Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Yellow Fever Vaccination
Yellow fever can be prevented by vaccination. Travelers should also take precautions against mosquito bites when in areas with yellow fever transmission. Travelers should get vaccinated for yellow fever before visiting areas where yellow fever is found.
If you continue to live or travel in yellow fever-endemic areas, you should receive a booster dose of yellow fever vaccine after 10 years.
In the United States, the vaccine is given only at designated yellow fever vaccination centers. International regulations require proof of yellow fever vaccination for travel to and from certain countries. People who get vaccinated should be given an International Certificate of Vaccination. Also note that the vaccine is to be given 10 days before travel to an endemic area.
What You Should Know:
For Health Professionals:
What You Should Know
- Pictures of Yellow Fever
Warning: Some of these photos are quite graphic. - Travelers information
Information and updates on risks for travelers, precautions, prevention, etc.
If you continue to live or travel in yellow fever-endemic areas, you should receive a booster dose of yellow fever vaccine after 10 years.
After receiving the vaccine, you should receive an International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card) that has been validated by the vaccination center. This Certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination and lasts for 10 years. You will need this card as proof of vaccination to enter certain countries.
- Side Effects
- Yellow Fever Vaccination Clinics
Only authorized providers can give this vaccine. - Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Questions and Answers
- Vaccination questions
- Search for Yellow Fever Vaccination Clinics
- Special Testing for Selected Patients with Febrile Illness Potentially Related to Yellow Fever Vaccination
- Yellow Fever Vaccine and Recent Reports of Associated Severe Illness
As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue or a vague feeling of discomfort.
- Yellow Fever vaccine-associated viscerotropic disease, neurologic disease, immunosuppression, etc.
- CDC's Vaccine Safety website
- Who should not be vaccinated with Yellow Fever vaccine?
- Pregnancy guidelines can be found in the Travelers' YellowBook
For Health Professionals
References and Resources
- MMWR: Requirements for Use of a New International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis for Yellow Fever Vaccine (January 4, 2008 / 56(51);1345-1346)
- Travelers Health: Yellow Book
Information and updates on risks for travelers, precautions, prevention, international certificate of vaccination for yellow fever, pregnancy, etc. - MMWRs articles on Yellow Fever
- Publications
- WHO's publications (exit)
Materials for Patients
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Yellow fever disease & vaccine (exit)
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
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Content last reviewed on April 23, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases