How long before travelling should I get the yellow fever vaccine?
Officially it is recommended to get the Yellow Fever vaccine at least 10 days before your travel date. This time frame ensures that the vaccine provides effective immunity and that the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), which you may need to enter certain countries, is valid.
Is the yellow fever vaccine free on the NHS?
The Yellow Fever vaccine is not typically provided for free on the NHS, as it’s considered a travel vaccine. Travel vaccines are usually paid for privately. However, the cost can vary, so it’s advisable to consult with your nearest travel vaccination clinic for the most current pricing and availability.
Can children have the yellow fever vaccine?
Yes, children can receive the Yellow Fever vaccine, but it’s usually recommended for those aged 9 months and older. In certain cases, it may be given to younger infants if they’re traveling to areas with a high risk of Yellow Fever. Our medical team will be ready to answer any questions you may have regarding vaccination schedule for yourself or your child.
Who is not able to have the yellow fever vaccine?
The Yellow Fever vaccine may not be suitable for certain individuals, including those with severe allergies to egg protein (as the vaccine is produced in chicken eggs), individuals with weakened immune systems, and those over 60 years of age. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also consult a healthcare provider before getting the vaccine. It’s important to discuss your medical history with a healthcare professional to determine if the Yellow Fever vaccine is safe for you.
Is the Vaccine safe?
The yellow fever vaccine has been around for many decades and most people experience minor side effects from the vaccine. There are more serious side effects associated with the vaccine which are rare. Therefore, it is important that a careful risk assessment is made prior to anyone having the vaccine. Yellow fever illness can be fatal and is not treatable. Prevention is thus, vital and the vaccine is highly effective at preventing this disease.
What are the concerns with giving the vaccine to travellers over 60 years of age?
Yellow fever vaccine can cause two serious conditions (similar to the disease itself) that can affect the neurological system and other organ systems such as the liver and kidney. The incidence of these conditions is increased if the vaccine is given to individuals over 60 years of age. These conditions only occur when the vaccine is given for the first time.
The incidence of neurological complications(YEL-AND)are:
- Individuals under 60 years of age- 4 per million doses
- Individuals over 60 years-17 per million doses
The incidence of other organ complications (Yel-AVD) are:
- Individuals under 60 years of age- 3 per million doses
- Individuals over 60 years-20.5 per million doses
Therefore, it is important that the vaccine is only given if there is significant risk of yellow fever infection. If there is no risk of yellow fever infection, then a medical exemptioncan be issued.
What is a Medical Exemption for Yellow Fever Vaccine?
The medical exemption for yellow fever applies if a traveller has any of the exclusions to the vaccine detailed above.
A medical exemption can also be issued if there is no risk of yellow fever infection, but a significant risk of an adverse reaction to the vaccine. For example, in those individuals over 60 years of age, receiving the yellow fever vaccine for the first time.
The medical exemption is a clinical decision based on a thorough risk assessment by the Travel Health Specialist. Yellow fever is a life threatening infection without treatment and thus, if there is a risk of yellow fever infection and no exclusions then the medical exemption cannot be issued.
The medical exemption is valid for a single trip only.
How long does the yellow fever vaccine take to become effective?
The vaccine and the certificate are valid from 10 days after the vaccine has been given.
If you are travelling in less than 10 days, you must ensure that you are vigilant with mosquito bite prevntion measures until the vaccine has become effective.
The valid from date on the certificate must be written as 10 days. Therefore, if you traveling before this time to a country that requires you to show proof of vaccinaiton, it is up to the border official if you are allowed entry. The valid form date cannot be altered as it is a legal document.
What happens if I lose my certificate and require it for entry to my destination?
If your certificate was issued at a CityDoc clinic, we will have the details of the vaccine recorded and can issue you a duplicate certificate.
If the vaccine was administered at another travel clinic, in order we us to issue a duplicate certificate, we would need the vaccine details, including the date it was given, the vaccine batch number and expiry date. Without this information, a duplicate cannot be issued and revaccination may be required.
The international certificate can only be issued following vaccinaiton with yellow fever.
Is it harmful to have further doses of the vaccine?
If you require revaccination, it is not harmful as you would already have antibodies from the previous vaccine. This means you are unlikely to get significant or serious side effects and your immune system will be boosted.
Is a new certificate required if the vaccine was given before July 2016 and therefore, is only valid for 10 years?
If you have a valid vaccine certificate, even if this has written a 10 year expiry date, you do not need a new certificate. This is because form July 2016, the certificate no longer has an expiry date and thus, all countries have to accept the validity of the certificate as lifelong. You simply need to show your current certificate to obtain entry.
Please note-If you do not have your original certificate and the vaccine was administered before July 2016, the duplicate certificateissued will still carry the expiry date.However, the same rule applies as above.
Only certificates issued following yellow fever vaccinations received after July 2016 will carry the lifelong validity.
As it is a live vaccine, am I infectious after vaccination?
There is no evidence that the vaccine virus shed and therefore, you cannot transmit the disease.
What happens if I am travelling to a country with yellow fever infection and have an immune condition?
The yellow fever vaccine cannot be give if you have suppressed immune system. This includes:
- Chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer within last 6 months
- Taking immunosuppressant medications withint the last 6 months, liketreatments for inflammatory arthritis such as oral steroids.
- Disorders of the immune system, such as severe HIV infection.
If the vaccine is required for risk of yellow fever infection, the advise would be to avoid travelling due to the risk and severity of yellow fever infection.
If the vaccine is required for entry purposes to the country only and there is no risk of yellow fever, a medical exemption can be issued.
Can the yellow fever vaccine be given to Individuals with HIV Infection?
As HIV infection is a spectrum of immunosuppression with some patients, especially those on treatment having near normal immune systems, the decision to give the vaccine would be based on current immune cell levels (CD4 count).
If the vaccine is required for travel to a high risk country for yellow fever, then the vaccine can be considered providing the following criteria are met:
- Laboratory evidence of blood test showing CD4 count of >200 within the last 4 weeks; and/or
- Letter from HIV specialist showing CD4 count >200 and asymptomatic from infection.
The vaccine should be given 2 weeks before travelto monitor and manage any adverse effects.
Can the vaccine be given to infants under 9 months for travel to high risk yellow fever countries?
Infants under 9 months are at increased risk of vaccine associated encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), a potentially life threatening condition.
This risk is highestin infants under 6 months of age and thus, the vaccineMUSTnever be given to this group.
The vaccine can only be considered in infants between 6-9 months of age in exceptional circ*mstances, such as travel during an outbreak or epidemic. However, we would need to discuss the exact itinerary details with NaTHNac and a decision made on their advice.
