100% screening on flights to Belem

The national carrier, Surinam Airways (SLM) has reportedly decided to beef up screenings on all flights to Belem. “Passengers who can’t prove that they have received their yellow fever shot will not be allowed on the flight,” said SLM director Robbi Lachmising. The beefed up screenings will apply to all regional flights and not just the flights to Belem. The SLM which carries out 3 flights to Belem every week pointed out that not much has changed since the yellow fever outbreak in Brazil because they had already started taking precautionary measures 6 months ago by double checking the vaccination certificates of the passengers. If the passenger can’t provide proof, he or she will not be allowed on the flight. These are all precautionary measures which have been set by the World Health Organization (WHO). If the airliners do not stick to the guidelines, they risk getting a hefty fine. “The fine varies from country to country,” said Lachmising. If a passenger manages to pass the checkpoint of the SLM undetected, he or she will not be allowed to enter the country upon arrival.

Passengers must get the yellow fever shot 10 days prior to their departure. The WHO on July 11, 2016 announced that the international yellow fever vaccination proof is valid for a lifetime regardless of at what age one received the shot.