health
Government expanded the yellow fever vaccination plan to 10 states
The Venezuelan government has expanded its yellow fever vaccination plan, incorporating six new states into the campaign.
TL;DR
- Venezuela's interim government, led by Delcy Rodríguez, has extended its yellow fever vaccination plan to 10 states.
- Six new states – Guárico, Monagas, Sucre, Apure, Yaracuy, and Cojedes – have been added to the campaign.
- These new regions join Aragua, Barinas, Lara, and Portuguesa, where the vaccination was already underway.
- As of May 6, 793,455 doses of the yellow fever vaccine had been administered, with one dose providing lifelong protection.
- A training program has been initiated, with 15,000 students already capacitated, and plans to train a similar number for the newly incorporated states.
- In March 2026, health organizations urged Venezuelan authorities to take measures against an "onset" of yellow fever epidemic, noting cases from June 2025.
- The former Minister of Health, Nuramy Gutiérrez, confirmed "some deaths" from yellow fever in the previous year without providing figures to avoid public panic.
- As of March 10, 2026, "only seven positive cases" had been registered, with an epidemiological alert in place.
- The goal is to achieve 95% vaccination coverage, with approximately 49,000 people vaccinated up to that date, in addition to three million vaccinated in the prior decade.
- Yellow fever is endemic in about 70% of Venezuelan territory, with three ecological corridors identified for its wild circulation.
- Experts recommend a national-scale vaccination campaign due to the widespread endemic nature and risk of transmission across various regions.