Yellow fever vaccine
1. WHAT IS YELLOW FEVER?
Yellow fever is a serious disease caused by the yellow fever virus. It is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito and cannot be spread directly from person to person. It is found in certain parts of Africa and South America.
Yellow fever can cause -
People with yellow fever disease usually have to be hospitalised.
2. HOW CAN I PREVENT YELLOW FEVER?
Yellow fever vaccine can prevent yellow fever.
Yellow fever vaccine is given only at approved vaccination centres. After receiving the vaccine, you should receive an International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card) that has been validated by the vaccination centre. This certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. You will need this card as proof of vaccination to enter certain countries. Recently it has been recognised that a single vaccination usually confers lifelong immunity, and so the requirement for a booster shot after 10 years will be removed by June 2016, except for high risk individuals (such as those with HIV, or infants).
Please make sure you discuss your travel itinerary with your doctor or nurse before you receive your yellow fever vaccination.
Other Preventive Measures:
As with any disease transmitted by mosquitoes, precautions and insect repellent are also recommended to prevent exposure to yellow fever virus. These precautions include remaining in well-screened areas, wearing clothes that cover most of the body, and using effective insect repellent (ie, containing up to 50% N, N-diethylmetatoluamide [DEET] ) on skin and clothing.
3. WHAT ARE THE RISKS FROM YELLOW FEVER VACCINE?
A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of a vaccine causing serious harm or death is extremely small.
Reactions are less likely to occur after a booster dose of yellow fever vaccine than after the first dose.
Mild problems:
Severe problems (estimates based on passive reporting):
4. WHAT IF THERE IS A MODERATE OR SEVERE REACTION?
What should I look for?
Look for any unusual condition, such as a high fever, behaviour changes or flu-like symptoms that occur 1-30 days after vaccination. Signs of an allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat or dizziness within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot.
What should I do?
5. WHO SHOULD GET YELLOW FEVER VACCINE?
Yellow fever vaccine may be given at the same time as most other vaccines.
6. WHO SHOULD NOT GET YELLOW FEVER VACCINE?
Check with your doctor before getting yellow fever vaccine if you -
If you are 65 years or older, discuss with your physician the risks and benefits of vaccination in the context of your risk for exposure to yellow fever virus based on your destination.
If you cannot get the vaccine because of a medical reason and proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for your travel, your doctor can give you a waiver letter. When planning to use a waiver letter, you should also obtain specific advice from the embassy of the country or countries you plan to visit.
If you cannot get the vaccine, discuss with your doctor other ways to prevent yellow fever.
Yellow fever is a serious disease caused by the yellow fever virus. It is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito and cannot be spread directly from person to person. It is found in certain parts of Africa and South America.
Yellow fever can cause -
- Fever and flu-like illness
- Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)
- Liver, kidney, respiratory and other organ system failure
- Vomiting blood
- Death
People with yellow fever disease usually have to be hospitalised.
2. HOW CAN I PREVENT YELLOW FEVER?
Yellow fever vaccine can prevent yellow fever.
Yellow fever vaccine is given only at approved vaccination centres. After receiving the vaccine, you should receive an International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card) that has been validated by the vaccination centre. This certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. You will need this card as proof of vaccination to enter certain countries. Recently it has been recognised that a single vaccination usually confers lifelong immunity, and so the requirement for a booster shot after 10 years will be removed by June 2016, except for high risk individuals (such as those with HIV, or infants).
Please make sure you discuss your travel itinerary with your doctor or nurse before you receive your yellow fever vaccination.
Other Preventive Measures:
As with any disease transmitted by mosquitoes, precautions and insect repellent are also recommended to prevent exposure to yellow fever virus. These precautions include remaining in well-screened areas, wearing clothes that cover most of the body, and using effective insect repellent (ie, containing up to 50% N, N-diethylmetatoluamide [DEET] ) on skin and clothing.
3. WHAT ARE THE RISKS FROM YELLOW FEVER VACCINE?
A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of a vaccine causing serious harm or death is extremely small.
Reactions are less likely to occur after a booster dose of yellow fever vaccine than after the first dose.
Mild problems:
- Soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given
- Fever
- Aches
Severe problems (estimates based on passive reporting):
- Life-threatening allergic reaction (approx. 1 reported per 131,000 doses)
- Severe nervous system reactions (approx. 1 reported per 150,000-200,000 doses)
- Life-threatening severe illness with major organ system failure (approx. 1 per 200,000-300,000 doses or per 40,000-50,000 doses in people 60 yrs of age and older). More than half of the people who suffer these side effects, die.
4. WHAT IF THERE IS A MODERATE OR SEVERE REACTION?
What should I look for?
Look for any unusual condition, such as a high fever, behaviour changes or flu-like symptoms that occur 1-30 days after vaccination. Signs of an allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat or dizziness within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot.
What should I do?
- Call a doctor or get the person to a doctor right away
- Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened and when the vaccination was given
5. WHO SHOULD GET YELLOW FEVER VACCINE?
- Persons 9 months of age or older travelling to or living in a country that requires yellow fever vaccination for certain travellers. Check with your healthcare provider.
- Persons 9 months of age or older travelling to a country that does not require yellow fever vaccination but is located in an area where the risk of yellow fever is known to exist. Check with your healthcare provider.
Yellow fever vaccine may be given at the same time as most other vaccines.
6. WHO SHOULD NOT GET YELLOW FEVER VACCINE?
- Persons who have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to eggs, chicken, gelatine or to a previous yellow fever vaccine.
- Infants younger than 9 months of age. For infants 6-8 months of age who cannot avoid travel to a yellow fever area, discuss vaccination with the doctor. Under no circumstances should infants younger than 6 months of age be vaccinated.
- Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid or postpone travel to a yellow fever area. If travel cannot be avoided, discuss vaccination with your doctor.
Check with your doctor before getting yellow fever vaccine if you -
- have a history of allergy to eggs, chicken or gelatin
- have HIV, AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system
- have been under treatment for two weeks or longer with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids have any kind of cancer are taking cancer treatment with xrays or drugs
- your thymus gland has been removed or if you have a history of problems with your thymus, such as myasthenia gravis, DiGeorge syndrome or thymoma
If you are 65 years or older, discuss with your physician the risks and benefits of vaccination in the context of your risk for exposure to yellow fever virus based on your destination.
If you cannot get the vaccine because of a medical reason and proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for your travel, your doctor can give you a waiver letter. When planning to use a waiver letter, you should also obtain specific advice from the embassy of the country or countries you plan to visit.
If you cannot get the vaccine, discuss with your doctor other ways to prevent yellow fever.