EXCEPT for the very slight sensation I felt when the needle pierced my skin, the process to get my yellow fever vaccine was painless. In fact, I was in and out of the Comprehensive Health Centre on Slipe Pen Road in Kingston in about an hour, although I had gone there with the preconceived notion that it would take me several hours to access the service.

I was pleasantly surprised and grateful, to say the least.

Since May, the Ministry of Health has been encouraging individuals to get vaccinated before travelling to yellow fever-affected countries. The ministry’s advisory follows a recent rise in yellow fever cases in some parts of Africa, and continued risk in some South and Central American countries. I will be leaving the island soon, so I decided to ignore my fear of needles and get vaccinated.

So, on June 21, I got to the health centre about 9:50 am. I was directed to a man at the front desk. After I informed him that I was there to get the yellow fever vaccine, he asked if I am sure I had not been vaccinated before and the country to which I would be travelling.

I suppose he was satisfied with my responses because he then told me that I would have to pay $1,500 to get the vaccine. I paid and was directed to another area of the health centre to wait to be given a receipt.

I must admit I had a little difficulty finding where I was supposed to go, since I have no sense of direction, but I eventually found it.

I was given my receipt shortly after and while sitting among a group of people who were also waiting to get the vaccine, we were approached by a nurse who informed us that she would be administering the vaccine (I had no intention of doing a story, so forgive me for forgetting her name).

Thinking the next step was being stuck with a needle, I was impressed when she started giving us a small lecture on the yellow fever vaccine, complete with information about how much would be administered and the possible reactions we might have as well as what to do if they materialise. She also informed us that the yellow fever vaccine is safe and that a single dose provides lifelong immunity against the disease.

Then it was time for my needle prick.

I was asked a few personal questions, including my date of birth, contact details, as well as contact information for my next of kin, all while I closed my eyes and braced for the injection.

Surprisingly, I almost didn’t notice the needle prick and was happy when the nurse told me she was finished.

I signed, collected my International Certificate of Vaccination, and was on my way out by 10:50 am.

Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the service offered and the level of professionalism displayed. Getting the yellow fever vaccine really was a painless process, and if you need to get it, all you might need is just your lunch hour.

Yellow fever is an acute illness transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same vector that transmits the chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses.

Yellow fever symptoms may be mild and go unnoticed, or may be severe and affect many organ systems. Symptomatic illness begins with fever, chills, headache, backache, general muscle pain, upset stomach, and vomiting. In severe cases where the disease progresses, weakness, jaundice, bleeding of the gums, hematemesis (vomiting of blood), and the presence of blood and protein in the urine may occur. In most patients, these symptoms improve after three to four days.