Martina Jaureguy The Argentine government announced that it will only provide free yellow fever vaccines in areas where the disease is endemic. This means that Argentines who don’t live in those places and are set to travel to countries with a high risk of yellow fever must now pay for the shot.
The Health Ministry argued that the decision responds to President Javier’s “policy of resource efficiency,” a decision in line with his “chainsaw” method of harsh austerity measures.
“The measure aims to guarantee a responsible use of public resources, prioritizing protection of those living or working in areas of proven risk of transmission,” the ministry said.
Starting Wednesday, the only places that will continue to receive free veils are the provinces of Misiones, Corrientes, and Formosa, as well as certain areas of Salta, Jujuy, and Chaco.
Citizens traveling abroad for tourism “or other private reasons” who require a vaccine will have to get one at private healthcare or vaccination facilities, the ministry added. “This way, the state will stop funding with everyone’s money the prevention of risks that are foreign to the country’s sanitary reality.”
Appointments that had already been scheduled before Wednesday, the day of the announcement, will be respected, but border health offices outside of endemic districts will not be taking new appointments. Remaining vaccine stock will be saved for future use. Local vaccination centers managed by the provinces or cities that were already providing free vaccines will continue to do so.
According to the health ministry, by only buying vaccines for the endemic areas, the state will save US$697,566 “by reducing the purchase of units by 34%.”
Yellow fever is a serious viral disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Common symptoms include sudden high fever, shivering and headaches. Serious forms of the disease can lead to death.
It also has no treatment. “The main prevention measure is the vaccine,” says an entry on the health ministry’s website. The vaccine should be applied at least 10 days before traveling to a risk area and provides lifelong protection. Its administration is recommended to people traveling to areas or countries with proven transmission of yellow fever, and some countries even require it to enter them.
Getting the vaccine in private vaccination centers hovers around AR$214,000 (around US$161).
Tourism boom in Brazil
The decision comes as the number of Argentine tourists visiting Brazil, a country particularly affected by yellow fever, considerably jumped during 2025. Brazil, which became an affordable option due to the strengthening of the peso and the weakening of the real, has seen over 2.5 million Argentine visitors in 2025.
Entries on the Argentine health ministry’s website published before the vaccination announcement state that getting the yellow fever vaccine is recommended to enter most of Brazil except for the northeastern states.
Although Brazil does not require travelers to be vaccinated against the disease, the World Health Organization recommends it for areas where there is known risk for the disease.
