YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION

Yellow Fever is a highly fatal disease, spread by mosquitoes. It is found in parts of Africa and Central America.  Have a look at our "MAP" to see if you are going somewhere where this may be required. The vaccination is required (note this word...it is not optional!)for persons traveling to countries with Yellow Fever infected areas.

This is a LIVE attenuated virus (alive but it it cannot reproduce). The vaccination lasts for 10 years, and is effective after 10 days after the first time you have the vaccine. You must carry the vaccination certificate with your passport when you travel. We can provide you with one of these.

Side Effects and Adverse Reactions:

These are usually mild: 2 – 5% of those vaccinated have mild headache, muscle aches, low-grade fever or other minor flu-like symptoms 5 – 10 days after the vaccination (most commonly on the 6th or 7th day). Very few of these side effects curtail regular activities.

Rare but serious problems

Immediate hypersensitivity reactions, characterized by rash, wheezing or shortness of breath, are extremely uncommon and occur principally in persons with histories of egg allergy or over 65 year olds. There have been reported cases of liver failure and hospitalization for serious illness (4/100,000) and reported deaths in Australia from the vaccine (2 in the year 2001). We would ask you to wait in the clinic for 20 minutes after your immunization to ensure you have no immediate hypersensitivity reactions.

Vaccination in Children

CDC (Centre of Disease Control) recommends the vaccine be given to children greater than 9 months of age if traveling to or living in, areas of South America and Africa where Yellow Fever is officially reported, or to
countries that require Yellow Fever immunization.  Infants 6 – 9 months of age should be vaccinated only if
travel to areas of ongoing epidemic Yellow Fever is unavoidable.      

Vaccination in Pregnancy

Vaccination should be avoided during pregnancy unless travel to high-risk areas is mandatory.

Vaccination in Immunocompromised Individuals

Persons with asymptomatic HIV infection  or undergoing chemotherapy for cancer may be vaccinated if exposure to Yellow Fever cannot be avoided, and the individuals CD4 count is greater than 200/microL. Exemption certificates are also an option if this is considered too dangerous, and the trip must be taken.