Too Old to Travel?

Father made to feel 'old and vulnerable’

“My father, who is an experienced traveller, phoned up the local GP surgery to arrange for a yellow fever vaccination as he and my mother are going on an Amazonian adventure in a few weeks time.

The nurse told my father that in her opinion he should not be taking the risk of having the vaccination and that she would advise that 'at his age' it was too dangerous, she went on to say that if she had been consulted she would have recommended against my dad taking the trip at 'his age'.

Any risks associated with a vaccine are surely determined by someone's underlying general health not their age. My father is much fitter than I am, he cycles about 10 miles a day, at age 65 he cycled from Land’s End to John O'Groats in 9 days and since retiring 6 years ago he and mum have been round the world twice.

I am really annoyed because the nurse genuinely scared my dad. As of yet he has not been for the vaccination - without the yellow fever vaccination he will not be able to travel and so is potentially jeopardising his and mum's trip. He has said it has made him feel 'old and vulnerable' - neither of which I would readily associate with him.”