The Federal Government of Nigeria have announced their intention to phase out & replace the yellow fever certificate with an e-Yellow Card version with effect from 1st July 2019.
Further clarification from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and NaTHNaC (Public Health England) has been received as follows:
- After 1 July 2019, a valid International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) issued outside Nigeria will still be accepted for non-Nigerian residents and non-Nigerian citizens arriving in Nigeria.
- Nigerian residents and citizens of Nigeria who require proof of yellow fever vaccination must apply for the new e-Yellow Card (for which there is a charge; this is still a paper certificate, but which can be read electronically); the only authorised source of the card is Port Health Services of the Public Health Department in the Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria.
- Nigerian residents and citizens of Nigeria returning to Nigeria are advised that as of 1 July 2019, an old style ‘Yellow Card,’ previously issued in Nigeria may not be acceptable to Nigerian port authorities at immigration. If you think this applies to you, we advise you to contact the UK Nigerian High Commission for advice.
Importantly, also as of 1 July 2019, the yellow fever certificate requirement for travellers to Nigeria changed; a yellow fever vaccination certificate is now required for all travellers aged 9 months or over [2].
Where a health professional advises that an individual should not be vaccinated on medical grounds, a medical letter of exemption (MLOE) should be provided which should be taken into consideration by the port/border health authorities in the destination country [3].
Health professionals and travellers from the United Kingdom, are reminded that there is a risk of yellow fever transmission throughout Nigeria. An outbreak of yellow fever, which started in September 2017, is continuing; since the start of the outbreak, cases have been reported from all 36 states. Between January and April 2019, a total of 930 suspected cases were reported in 447 Local Government Areas [4].
The ’e card’ has yet to approved internationally at present therefore here at London Travel Clinic, paper certificates will be issued for anyone travelling to Nigeria who have had their Yellow Fever vaccine with us.
For all vaccine recommendations and certificate requirements please visit our Nigeria destination page until further notice.
Article last reviewed on 17/07/2019 by:
Denise Chalkley RN, RM, RHV, BSc, AMFTM RCPS (Glas)
Clinical & Operations Director for Travel Medicine
Denise is an associate member of the Faculty of Travel Medicine, and a freelance lecturer at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow for the Faculty of Travel Medicine. She also lectures at the University of Hertfordshire teaching immunisations, tuberculosis, sexual health and travel medicine.
