This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Abdulaziz Mashi Abdullahi, on Friday in Abuja.

According to him, the introduction of the new e-Yellow Card, otherwise known as International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), became necessary to address the issue of fake Yellow Cards that has hitherto constituted a source of national embarrassment.

With enhanced security features that could be verified anywhere in the world by scanning the bar code or checking the card number on the Yellow Card portal, Abdullahi said with effect from July 1, the new e-Yellow Card would be the only valid documented proof of vaccination against yellow fever.

Abdullahi noted that according to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendation, all international travellers, nine months of age and above visiting Nigeria must be vaccinated against yellow fever, adding that additional measures have been adopted at points of entry for the prevention and control of yellow fever, which involves mandatory requirement of evidence of vaccination against the disease on arrival in Nigeria.

He further explained that some countries also require evidence of vaccination against yellow fever as a condition for entry, stressing that from July 1, travellers arriving Nigeria without proof of yellow fever vaccination would be vaccinated at points of entry and issued the card, after payment of the charge.