before their location.

For instance, most cruisers stopping in Antigua and/or Barbados do not need the shots, BUT if your cruise stops earlier in Devil's Island, they will not allow you on their islands if you have not been vaccinated for Yellow Fever.  They don't have a problem now and want to make sure they stay that way. 

[f-mattox]

Thank you, 2 Cruisers; that would explain the apparent discrepancy.

[Fllady]

One of the complications in understanding what locations require shots such as for Yellow Fever is that many places do not normally require you to have gotten the shots, but do require them if you are going to particular locations before their location.

For instance, most cruisers stopping in Antigua and/or Barbados do not need the shots, BUT if your cruise stops earlier in Devil's Island, they will not allow you on their islands if you have not been vaccinated for Yellow Fever.  They don't have a problem now and want to make sure they stay that way. 

[just having fun]

well thank you all for the 411...really looking forward to going in march

[f-mattox]

I just gleaned this from another site; it reaffirms what 2 Cruisers already told us:

We looked at an itinerary last year that included Devil's Island. A yellow fever shot was required for that stop and the later ports required proof that you had the shots since you stopped at Devil's Island.