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Argentina Narrows Free Yellow Fever Shots to Endemic Areas as OPS Flags Regional Surge

Buenos Aires province says it will keep the vaccine free for those who need it, contrasting with the national policy.

Overview

  • OPS and WHO report the region’s worst yellow fever totals in more than a decade, with roughly 350 cases and 150 deaths in 2025 and a case-fatality rate above 40%, including active outbreaks in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia.
  • Argentina’s August update limits free vaccination to residents and workers in Misiones, Corrientes, Formosa and specific departments of Chaco, Salta and Jujuy; travelers must use authorized private centers and pay about 214,000–220,000 pesos for the single dose.
  • The national Health Ministry defends the restriction as a resource-efficiency step that cuts purchases by 34% for an estimated US$697,566 saving, while monitoring the situation without restoring universal free access for travelers.
  • Leading scientific societies urge a review, warning that unvaccinated travelers could introduce the virus into areas with Aedes aegypti and low immunity, including the Buenos Aires metropolitan area.
  • Buenos Aires province commits to continued free vaccination at public facilities, whereas the city government aligns with the national approach and focuses on reinforcing prevention messaging.