What is yellow fever?

Yellow fever (YF) is caused by a virus of the Flaviviridae family, which circulates between infected monkeys or humans and mosquitoes. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the virus, occurs primarily in African and South American countries. The mosquito’s bite leads to infection and the typical symptoms of yellow fever, which include fever, vomiting or nausea, headache, muscle pains and a characteristic yellowing of the whites of the eyes (also known as jaundice). Yellow fever is not passed from person to person.

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YF is a vaccine preventable disease. In order to prevent the international spread of YF, under the International Health Regulations, countries may require proof of vaccination, recorded in an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP). A Medical Letter of Exemption (MLoE) from vaccination which should be taken into consideration by a receiving country can be provided where a health professional advises that an individual should not be vaccinated on medical grounds.

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Yellow fever increases the risk of dehydration and can be very dangerous. It can cause haemorrhagic fever (which causes bleeding from the mouth, eyes, ears and stomach) as well as multi organ failure. The diagnosis of yellow fever involves a blood test, as the symptoms of yellow fever are very similar to those caused by other tropical diseases. There is no specific yellow fever treatment. In mild cases, patients usually rely on painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication to alleviate the symptoms. In severe cases, hospital treatment is needed.

If you are planning to visit a country where yellow fever is endemic, you will require a Yellow Fever vaccination and certificate. We at Home Vaccinations are a recognised Yellow Fever vaccination centre and we can do this for you.

 

Yellow fever countries

Yellow fever is currently known to affect people living in or travelling to 43 countries located on the African continent as well as South America.

African nations known to have a high occurrence of yellow fever include most central African nations, for example the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso.

Travellers planning a trip to South America should consider a yellow fever vaccine if travelling to Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia or Venezuela.

Please note: The countries which are considered high risk countries are constantly changing. For up to date information on the vaccines you need for your destination, please click here.

 

Prevention

There are several methods to prevent YF: mosquito control and bite avoidance, and vaccination.

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A highly effective live, attenuated (weakened) YF vaccine has been available for more than 70 years. Vaccination is recommended for persons at risk of yellow fever infection. The contraindications and precautions (see below) for this vaccine should be considered according to individual risk assessment. Persons aged 60 years or older should only be given the vaccine when there is significant and unavoidable risk of acquiring YF infection, such as travel to an area where there is current or periodic risk of YF transmission.

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Persons who travel to YF risk countries, or areas within countries with risk of transmission, without the benefit of vaccination should be advised of the risk of contracting YF. Meticulous mosquito bite avoidance measures are advised for all travellers. In addition to a timely yellow fever vaccination, you should protect yourself from mosquito bites while you are abroad. Using a mosquito repellent and wearing long sleeved-tops as well as long trousers will deter mosquitoes and reduce your risk of catching an infection. You may also wish to take a mosquito coil or plug-in device with you, to use in your accommodation. By avoiding swamps and other mosquito breeding grounds, you can minimise your exposure to insect bites. Ideally, you should stay in places with air conditioning or at least insect mesh screening in front of all windows.

 

Side effects

Most vaccinations can cause side effects in some patients. The yellow fever vaccine is no exception and you may experience side effects such as headache, muscle pain and fever in the days after you have received the jab. You may also notice swelling or redness at the injection site, which should resolve within two weeks. If you experience any other concerning side effects or do not get better within two weeks, seek medical advice.

Seek urgent medical attention immediately if you notice signs of an allergic reaction after receiving the jab. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include skin rash or hives, swellings and difficulty breathing, as well as feeling weak or faint.

 

Schedule Information 

The yellow fever jab is available at Home Vaccinations, which is a registered yellow fever centre. You need to arrange your vaccine for a date at least ten days before you travel. Once you have received the vaccine, you are protected for life (there are some exceptions to this rule, under 2 year olds for example may need a booster).

Please note that a four week minimum interval period should ideally be observed between the administration of MMR and Yellow Fever vaccines to ensure these are effective.  If you think you need protection from yellow fever urgently and leaving this gap may not be possible, please contact us for advice.

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Price 

£75

 

Yellow Fever Certificate 

A number of countries require a yellow fever certificate, which is called the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP). Other risk destinations may not ask you for a certificate, but if visiting a risk area you still need to have the vaccination. Please bear in mind, your yellow fever certificate will only become valid ten days after the injection.

Yellow fever certificates used to expire after a certain number of years. However, they are now valid for life for most people. This includes certificates which were issued before this rule changed in July 2016 and which have an expiry date on them.

If you have been vaccinated at Home Vaccinations and have lost your yellow fever certificate, our staff will be able to issue a replacement certificate. We charge an admin fee of £15 for issuing a new yellow fever certificate.

If you have been vaccinated with the Yellow Fever vaccine, you will receive a certificate free of charge.

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Additional information

For more information, click here