The federal government has announced its plan to phase out the old version of Yellow Card and replace it with e-Yellow Card with effect from July 1.
The permanent secretary in the federal ministry of health, Mr. Abdulaziz Mashi said in a statement in Abuja on Friday that the new card contains enhanced security features that could be verified anywhere in the world by scanning the bar code or checking the card number on the yellow card portal.
He explained that Yellow Card is proof of vaccination against yellow fever.
He said the document is a requirement for international travelers from risk countries like Nigeria and as evidence that the carrier is vaccinated against the disease.
He added that the introduction of the new e-Yellow Card is to address the issue of fake which hitherto constituted a source of national embarrassment.
Mashi said with effect from July 1, the new e-Yellow Card would be the only valid documented proof of vaccination against yellow fever.
He explained that yellow fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by a virus transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, and may cause fatal illness.
He said Nigeria and some other countries are endemic for yellow fever.
Consequently, he said travellers to endemic countries are at risk of exposure to infection by the yellow fever virus hence the mandatory vaccination against the disease.
Mashi also said the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that all international travellers, aged nine months and above and are visiting Nigeria, must be vaccinated against yellow fever.
He added that additional measures are adopted at points of entry for the prevention and control of yellow fever.
He said one of the measures is mandatory requirement of evidence of vaccination against Yellow fever on arrival in Nigeria.
He also said some countries require evidence of vaccination against yellow fever as a condition for entry.
Mashi said from July 1, travellers arriving in Nigeria without proof of yellow fever vaccination would be vaccinated at points of entry and issued the card, after payment.
He enjoined the public to cooperate with the ministry through port health services division, to prevent and control cross-border transmission of yellow fever by taking the vaccination and obtaining the e-Yellow Card.
He said Nigeria is part of the global coalition and movement to eliminate yellow fever epidemic by 2026.
