Travel to Africa and vaccines

[rlk]

I'm not sure if my post should be on this forum, but I know all of you here are well traveled and might be able to help. Wondering if anyone has had the Yellow Fever vaccine called Stamaril?

My family and I are traveling to Kenya and Tanzania this summer. We are scheduled to get our Yellow Fever vaccinations tomorrow afternoon. Since there is a shortage of the US approved vaccine and it is not available, we will be getting a vaccine that has been approved in other countries, but not in the US. This vaccine is called Stamaril. It is manufactured by the same manufacturer of the US approved vaccine.

I have anxiety and after printing and reading the consent form for this vaccine, my anxiety is through the roof. As with other drugs, the list of side effects and adverse reactions are long. My husband thinks I'm crazy (I probably am) to focus on the part about this drug causing reactions that can be fatal.

 

[sayhello]

I don't know anything about this vaccine, but what I would do is to find the list of side effects and adverse reactions for the the other vaccine (that is not available). If they're similar, I wouldn't worry. If the Stamaril list is really worse, then I'd talk to my doctor about it. Where did you go for the vaccine? To your doctor or to a travel clinic?

Sayhello

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

All the shots/meds have potential crazy side effects so I wouldn't focus on it as much or I just would cancel the trip.

My sister and niece just went to Africa during Easter and ran into the same problem with the shortage.
They had all required and suggested shots plus the malaria pills and had only limited side effects of a mild body ache after one of them and vivid dreams for a couple days will taking the pills.

 

[carpenta]

Depending on your age the side effects can be different. Yes there are “more” recognized side effects from this different vaccine but a lot better than the disease. But get your shots that are recommended and take the pills as recommended. Not all areas of Africa need all the vaccines and you should contact an Infectious Disease specialist for all the information you will need. Happy travels.

 

[The Druggist]

Pharmacist here . While I administer a wide array of vaccines, yellow fever is not one that the state board of pharmacy has cleared us pharmacists to give in Ohio. But, I can give you some guidance based on some quick research.

The same manufacturer makes both vaccines. Sanofi, the mfg, markets it under a different name overseas. Stamaril is made in France while YF-Vax is its US counterpart. Both vaccines are made from the same strain of yellow fever. Therefore, the side effects are going to be roughly the same. And as a previous poster said, the disease is worse than any side effects. I mean yellow fever is asymptomatic for most people. There is no cure or medical treatment if you contract it. If you develop the severe form of YF, which is rare, it’s 30-60% fatal. Those are odds that I wouldn’t want to put my family up against.

If given by a trained clinician, I would feel safe getting the shot. I’d also feel safe getting it with all the info provided on both the CDC and the manufacturer’s websites. If it was some shady operation that the CDC wasn’t involved in then it might be cause for concern.

I’m more than happy to answer any questions you have.

Do your research to make sure that is a needed vaccine for your specific area of travel using: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/

Best of luck and have a safe trip.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6617e2.htm

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/news-announcements/yellow-fever-vaccine-access

http://www.sanofipasteur.us/vaccines/yellowfevervaccine

 

[Cousin Orville]

I know this is extremely anecdotal, but for what it's worth my son and I got the Sanofi YF vaccine (administered in the US) @The Druggist mentioned for traveling in SA, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Neither of us exhibited any side affects. Interestingly it isn't listed as YF-Vax or Stamaril on any of my documentation. Just the Manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur, and a lot number.

 

[carpenta]

THe noted side effects seem to increase ( not excessive ) to people over the age of 65. There is less available vaccine now because the vaccine is made outside the US and needed a waiver from the FDA for usage. Each hospital needed to fill out reams of paperwork to just get this vaccine. Sanofi is building a new manufacturing plant and plans production again upon completion.