Yellow Fever Shots
UPDATE: ALTHOUGH SOME INTERNET INFO NOW HAS IT THAT THE YELLOW FEVER SHOT HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED TO A RECOMMENDATION FOR PANAMA (I HAVE NOT SEEN THE OFFICIAL NOTICE POSTED), WE STILL RECOMMEND THE SHOT FOR 2 REASONS: A. THE GOVERNMENT CAN EASILY SWITCH BACK TO A REQUIREMENT B. OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION REQUIRE THE SHOT.
We went to the Department of Health Clinic near Allbrook last week on Friday to get yellow fever shots for my husband and son, arriving at 9 am. Dozens of people were lined up in different areas of the health clinic. There was no guide to their new system so I went directly to the cash. Wrong. Eventually we were turned away because we did not have a number and there were no numbers left. It seems they can only handle a certain amount of people per day. I was told 250 people per clinic but we were #288. The day we received our number there were numbers to 295.
This week we tried again on Monday but at the new location they opened for Yellow Fever shots just off Avenida Balboa, located directly behind the former US Embassy. We drove around for a good 30 minutes not knowing where the clinic was, no one on the street knew either. You cannot turn up from Balboa on Calle 38 which is where the clinic is located because it is one way. The clinic is on a small dead end street on the right side directly behind the former embassy in a Department of Health compound. There is some parking inside so you may be lucky.
Finally we arrived at about 9 am, and stood in a huge line. We were some of the last accepted and eventually were given numbers, we were # 288. Some people had arrived very early. We finally waited a total of 4.5 hours to get the shots and the yellow fever “passports” having a social morning with all the others in the clinic.
In the end our son could not get his “passport” because for the second time in the day they had completely run out of booklets. Today, I went back to get the booklet and the scene was identical. The crowd thought I was butting in line and were upset with me until the doctor explained to them that we had received the shot yesterday.
The nurses are doing their utmost with the huge lines and a new regulation even they probably didn´t know was coming.
TIP: If you are going for a Yellow Fever vaccination in Panama City or in Corozol, get there well before 8 am. Bring your cedula or your passport and a good book.
LOCATIONS: Yellow Fever Vaccinations are available at the Department of Health (Salud) Regional Health Center – “International Immunization Center” Clinic in Clayton (Corozal), look for the IDAAN sign on the right on the street just before the Crossroads Church (if you see the church you have gone too far) on the way to the Miraflores Locks.
Also now in the provisional Dept. of Health Yellow Fever Vaccination Clinic directly behind the former US Embassy off Avenida Balboa, Panama City.
HOURS:
Corozol: MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 7:30 A.M. TO 12:00 NOON AND FROM 1:00PM TO 3:00 P.M.
Panama City: Although not confirmed that this is a permanent schedule, yesterday they worked through the lunch hour.
NUMBERS:
Corozol numbers: 512-6600 and 512-6666.
Panama City numbers – not available at the time of posting.
We are planning on moving to Panama from the U.S. next year. This info. was helpful. Should we get out yellow fever shots here prior to our departure?
you should get the shots 10 days before