The vaccine, and where can I get it?

You should have an injection of vaccine at least 10 days before the date of travel to allow immunity to develop. A single dose of vaccine provides immunity for at least 10 years, maybe even for life. However, a booster dose (and a repeat certificate of immunisation) is recommended every 10 years if you are still at risk.

Yellow fever vaccine can only be given at accredited centres. You can find a list of accredit centres in the US at the CDC's website here.

The vaccine stimulates your body to make antibodies against the yellow fever virus. These antibodies protect you from illness should you become infected with this virus.

Are there any possible side-effects from the vaccine?

About 1-3 in 10 people who are immunised with yellow fever vaccine have mild headache, muscle aches, mild fever or soreness at the injection site. This usually happens up to 14 days after the injection. Severe reactions are rare, but the risk increases with age.

Who should not receive the yellow fever vaccine?

The yellow fever vaccine is not usually given under the following circumstances, although advice should be taken from your doctor or practice nurse.

• If you:
  • are taking cancer chemotherapy, or are having generalised radiotherapy, or if you have had such therapy in the preceding six months
  • are taking immunsuppressive treatment for an organ transplant
  • have had a bone marrow transplant in the previous six months
  • are taking steroid tablets long-term
  • are HIV positive or have another immune deficiency condition (travellers who are HIV positive may be advised to take the vaccine)
  • have a thymus disorder.
• If you are ill with a fever you should postpone the injection until you are better.
• As a rule, pregnant women should not be immunised. However, the risk is theoretical. If it is impossible to avoid areas where yellow fever is a problem, then the risk from the vaccine would be much less than the risk from catching yellow fever.
• You should not have the yellow fever vaccine if you have had a severe reaction in the past to egg. (This is because the vaccine contains small amounts of egg. A severe reaction to egg is very rare and it does not mean an upset stomach eating eggs, or disliking eggs.)
• Children under 9 months old should not receive the yellow fever vaccine.
• Older travellers (those aged over 60 years) who have not previously been vaccinated against yellow fever are at higher risk of side effects with the yellow fever vaccine.