The document provides information on yellow fever vaccination for travel. It states that vaccination is highly effective protection against yellow fever that lasts a lifetime with a single dose. It should be received at least 10 days before travel to areas where yellow fever is a risk. Some countries require proof of vaccination to enter. The vaccination is not recommended for certain groups like young children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals. Side effects are usually mild. Precautions against mosquito bites are also important.

1. Yellow Fever Vaccination

2.  Luckily, there is a very effective vaccination for yellow fever. Some countries require proof of
vaccination (a certificate) against yellow fever before they let you enter the country.
 Vaccination is the single most effective way of preventing yellow fever. In the UK, Stamaril
(produced by Sanofi Pasteur MSD) is the only licensed yellow fever vaccine. A single dose of
the yellow fever vaccine will protect against yellow fever for life. It is no longer
recommended to have a booster dose every 10 years (WHO, World Health Organisation, July
2016).
 Ideally, you should have the yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days before your travel. This
will allow enough time for your body to develop protective antibodies against the yellow fever
infection.

3. The yellow fever vaccination is recommended for:
 Anyone traveling to, or living in, areas or countries where yellow fever is endemic.
 Anyone traveling to a country where an International Certificate of Vaccination or
Prophylaxis (ICVP) against yellow fever is required for entry.
 You must have a yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days before you travel. This will
allow enough time for your body to develop protective antibodies against the yellow
fever infection.

4. Certificate of proof of vaccination
 Under regulations set out by the World Health Organization (WHO), anyone traveling to a
country or area where the Aedes aegypti mosquito is found must have the vaccine or have an
International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP). You can find a list of all the
countries that require you to have an ICVP in the WHO International travel and health guide.
You can also search the country information on NaTHNaC to find out whether the places you
are visiting require an ICVP.
 If you have been traveling in an “at-risk” area during the past month, it is a good idea to carry
your certificate with you. This will help avoid potential problems with immigration. It is
possible for travelers without a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to be vaccinated and
held in isolation for up to 10 days. An ICVP is not required for entry into the UK.
 If you lose your certificate, you may be able to get another one reissued as long as you have
details of the vaccination batch number and the date you had the vaccination.
 Always consult staff at a designated vaccination centre if you are planning to travel to an area
where there is a risk of getting yellow fever. If you tell them where you are traveling to, they
will be able to advise you about whether you need to be vaccinated against yellow fever and
whether you need an ICVP.

5. Who should not be vaccinated?
People who should not have the yellow fever vaccination include:
 Babies under nine months of age – babies who are six to nine months old should only be
vaccinated if the risk of getting yellow fever during travel is unavoidable.
 Pregnant women – unless the risk of yellow fever is unavoidable.
 Breastfeeding women – unless the risk of yellow fever is unavoidable.
 People whose immune systems are lowered (immunosuppressed) – such as people with HIV
and those receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
 People who are allergic to eggs – the vaccine contains small amounts of egg white protein,
albumin.

6.  People who have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the yellow
fever vaccine.
 People who are allergic to any of the ingredients in the vaccine (including eggs).
 People who have a condition that affects the thymus gland (part of your immune system that is
located in your upper chest).
 People who are currently very unwell (such as with a high fever) – this is to avoid confusing
the diagnosis of your current illness with any side effects from the vaccine.
 Yellow fever naïve travellers – those who have not been previously exposed to the vaccine
who are 60 years of age or over should be individually assessed by the travel doctor or nurse.

7. Exemption letters
 In cases where having a yellow fever vaccination is not advised, your GP may be able to issue
you with an exemption letter. The letter should be written on headed notepaper and include the
practice details.
 It may be accepted by some immigration authorities although this is not guaranteed. If you are
traveling from an area where there is a risk of yellow fever without a valid yellow fever
certificate, immigration officials are legally entitled to quarantine you for a period of at least
seven days at the point of arrival into a country.

8. Side effects of the vaccine
 After having the yellow fever vaccine, 10-30% of people will have mild side effects
such as: headache, muscle pain, soreness at the injection site and mild fever.
 Reactions at the injection site usually occur one to five days after being vaccinated,
although other side effects may last for up to two weeks.
 An allergic reaction to the vaccine occurs in one case out of every 130,000 doses of the
vaccine that are given. Yellow fever vaccine-associated neurological disease (YEL-
AND).
 Rarely, the yellow fever vaccine is associated with a neurological condition known as
yellow fever vaccine-associated neurological disease (YEL-AND). Neurological
means that it affects the nerves and the nervous system, including the brain and
spinal cord.
 YEL-AND occurs in around four cases out of every 1 million doses given. However,
for people who are 60 years of age or over and yellow fever vaccine naïve, the
incidence of YEL-AND increases to around one in every 50,000. This needs to be
balanced against the risk of acquiring the disease.

9. Preventing mosquito bites
As well as getting the yellow fever vaccination before traveling, you should also take
steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. The mosquitoes that carry yellow fever bite
during daylight hours. Although it may not always be possible, you should try to:
 Avoid places where mosquitoes live, such as swamps, forests and jungles
 Choose air-conditioned accommodation. Mosquitoes do not like air-conditioned
spaces.
 Choose accommodation with mesh screening over the windows and doors.
 Wear loose fitting, long-sleeved tops and trousers, even in the heat of day.
 Use insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin, such as Jungle Formula. 50%
DEET is sufficient.
 Burn a mosquito coil or use a plug-in device that releases insecticide in your
accommodation.
 Use a mosquito net where possible, especially in bedrooms that are not air-
conditioned.

10. 
Country: United Kingdom
Email: info@travel-doc.com
Website: www.travel-doc.com

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