Earlier this year I went to Tanzania (Africa) I was required to have the yellow fever vaccine to gain entry as I was travelling from Kenya where they still have the mosquito that carries this. After much deliberation (3 month)! from my GP and The London School of Tropical Diseases It was decided I should not have the vaccine. However My GP made me promise to be covered at all times ie arms and legs and useing repellant on hands feet and face. I was also given a letter to carry with my passport to show when going over the border to explain why I had not had the vaccine.
I think the final decesion should be made with your Medical Practitioner.
Regards Linda
PS When I did get to the border I wasn't asked for the Yellow Fever certificate!
We here in Israel have a very useful and used branch of our Health Ministry that deals with travel preparations. When traveling to Kenya in 1995 we were required to get vaccines against hepatitis A, B, & C and to take tablets against malria for 2 weeks before, the time there, and a few weeks after our trip. Yellow fever was never mentioned.
At that time I knew by symptomology that I had something seriously wrong with me, but had no idea it was MS. The vaccines didn't cause me any exacerbations at the time, but I don't know if lesion weight was changed as I had no idea YET about lesions.
Stay healthy 
,
Maris
In the United States, I believe our equivalent department is the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) which publishes a great deal of information regarding recommendations, requirements, and up-to-date news for travellers. Then each local government has a health department where one can receive the necessary vaccines (although some can also be received at your doctor's office).
So how was your travel in 1995?
Hi again,
That was a beautiful trip. It was a charter, so travel was easy. We did a short photo safari into the bush, met incredible local people and their different cultures, dealt with the mospuitos and other creepy-crawlies, saw lots of wildlife in the wild, and had a generally great time. I highly recommend trips to exotic places.
Keep enjoying your trips 
,
Maris
I had a Yellow Fever Vaccine on Jan.28, 2008...within 48 hrs both feet went numb....still are...and I am diagnosed with CIDP...no other risk factors...I am now 58, an ex-runner(thank you CIDP)and in moderate pain from the disease...I appreciate this article...My neuro in NYC thought the Yellow Fever vaccine tipped me over into this demyelinating illness.
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Lisa, this is interesting and very helpful summary of vaccination research for people with MS. Every person should consult with their doctor, of course, about any medical or treatment decision. But, since yellow fever vaccination is the only sure way to prevent contracting the disease, if you're going to an area that has a high incidence of yellow fever during "mosquito season," wouldn't someone with MS probably be better off getting the vaccination and taking the risk on relapse, than not getting the vaccination and contracting yellow fever? Have any studies been done that show that people with MS who get yellow fever are more at risk to die from the yellow fever? This might be something people with MS would want to take into account, too, in deciding where they're travelling, or when, and whether to get the vaccination.
Hi Anniston,
Good questions. I didn't see any reference to how severe yellow fever might be for someone who has MS. It would be a tough decision as more than half of the people in this extraordinarily small study suffered a permanent increase of disability following the vaccine. But you are right, having a relapse (and possible increase in disability) would be small compared to death.
Perhaps a good approach would be to take copious precautious to avoid getting bite by mosquitos while traveling. Not having been faced with the same choices, I'm not sure what my doctors and I would choose for myself.