5 Curiosity Jones - a year ago
Yellow Fever Vaccine ???? successfully acquired in one day! Read on for the story! We are a couple from England travelling through Mexico. We found out late one evening that Tayrona National Park in Colombia requires yellow fever vaccine on entry. We had a flight in 2 days to Guatemala and 14 days later we were due to fly to Colombia. I wouldnt have time with my itinerary to get the vaccine! Panicking I desperately searched for somewhere in Mexico City to get the vaccine. I came across the website for UNAM. In short, We took an uber to the airport in the morning arriving at 7.30 AM. We went to Terminal 1 but they said they were only carrying out covid 19 tests so we had to take the shuttle train to Terminal 2. When we arrived to this clinic in Terminal 2 initially the male receptionist told us we could not get the yellow fever vaccine today. You have to go online to fill out a form first! And a doctor would check the form and get back to us within 48 hours. I explained we are flying early the next day and begged him if there was any other way. He then said I could fill out the form on my phone and he would ask the doctors who arrive at the clinic at 9am. The form did not load on my phone! He then Kindly he gave us an ipad mini to fill the form out and helped me navigate it as even with a good grasp of spanish it wasnt easy for me! Now it was 8.30 am. He then told us to come back after 9 so we went to a cafe (theres plenty of seating, cafes and restaurants outside this clinic with free wifi). We waited and shortly after he approached us and gave us the good news that the doctor could see us and we could get our vaccines the same day. We were elated. However they needed our passports, full itinerary, proof of flights and Accomodation in Tayrona. Luckily I had everything on my phone. We went into the clinic around 9am and both of us were interviewed by a doctor, had a brief examination. The cost was around 7000 pesos for 2 vaccines. But it was cash only. Luckily there are plenty of cash machines nearby and a santander bank. By 10am we both had the vaccine and an official vaccine record book stamped and signed and ready to go. The whole experience was stressful and I dont know if our experience was typical, i wouldnt count on getting same day treatment as they could easily have been busy or turned us away. I think what helped was getting there at 8am when they opened and pleading. The reason for 5 stars then is because in the UK I dont think you could ever roll up unannounced to a capital city airport medical clinic and get a vaccine without appointment done in 2-3 hours. In Mexico our experience is that Mexicans just get things done. Plus the doctor was really polite and courteous and spoke English. The receptionist also went out his way to help us. Thank you so much!
