Yellow fever is a serious viral infection spread by infected mosquitoes in parts of Africa, Central and South America. It can cause fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea and jaundice, and severe illness may lead to bleeding, organ failure or death. There is no specific antiviral treatment for yellow fever, so vaccination and careful mosquito-bite prevention are important parts of travel planning.
Some countries require travellers to show proof of yellow fever vaccination before entry. Others recommend vaccination because yellow fever is present in parts of the country. Requirements can also apply when travelling through, or transiting for a specified period in, a country where yellow fever occurs. The rules can change and depend on your itinerary, including airport transfers and stopovers.
Who may need a yellow fever vaccine?
You may be advised to have a yellow fever vaccination if you are travelling to an area where yellow fever occurs and your activities or accommodation could expose you to mosquitoes. This includes some destinations in sub-Saharan Africa, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The risk is not necessarily the same throughout a country, so the exact destination and route matter.
You may also need an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), commonly known as a yellow fever certificate, to enter a country. A certificate may be requested if you have recently travelled from a country with yellow fever risk, even when yellow fever is not present at your final destination. Some countries require proof from travellers arriving after a period of transit through a risk country.
Travel requirements are based on your complete itinerary rather than simply your holiday destination. Before booking, check the latest country-specific advice and discuss your route with a travel health professional. This is particularly important for multi-country trips, overland travel, cruise itineraries and long airport stopovers.
When should you book?
Book a travel health consultation as early as possible, ideally at least four to six weeks before departure. This allows time to assess your vaccinations, review any medical conditions or medicines, arrange other travel vaccines and discuss malaria prevention and mosquito-bite avoidance.
The yellow fever certificate becomes valid 10 days after the primary vaccination. If you are travelling to a country that requires proof of vaccination, you must have received the vaccine at least 10 days before the certificate is needed. Leaving vaccination until the last minute could therefore affect your travel plans or cause difficulties at border control.
Some travellers require an individual risk assessment before vaccination. If vaccination is not suitable, a medical waiver may sometimes be issued, but acceptance is determined by the authorities in the country you are visiting. A waiver does not guarantee entry, so it is important to seek advice well before travel.
Who may not be able to have the vaccine?
Yellow fever vaccine is a live vaccine and is not suitable for everyone. The clinician will assess your health, age, previous vaccination history and itinerary before making a recommendation. Tell the pharmacist if you:
- Have previously had a serious allergic reaction to a yellow fever vaccine or any of its ingredients
- Have a condition that affects your immune system or take medicines that suppress immunity
- Have a disorder affecting the thymus gland or have had thymus surgery
- Are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding
- Have HIV or another condition requiring specialist medical advice
- Are travelling with an infant or a child who may be too young for routine vaccination
- Are aged 60 or over and have not previously received yellow fever vaccine
Children younger than nine months are generally not vaccinated because of the risk of serious vaccine-related complications. Vaccination between six and eight months may be considered only in exceptional circumstances following a careful specialist risk assessment. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, immune problems and older age do not automatically mean that vaccination is impossible, but the balance of travel-related risk and vaccine-related risk must be considered individually.
What happens at a yellow fever vaccination appointment?
At Murrayfield Pharmacy, the appointment begins with a detailed travel health consultation. The clinician will ask about your destinations, dates, accommodation, planned activities, transit points and previous travel vaccinations. They will also review relevant medical history, allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding, immune status and regular medicines.
If vaccination is appropriate, the yellow fever vaccine is given as an injection, usually into the upper arm. The clinician will provide advice about expected side effects, mosquito-bite prevention and any additional vaccinations or medicines that may be suitable for your trip. Your vaccination details will be recorded and, where appropriate, an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis will be completed.
Most people experience no serious problems after vaccination. Common effects can include soreness at the injection site, headache, muscle aches, tiredness or a mild fever. These symptoms are usually short-lived. Serious reactions are uncommon, but seek urgent medical help if you develop symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as breathing difficulty, facial swelling or widespread rash.
How long does protection last?
For most people, one properly administered yellow fever vaccination provides long-lasting protection, and an International Certificate of Vaccination is generally valid for life. Routine booster doses are not usually needed for international entry requirements. However, some people may need individual advice about additional doses, including those with certain immune conditions or those whose previous vaccination was given in circumstances where the response may have been reduced.
Even after vaccination, you should avoid mosquito bites. Wear loose-fitting clothing that covers your arms and legs, use an effective insect repellent, sleep in screened or air-conditioned rooms where possible, and use mosquito nets when appropriate. Yellow fever mosquitoes may bite during the daytime as well as at night.
Why choose Murrayfield Pharmacy?
Murrayfield Pharmacy is a designated yellow fever vaccination centre at 115 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh. The travel clinic provides expert assessment and vaccination, with convenient appointments and no waiting lists. Your consultation can also cover other travel health needs, including additional travel vaccines, malaria tablets and altitude sickness medicines.
Bring your full itinerary, previous vaccination records if available, details of regular medicines and information about any relevant medical conditions. If you are travelling as a family, book an assessment for each traveller so that advice can be tailored to age, health and destination.
Book your yellow fever vaccination
Do not leave travel vaccinations until the week before departure. Book your yellow fever vaccination at Murrayfield Pharmacy for a personalised travel health assessment and clear advice before you go.