Yellow Fever Vaccination

We decided to get our Yellow Fever Vaccination whilst in Brazil, as we needed proof of one when we travel north. Peter & Netto at the marina got us an address in Cabedelo, a short train ride away, to get the jab. The Innoculation Centre had no street number so we started asking directions when we couldn't find it. After an hour of being sent pillar to post, we found the place.

Netto & Peter (Peters Pier)

Unfortunately they only supplied the vaccine, not administing it. Enter Laurita who spoke some English. She took us and the vaccine (in cool box) to a local Medical Centre in her car. She spoke to the doctor and hey presto we got the jab free of charge and back to the Distribution Centre we were given a slip of paper to prove it. Looks good eh?

Back at the marina we tell Peter that we were successful. "So you got the Yellow Certificate ?" he says. "No, white" we replied

"Let's have a look at it"......"Ah, you have had the swine flu vaccine, very difficult to get here, how did you manage that?"

"Hmm....communication problem!" we replied.

Well, we had Laurita as a friend on Facebook, so we told her our dilemma.

We met her again at the Distribution Centre and she took us to another Medical Centre. Unfortunately we were too late for the morning session. Back after lunch we were asked lots of questions which were inputted into a PC. We at last get the correct vaccination. For some reason we cannot get the yellow certificate but information is added to our slip of paper and stamped and Laurita will collect the correct certificate at a later date and visit us on Artemis.

Weeks pass and no Laurita.....she's on holiday, so we decide to sort this out ourselves and return to the clinic. 'Porto' they said so we headed to the Port and we are directed to Envisa who supply the certificates. No can do....the computers are down and we are instructed to go to Joao Pessoa Airport. Jeez!!! We call in to see Silvio in Customs to say hello whilst we are there. When he asks, what brings us this way, we tell him. Silvio is straight on the telephone to Envisa. One of the Envisa guys comes to his office and after a long discussion we return back with him. The certificates are filled out by hand and stamped instead of computer printed.....thank you Silvio!

This hopping about on the trains is great, but doesn't always go to plan. Sometimes trains are cancelled and we have to hike to the bus stop. For a few weeks no trains were running into Joao Pessoa due to rail repairs and other times we missed the train by a few minutes and the next one is in 1 1/2 hours. Then the train times were changed so our printed timetable was useless...super cheap though.