Yellow Fever Vaccination
This vaccination is mandatory in Uganda, and without this stamp in your yellow booklet, you may be sent straight back home. Yellow fever is transmitted by an eager female mosquito looking to lay eggs. The disease can cause fever, jaundice, bleeding, and in severe cases, even death. Fortunately, it's a one-time shot that provides lifelong protection.
Vaccination DTP, or Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Polio
In the Netherlands, we have been vaccinating against these diseases for a long time through the national government vaccination program, which is why these killers no longer occur here. If you have completed this program, one shot will be sufficient for that extra bit of protection, as these diseases primarily affect young children.
Vaccination Hepatitis A
Another delightful one; it's a liver infection, also known as jaundice. The virus is transmitted through food and drinking water contaminated with feces. So, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and always, always peel your fruits and vegetables. But with two shots, you can be protected for 30 years. A must for any real traveler, as Hepatitis A is also found in Southern and Eastern Europe.
Optional Vaccinations
The following vaccinations are optional and are usually only necessary if you are not yet vaccinated, planning to stay in Uganda for more than three months, or doing highly specialized work. Don’t let the Dutch GGDs or Tropical Institutes scare you. These guys sometimes have a tendency to go a bit overboard—costing you a fortune—by recommending vaccinations or malaria medication that, upon closer inspection, you might not actually need.
Vaccination MMR: Mumps, Measles, and Rubella
Most of us in our thirties have had at least one of these childhood illnesses—I had mumps when the school photographer came. All three can make you feel absolutely miserable. In Uganda, little ones receive the MMR vaccine as early as six months old—compared to 14 months in the Netherlands—simply because these diseases are more common there. I'm shocked by how many children in the Netherlands are not vaccinated against these illnesses. In Uganda, if you're unlucky, measles can be fatal for young children, and without proof of vaccination, they can't even attend preschool.
Vaccination Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a variant of Hepatitis A and also affects the liver. The virus is transmitted through blood and semen. For this reason, the vaccination isn’t immediately urgent if you're just going to chill and hang out with gorillas. But if you happen to fall for a beautiful Ugandan—safe sex is definitely recommended in Africa.
Vaccination Tuberculosis
The tuberculosis bacterium is a nasty creature that someone carrying this unfriendly guest can give to you by coughing in your face. Multiple times, to be precise. This is called open TB. Again, if you're just going rafting in Lake Victoria and sipping cocktails, you probably won’t have much exposure to this f*cker.
However, if you’re volunteering for months in Katanga or Kisenyi, this vaccination could be useful. All children across Africa are vaccinated against TB (as the disease is commonly known) at just six days old, so the number of infections is decreasing significantly.
Vaccination Meningitis
Meningitis is caused by the meningococcus bacterium. The bacteria spread through the air, in saliva when you cough or sneeze, for example. In the Netherlands, we have recently started vaccinating against multiple types again. It is a serious disease. For travelers, vaccines are available against types A, C, W135, and Y.
Rabies
Rabies is a highly dangerous and deadly virus. A bite or even a lick from an infected animal can be enough to cause fatal infection. In Africa, routine rabies vaccination is not common; instead, you must go to a hospital for a series of vaccinations if exposed.
I got vaccinated myself, but even then, I would still need two additional shots at a hospital if bitten or licked. If unvaccinated, you would need five shots.
If your child loves animals as much as mine does, I would seriously consider getting the vaccine.
Immunosuppressive medications and vaccinations
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis myself and take medication that strongly suppresses my immune system. Because of this, I am not allowed many vaccines, including the Yellow Fever vaccination, as these are live vaccines—TB and Rabies as well. These vaccines contain a small amount of the disease to trigger your immune system to produce antibodies, but the tropical health clinics don’t dare to give me these vaccinations.
This is, of course, really frustrating, but fortunately, you can ask your specialist for a letter stating that you are on these medications and do not carry the disease since you come from the Netherlands. Be aware that if you travel from Uganda to Tanzania, Rwanda, or South Africa, these countries require a doctor’s certificate no older than a week if you are coming from a Yellow Fever area and do not have the vaccination. Some countries won’t let you in at all, but we (currently) don’t organize trips to those places. Since the disease is so rare, I take the risk of traveling through East Africa without these vaccinations—just with extra caution!
