KINGSTON, Jamaica – Director of Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr Marion Bullock DuCasse, on Thursday reminded people who will be travelling to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil to ensure that they are adequately immunised against measles and yellow fever and take the required malaria medication.

The Health Ministry recommended that the immunisation and medication are obtained at least 10 days before scheduled departure, a news release said.

According to Dr Bullock DuCasse, the reminder comes because, “people from a number of countries which either have an outbreak currently or are endemic for certain vaccine preventable diseases will gather in Brazil for the World Cup”.

“We are encouraging all travellers to take the necessary precaution by ensuring that they are fully immunised against measles and yellow fever and take malaria prophylaxis at least 10 days before departure.” she said.

Yellow fever vaccines are routinely administered at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Slipe Pen Road, in Kingston on Fridays and at the St James Health Department, Creek Street, Montego Bay on first Mondays and Wednesdays, and third Wednesdays and Thursdays, the release said.

Additional arrangements have been made for people to access the vaccines and receive prescriptions for the malaria prophylaxis at the Kingston and St Andrew Health Department, 5 Marescaux Road, Kingston 5.

This will be done by appointment only on Saturdays and Sundays at the Kingston and St Andrew Health Department from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm beginning this Saturday, May 17, 2014.

The Ministry said that people should call the Nursing Department at the Kingston and St Andrew Health Department at 920-8977, 926-1550-2 or 906-1291-3 to make an appointment.

Meanwhile, Dr Bullock DuCasse noted that Brazil is presently in the midst of a measles outbreak and other countries with similar situations will be represented at the Football World Cup.

“There are countries involved in the World Cup that also have the risk of transmission of yellow fever and malaria and so we want to ensure that our population is protected and also prevent a reintroduction of these diseases in Jamaica,” she explained.