If you are travelling to any African or South American country, you need to be aware of the vaccination requirements. For Kenya, it is necessary to have vaccination certificate for Polio and Yellow fever. This is very important and should not be ignored as you would either be denied exit from India or entry to the destination country or get quarantined on return at your cost!! This post is to explain the process to get these vaccines in Karnataka, especially Bengaluru.
Polio vaccine
If you are travelling to Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Afghanistan or Pakistan, it is necessary to undergo a dose of Polio vaccine. India is a polio free country and hence this requirement is set by Indian Government. The fact that every one of us has taken Polio vaccine during our childhood does not matter. We need to take the dose again.
In Bengaluru, the only recognized center that administers
polio vaccine for International travellers is at the following address:
polio vaccine for International travellers is at the following address:
Dasappa Hospital,
SJP Road, Opposite to Town Hall,
Bengaluru – 560002
Contact name: Manjula, Phone number: 7760089567
The center is open from 10AM-2PM. Closed on Sundays and other Government Holidays. It is required to take original Passport with you.
My experience
I called up and took appointment for one Saturday. It was a Government Hospital. But I was surprised at the professional behavior of the staff in charge Manjula. The entire process was done in less than 10 minutes and I was given a certificate. It is free service and no one asked for money. There is a need for such people in Government jobs.
The certificate issued is valid for a year. Note that the vaccine needs to be taken at least 4 weeks before the travel.
Also, I understood why children cry on consuming oral vaccine!! It tastes *&%&^%&.
Yellow fever
While it was a pleasant experience at Polio center, the experience was exactly opposite for yellow fever vaccination causing me some anxious moments. To give a background, Yellow fever occurs only in South America and Africa. So the need for vaccination in India arises only for people travelling to those continents. Government has designated “Public health center” in each state to administer this vaccine. Karnataka has only one center in Bangalore. The address is:
Public Health Institute (Opposite to S.J.Polytechnique college)
Near Atria Hotel & Maharani College, K.R Circle, Bangalore-560001, Karnataka, India.
Contact person: Shivaram, Phone number: 080-22210248.
The vaccine should be taken at least 10 days before travel and is valid for 10 years. It is a multidose vaccine and hence it is administered for a group of 10 people at a time. Vaccine is given only on Wednesday (If Wednesday is holiday, then it is given on Thursday). Appointment through phone should be taken on Monday morning. Person should carry original passport and Air Ticket to get the certificate. The price of the vaccine is Rs400/-. Government provides subsidy and hence the cost is very less. Looks great so far, right?
My experience
But the devil is in the details. I called the person in charge about 1.5 months before my travel. Lot of people had mentioned about difficulty in reaching his phone but I never faced that issue. When called, he said that the vaccines are not in stock and asked me to call 15 days before my travel. I started getting concerned. But I believed him foolishly. 15 days before I call again and he repeats the same sentence and asks me to come a week before travel. Considering that the vaccine takes 10 days to become effective, this was not practical. Looks like one need to forge the travel dates (A trivial job in e-ticket) to get on time vaccination. Very sad state of affairs in Karnataka.
I was a tensed man on that Monday. After doing lot of research and investigation, I decided to take directly go to the Public health center myself.
I reach at 9AM and already there were few people. They had got appointment and scare me by telling that nothing works without appointment. That was not good news for me but I decided to wait and watch. At 9:45 the guy comes in and announces that only people with appointments to enter and rest to leave the place. “No vaccine and given only to limited people” were his words. I stand patiently outside waiting for an opportunity. When the crowd around him thins, I go and test my luck. It does not work as he sings the same “No vaccine” song. I then tell that if I bring Single dose vaccine from Pharmacy (It is available in some medical shop. The cost is around Rs 1650/-), can they administer and give me the Yellow certificate. His tone slightly changes and asked me to wait till 12 PM. Looked like there is some hope.
Fifty people had been given appointment. I was wondering why I did not get appointment. It seemed that lot of people came from “Influence quota”. I also find out that they had given vaccines to 100+ people on previous weeks while I was given an explanation of “No vaccines”.
Finally after waiting for 3 hours and pleading relentlessly, I am given the vaccine.
The doctors and nurses were not very professional. They never showed me what they were giving (Ex: Whether the syringe is new or not). I will not be surprised if they inject water instead of vaccine!!
Friends, please plan for these vaccinations if you are going to Africa or South America. The process is not hassle free (for Yellow fever) at least in Karnataka.
There are some private clinics that administer this vaccine and provide certificate. Not sure about the validity of the certificate. They charge around Rs 4,500/-. It is a day light robbery as the single dose vaccine costs Rs 1650/-. While I hate Government apathy in providing health support, my aversion to private clinics who loot people taking advantage of Government is even more.
