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Sir,
Your recent news article highlights the implications of the revised
International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) that entered into legal force
on June 15, 2007.1 But it neglects to highlight that as of 15 June 2007,
the current "International Certificate of Vaccination or Revaccination
Against Yellow Fever” will be replaced by the "International Certificate
of Vaccination or Prophylaxis".2, 3 In addition to yellow fever vaccine,
this new certificate allows for the recording of other preventive vaccines
or prophylaxis in the event of a global health threat.
The change in the certificate has not been communicated to general
practitioners and travel medicine providers in a timely manner, and most
State Parties have not yet ordered the new certificates. As, the ‘old’
certificates are technically no longer valid from 15 June 2007 onwards,
the practical risk exists that they will not be recognized at border
checks which may theoretically result in disruption of international
travel. Each year, about 9 million tourists from North America, Europe,
and Asia travel to countries where a yellow fever vaccine certificate is
required for entry.4
Each country can develop their own vaccine certificate as long as it does
not depart from the model provided in IHR 2005
(http://www.who.int/csr/ihr/ivc_no_logo.pdf). In the United Kingdom, the
National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) have responsibility
for printing the new certificate and coordinating with the devolved health
authorities its distribution in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and
Scotland. Further information about this process can be found on the
NaTHNaC website, www.nathnac.org.
The revised IHR 2005 also present an opportunity for State Parties to
review their programme for oversight and certification of practices
administering the vaccine. This is a requirement of IHR 2005 and has
recently been highlighted as an important way to improve the standard of
pre-travel health care of travellers.5, 6
Revision and implementation of IHR 2005 is an important step forward
in the coordinated global response to public health events. As a first
step, introduction of the new “International Certificate of Vaccination or
Prophylaxis” will test the readiness of clinicians and public health
authorities to adopt these new regulations.
References
1. New regulations aim to prevent international health emergencies.
BMJ 2007; 16:1243.
2. http://www.who.int/csr/ihr/en/. International Health Regulations
(2005).
3. Hardiman M, Wilder-Smith A. The revised international health
regulations and their relevance to travel medicine. J Travel Med 2007;
14:141-4.
4. Monath TP CM. Prevention of yellow fever in persons traveling to the
tropics. Clin Inf Diseases 2002; 34:1369-78.
5. Leggat PA RM, Dürrheim DN, de Frey A, Blumberg LH. Linking yellow fever
vaccination centre registration and training in travel medicine. Travel
Medicine Infect Dis 2003; 1:17-18.
6. Spira A. Yellow Fever vaccine as a vehicle to better travel medicine. J
Travel Med 2005; 12:303-5.
The revised International Health Regulations 2005: practical implications for yellow fever vaccination requirements
Sir,
Your recent news article highlights the implications of the revised
International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) that entered into legal force
on June 15, 2007.1 But it neglects to highlight that as of 15 June 2007,
the current "International Certificate of Vaccination or Revaccination
Against Yellow Fever” will be replaced by the "International Certificate
of Vaccination or Prophylaxis".2, 3 In addition to yellow fever vaccine,
this new certificate allows for the recording of other preventive vaccines
or prophylaxis in the event of a global health threat.
The change in the certificate has not been communicated to general
practitioners and travel medicine providers in a timely manner, and most
State Parties have not yet ordered the new certificates. As, the ‘old’
certificates are technically no longer valid from 15 June 2007 onwards,
the practical risk exists that they will not be recognized at border
checks which may theoretically result in disruption of international
travel. Each year, about 9 million tourists from North America, Europe,
and Asia travel to countries where a yellow fever vaccine certificate is
required for entry.4
Each country can develop their own vaccine certificate as long as it does
not depart from the model provided in IHR 2005
(http://www.who.int/csr/ihr/ivc_no_logo.pdf). In the United Kingdom, the
National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) have responsibility
for printing the new certificate and coordinating with the devolved health
authorities its distribution in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and
Scotland. Further information about this process can be found on the
NaTHNaC website, www.nathnac.org.
The revised IHR 2005 also present an opportunity for State Parties to
review their programme for oversight and certification of practices
administering the vaccine. This is a requirement of IHR 2005 and has
recently been highlighted as an important way to improve the standard of
pre-travel health care of travellers.5, 6
Revision and implementation of IHR 2005 is an important step forward
in the coordinated global response to public health events. As a first
step, introduction of the new “International Certificate of Vaccination or
Prophylaxis” will test the readiness of clinicians and public health
authorities to adopt these new regulations.
References
1. New regulations aim to prevent international health emergencies.
BMJ 2007; 16:1243.
2. http://www.who.int/csr/ihr/en/. International Health Regulations
(2005).
3. Hardiman M, Wilder-Smith A. The revised international health
regulations and their relevance to travel medicine. J Travel Med 2007;
14:141-4.
4. Monath TP CM. Prevention of yellow fever in persons traveling to the
tropics. Clin Inf Diseases 2002; 34:1369-78.
5. Leggat PA RM, Dürrheim DN, de Frey A, Blumberg LH. Linking yellow fever
vaccination centre registration and training in travel medicine. Travel
Medicine Infect Dis 2003; 1:17-18.
6. Spira A. Yellow Fever vaccine as a vehicle to better travel medicine. J
Travel Med 2005; 12:303-5.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests