Yellow Fever Vaccination for Volunteers in Bolivia

The Yellow Fever Mosquito - Aedes Aegypti

As I approach the time when I will be volunteering in Bolivia, I find I have a million things to do!  First step, get a yellow fever vaccine.  Sections of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia are all considered endemic zones for yellow fever, which means the vaccine is a must. Yellow fever is not a pretty disease. Though some cases can be mild, it is not uncommon for those suffering from the disease to die, and travelers are generally more susceptible to contracting yellow fever than are indigenous populations. It is not a pretty death--marked by fever, vomiting, and liver failure.  If you're planning on volunteering in South America or Africa, you'll definitely want to read up on yellow fever.

One more tip: you must have had the vaccine for ten days before it is considered effective.  Because it's required for entrance into Bolivia, you'll want to plan for this ten day period.  (Generally, I'd plan way ahead because many doctors will have to special order the vaccine.)