Yellow Fever Vaccination

At a Glance

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 at least 10 days before travel to an endemic area.

What You Should Know

About the Disease

• CDC's Yellow Fever information
  Basic information about yellow fever including symptoms, treatment, transmission prevention, maps of endemic areas, and more.
• Pictures of Yellow Fever
  Warning: Some of these photos are quite graphic.
• Travelers information
  Information and updates on risks for travelers, precautions, prevention, etc.
• Timeline of Yellow Fever Disease and Vaccine
  Source: History of Vaccines

Vaccine Information

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
• Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
• Questions and Answers
• Vaccination questions
• Search for Yellow Fever Vaccination Clinics
  Only authorized providers can give this vaccine.

Beliefs & Concerns

• Special Testing for Selected Patients with Febrile Illness Potentially Related to Yellow Fever Vaccination
• Yellow Fever Vaccine and Recent Reports of Associated Severe Illness

Who Should Not be Vaccinated?

• Who should not be vaccinated with Yellow Fever vaccine?
• Pregnancy guidelines can be found in the Travelers' YellowBook

Top of Page

For Health Professionals

Vaccine Recommendations

• ACIP recommendations
• Country-specific yellow fever vaccine recommendations
  CDC Travelers' Health website

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.
• Package inserts (VF-Vax, and more package inserts...)
• Publications
• WHO's publications
• How to Become Certified to Administer Yellow Fever Vaccine
  U.S. Yellow Fever Vaccination Center Registry
• Special Testing for Selected Patients with Severe Adverse Events Potentially Related to Yellow Fever Vaccination

Provider Education

• Yellow Fever Vaccine: Information for Health Care Professionals Advising Travelers
  This continuing education course is intended for physicians, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, and public health professionals.
• Are Providers Prepared to Deliver Yellow Fever Vaccine Effectively?
• Podcasts on this topic (none available as of April 2012)

Materials for Patients

• Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Yellow fever disease & vaccine
  The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia