How I got the Yellow Fever Vaccine in Colombia for Free ( + Tips for Cheap Vaccines)

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Vaccines are a necessary & often expensive reality of travel. But did you know vaccine cost is different in almost every country? Many budget travelers are looking to find cheap vaccines or more affordable vaccine options.

I’ve opted to get several of my vaccinations abroad at a discount (Yellow Fever & Japanese Encephalitis) and I’ll show you how you can too. Because as an American, with a horribly overpriced health-care system that’s designed to squeeze every last dollar out a patient…I knew there had to be a better way.

Before we get into the why & how of discount vaccinations, let’s take a look at vaccines for travel in general.

Common Vaccinations Needed For Travel

Depending on where in the world you’re traveling to the list of vaccinations can vary. If you’re jetting off to Iceland or most of Europe for example, you probably won’t need any.

But if you’re planning to visit somewhere a little more tropical or where certain viruses and diseases are endemic, like Thailand or Colombia, you’ll likely need a handful of vaccines.

• Typhoid
• Rabies
• Yellow Fever
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Typhoid
• Polio
• Measles
• Meningitis
• Hepatitis A, B, & C.

Now, most of these vaccines can be given at low to no cost to insured patients. But even for those with insurance not all of these vaccines can be procured so easily. Specifically, Yellow Fever & Japanese Encephalitis.

For uninsured or under-insured patients in the United States, getting vaccinated can really add up. Let’s go over some of the basic costs.

Typical Vaccine Costs in the United States

Let’s take a look at the cost of necessary vaccines without insurance in the United States.

$15-$30 General visit fee + $10-$20 Shot administration fee + Cost of Vaccine = $$$

• Rabies (3 shots total): $500-$1,000
• Yellow Fever: $150-$350
• Japanese Encephalitis (2 shots total): $450-$800
• Typhoid: $85-$300
• Meningitis: $100-$150

As a budget traveler who spends around $50 a day traveling the world, these costs seem astronomical. & that’s because they are. These are the ‘elective’ or travel related-vaccinations that most clinic & health programs in the United States don’t cover.

For the rest of the vaccines, this is a great resource for finding cheap vaccine clinics in the United States and ways to get your vaccinations at a discount or free even without insurance.

Why Vaccinations are so Important?

Most vaccines are not a personal choice. Because unlike anti-malarial drugs, whose purpose is to simply prevent you from contracting the illness, many of these vaccinations prevent you from spreading the disease to others on the off-chance you are infected.

So don’t be selfish. Get your vaccinations. Because in many of these countries the healthcare system isn’t equipped to handle these kinds of infections and illnesses.

Are Vaccines Safe?

YES.

They are safe for you & they DO NOT pose any risk to the health of you or your family. & believe me, getting the vaccine is 18365745239 times safer than becoming infected with the diseases they prevent.

But don’t trust me. I’m just a traveler (although I do have a background in the sciences & a BSN in Biology, so I’m not the worst person to go to for advice). Instead, read some of these credible & SCIENCE-BASED sources.

Try this one on Vaccine Safety or the CDC info about how vaccines are tested.

Getting Cheap Vaccines Abroad

So where do you get cheap vaccines? Abroad! In many instances, you can get vaccinated in another country (not the USA) for much cheaper than getting the vaccine at home.

I’ve done it.

& I saved more than $800 by not getting vaccinated in the United States. Here’s how you can too.

Is it Safe to get Vaccinations Abroad?

Yes.

Let’s just get this out of the way first. Vaccines are safe and regulated all over the world. As long as you’re not opting to get your vaccine in the back of a van from a man on the side of the street, you’ll be fine.

Just get your vaccine from an accredited hospital or any kind of medical clinic.

Why is it Cheaper to get Vaccines Abroad?

This is a complicated question. But it boils down to consumer prices in the United States. I’m not going to explain the entire capitalist system of America here, but basically, it boils down to the lack of competition with certain vaccines.

When a product has a monopoly in the U.S. they can sell their product for whatever they please. & since it’s a life-saving vaccination they know you’ll have to pay for it.

Where to Get Cheap Vaccines?

Not every country has access to cheap vaccines. But some do.

Look up travel clinics and local hospitals in areas you’re traveling in. Inquire about vaccine costs via email or by phone ahead of time. Some examples of cheap vaccines abroad are…

Thailand– Rabies (3 Shots Total): $45

Indonesia– Japanese Encephalitis (2 shots total): $50

India– Typhoid: $30

Colombia– Yellow Fever: Free

As you can see, these are far cheaper than the prices you would see in Canada or USA.

How to Get the Yellow Fever Vaccine in Colombia for Free

As I mentioned before I got the Yellow Fever Vaccine in Colombia. 100% for free.

I’ll cover this in detail now. Just so you can see how easy & safe it is to get vaccines in foreign countries.

First some backstory. I tried to get the Yellow Fever Vaccine in the USA. Without insurance, the cost was estimated at $250. I knew I needed the vaccine since I was planning on trekking in the Amazon Rainforest for about a week at the end of my month in Colombia. It’s a requirement to have the vaccination to enter the Amazon area & come back into metropolitan Colombia.

I didn’t want to risk getting denied entrance SO I was ready to bite the bullet and get the vaccine. However, every time I looked up the vaccine, I was met with this little warning.

& places that did offer the vaccine were far away and expensive. Which led to me getting vaccinated in Colombia. In the Bogota Airport.

Here are some simple steps for those looking to get their free Yellow Fever Vaccine.

1. Arrive at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia.
2. Head to the Departures Terminal. (2nd Floor)
3. Tucked into a hallway you’ll find this small clinic. (pictured below)
4. Once you enter, take a number and have a seat. (I had to wait about 10 minutes)
5. You’ll inform them you would like a Yellow Fever Vaccine when your number is called.
6. Sign a few forms and answer a couple of questions– Like are you allergic to eggs?
7. Receive your jab & wait for 15 minutes.
8. Then you’re fully vaccinated & good to go!!

I got my vaccine on a layover between Bogota and Cartagena. Directly after an international flight from Los Angeles, California. It was a whirlwind but it went smoothly and took about 30 minutes total.

Want More Budget Travel Tips?

If you’re looking for more ways to save money for travel (or on travel) be sure to check out these money-saving blog posts.

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