Siddhartha Joshi
Oh my god Aravind…I had a read bad experience too for my Yellow Fever Vaccination in Mumbai and I also wrote a long post on it! Its a real sad state of affairs…
On a brighter note, enjoy Kenya 🙂
R Niranjan Das
Such a helpful post, Aravind. However, the experience sounds pathetic. Sad situation of the public health services.
Vineeta Yashswi
Oh my god… its really scary… anyway enjoy trip and share your experiences with us…
Sana
That is I'm sure very awful to go through. But thank you for sharing it, definitely helps to plan all this much ahead of time.
dhiru guri
Thanks for sharing the information….
aravindgj
Siddhartha,
While searching, I came through your post on the difficulties. Looks like the situation to get Yellow fever vaccination is smooth at many places.
Niranjan,
True 🙁
Vineeta, Sahana, Dhiraj,
Thanks.
Ganapathy Subramaniam
I had a similar experience at Public Health Institute. Since my office booked the appointment, I am not sure if there was any real 'influence'. But I can definitely agree that the doctors were pretty unprofessional. As if they are educated and we are gypsies.
ankit.bisht.kec@gmail.com
Update on 9th Nov 2016- Kenya travel on 26th nov 2016-
This blog is best source on internet on this topic. The phone numbers are also correct.
For polio vaccination at Dasappa hospital, no appointment is needed. Ideal time to visit 10 am to 1 pm on weekdays. It is free of cost and is hassle free. In 15 minutes the whole process can be over, including certificates. Very good experience.
Yellow fever vaccine- Public Health Institute. Bangalore, My called was picked at once. I called on Monday nearly 10:30 am to 11:00 am for Wednesday appointment. I was told to call on the Monday of 1 week before the travel date. The government cost of vaccine is Rs. 400/-. The staff is not unprofessional here, rather they are strict about their internal rules I suppose. One can talk to them face to face( not phone, please show some commitment) to make them understand one's emergency about the vaccination. They generally try to fix appointments so that the vaccine bottle/ vial is used completely. Each vial has doses for 10 people and not assigning people by appointment will lead to wastage of the vaccine. They also entertain people without appointment but only after people with appointments are done( nearly after 12:30 pm) and if people without appointment are in good numbers such that opening a new 10 people vaccine vial does not lead to its wastage by serving only 2-3 people.
This is personal experience. Experiences can be different for others.
Rehana
Thank you so much for penning this down! i was going crazy looking for Polio Vaccination as my travel date is nearing! Hope you had a wonderful trip! 🙂
Roasted Nuts
How do I find out which vaccination centers are recognized by the authorities?
Srinivas
Aravind, Thx so much for the useful inputs on the travel requirements to Kenya. I had similar situation as you had for Yellow Fever vaccination, at Public Health Services…no appointment, waited for 2 hours and got it done. Next step was Polio vaccination. I tried calling all the vaccination center numbers listed on Dept of health ministry and also few i got from my travel agent. Finally I caled Manjula @Dasappa Hospital and took an appointment. She is awesome, the way she spoke. I will thank her when i meet her tomorrow. It is very rare to find such Govt Employees. Thx for the post again.
aravindgj
Srinivas,
Thanks for commenting. Good to hear that the experience of Dasappa hospital.
All the best for your travel.
Jayaram Balasubramanian
I fully endorse with the views as far as Dr. Manual of immunization center, Dasappa Hospital. She is an exemplary human being and an outstanding govt staff and the Dasappa hospital should be proud of having such a person there.
Why, please read the story below. After a harrowing time previous day searching for District health family welfare center, i came across this review and he mentioned about Manjula and her pH no also. I called Manjula and asked for an appointment for getting opv. Though, Thursday was not a regular day for administering vaccine, she told me to come by 10 to 11 am on Thursday. I was promptly before time and waiting. Meanwhile, she sent me a message that she might come little late due to traffic. I was really surprised rather overwhelmed by her concern towards me in keeping me to wait. She came around 10.30 am and everything was done in 5 minutes. She again felt sorry for the delay. I have never seen a Govt staff in my life so far. We may require many more like her. Let God bless her for long life. She created such an impression that I could never forget her.
aravindgj
Jayaram,
Good to hear about your nice experience.
Darshana V
Hi. How did others get the appointment? Did you ask them? And can you suggest a private clinic where Yellow fever vaccination can be done?
aravindgj
People used to come via some “agents”. I do not remember the name of private clinics now but you should be able to find it by searching in internet.