Yellow Fever Vaccination in Mumbai, India

Yellow Fever Vaccination is a fairly simple process, but its currently a challenge as it can be done at only a handful of centers across the India, including in Mumbai. The vaccination card is yellow, as expected, though it has little information on it, and the validity of a card is ten years. The Yellow Fever Vaccination card becomes valid two weeks after vaccination is done, so if you plan to travel, make sure you get the vaccination done at least two weeks in advance for hassle-free travel. However, in my experience most countries don't check this, but it's still good to follow this rule; woes else it would be at your own risk.

What is Yellow fever?

Yellow fever is a serious disease caused by the yellow fever virus. It is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito and cannot be spread directly from person to person. Yellow fever vaccine can prevent yellow fever. 

Yellow fever can cause:      

1. Fever and flu-like illness     

2. Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)     

3. Liver, kidney, respiratory and other organ system failure     

4. Vomiting blood     

5. Death

- Ref

Yellow Fever is common on the African continent and so for anyone visiting there needs to get vaccinated for it. It’s not just for your own safety, but also to contain the disease where it’s endemic today and prevent its spread to the rest of the world.

Here is a scan of my Yellow Fever card, in case anyone is curious.

 

If you are in Maharashtra and want to get immunised, Mumbai is the only option. Pune was to get its own centre but that not yet happened. Since immunisation is tightly controlled, no private hospitals are allowed to provide this service. And the sufferer is usually the traveller. 

Currently in Mumbai there are only two places where you can get vaccination done. Let’s quickly see which one should you take up:

Nav Bhavan Building (Seaman Hospital)

As expected this option is far far worse. Many things do not work:

1. Google maps do not help as there is no such place as Seaman Hospital – you need to locate Ramji Kamani Marg on google maps and then ask for Nav Bhavan building

2. Its extremely crowded very early in the morning as well – at 6.30am there are already 100 names in the list

3. The place says no lists should be made but, of course, there is a list and you need to put your name on it as soon as you reach. Having your name in the first 100 is no guarantee that you will get vaccinated that day.

4. No place to sit once line is formed and you are expected to line up in the open – even when it rains like Mumbai rains ;)

5. On top of all, the staff is rude at best, especially when it comes to talking to those who are in the line

Requirements for Yellow Fever Vaccination:

1. Original passport (NOT a copy)

Address:

Nav Bhavan Building

Ramji Kamani Marg

Ballard Estate

Mumbai – 400 038

Timings: 10.30 am to 12.30 pm

Number of people vaccinated: 100

Cost: Rs 300

Working days: Monday to Friday

Phone number: 022 22612256 (no one ever picks)

Airport Health Organization building

This is by far the better of the two options. Some great stuff about this place:

1. Easy to locate, its located below the flyover which goes towards the Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

2. Less crowded – actually not crowded at all

3. No need to line up from 5am onwards!

4. Place to sit as you wait for your turn

5. Friendly staff and you can also buy tea from the canteen right there in the building

6. Toilet within the building as well as in the seating area

7. Air-conditioned seating area with TV 

Requirements for Yellow Fever Vaccination:

1. A confirmed ticket to any of the countries where Yellow Fever is endemic

2. Your original passport/ CDC (NOT a copy)

Address:

Airport Health Organization

Below International Airport Flyover

Vile Parle

Mumbai – 400 009

Phone number: 022 26828991 (no one ever picks)

Timings: 10.00 am to 11.30 pm

Number of people vaccinated: 70

Cost: Rs 300

Working days: Monday to Friday

The choice to pick one amongst the two is fairly straightforward. If you have the reserved ticket, you must absolutely visit the Airport Health Organization building, and if you do not have a reserved ticket you need to go to the Nav Bhavan building (Seaman hospital). If you must go to the second option, make sure you reach there before 5am, if you come later your chances of vaccination the same day would be dim.

My personal experience

I started from Pune at before 4am and reached a little after 6.30am at the building for vaccination. Everyday there are only 100 visitors who get vaccinated and I was number 104 in the list (where you put in your name and passport number). I decided to take a chance and wait. By eight there were 132 names. Initially we were all in an old room of Nav bhavan on the ground floor, but around 9.30 am they asked us to move out and line up. The line was made on the basis of the list and one of the visitors actually volunteered to help in this. I was well within 100 at this time, as about 12 people were gone already.

Waiting inside early in the morning...

The crowd waiting before forming a line...

Some notices on wall - none are followed

They take two batches of 50 each (or so I think) and so you basically have to wait for a long time to even know if you will get a chance. I was in the line from 9.30 to 12.30 and only then go to know that I won’t get my turn today. It seems many who were not in the line originally, managed to sneak in. Unfortunately no one was in the line after no 85 could vaccinated – despite standing in alternative sun and intense rains!

After trying unsuccessfully at the Seaman Hospital, I decided to book a confirmed ticket to my destination and try again the next morning at Airport Health Organization building. I was super frustrated after my first attempt and so went to the best five star hotel around, sat in AC, ordered black coffee and chilled for a while! I also came to the Airport building once to check the timings and locate the place so that I do not struggle in the morning and waste some precious minutes. The guard told me to come around 8am.

However, after my experience at the Nav Bhavan Building, I came here at 6am and entered my name in the list right away – I was number seven there :) You can sit at the canteen and sip tea till 8.30am when they open the seating area and you can wait there till 10.00am when the vaccination actually starts. There is a TV, air conditioning and food - what more can one ask? The vaccination process takes almost no time, and its super well organized. You go in batches of ten and the doctor takes less than ten seconds to vaccinate, and before you even know you are out in the open and happy with the day :)

Airport Health Organisation building 

The canteen :)