Yellow fever vaccine

Yellow fever is a viral illness spread by mosquitoes in some parts of the world. Vaccination may be recommended to reduce travel-related risk, while some destinations ask for a vaccination certificate because of a traveller’s route. The vaccine is live attenuated, so suitability depends on an individual health review.

A clinician will consider your destination, transit stops, age, pregnancy status, immune health, medicines, allergies, and previous vaccine reactions. The same itinerary can lead to different advice for different travellers.

Arrange a travel-health appointment well before departure and take a full itinerary, including stopovers. Bring your vaccination record and an up-to-date list of medicines. Check official entry information yourself as well, because border documentation is a separate issue from the clinical decision to vaccinate.

Use mosquito-bite prevention during travel, such as protective clothing and an appropriate repellent, even if you have had travel vaccinations.

Contact a clinician promptly if you are travelling soon, are unsure about a previous certificate, or have an immune condition, pregnancy, or past serious vaccine reaction. Seek urgent care after vaccination for difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, fainting, or a severe reaction that is getting worse.

Ask whether vaccination is recommended for your route, whether you need proof for any border crossing, and how your current medicines affect the decision. Ask about expected reactions, precautions after vaccination, and mosquito protection for your destination.