Yellow Fever Vaccination

1. Yellow Fever Vaccination www.travel-doc.com

2. Yellow Fever Vaccination is a serious viral infection that’s usually spread by a type of daytime biting mosquito known as the Aedes aegypti. It can be prevented with a vaccination. • Yellow fever mainly occurs in sub-Saharan Africa (countries to the south of the Sahara desert), South America (especially the Amazon) and in parts of the Caribbean. • Yellow fever can be fatal. About 8% of people who get yellow fever die from it. www.travel-doc.com

3. Luckily, there is a very effective vaccination for yellow fever. Some countries require proof of vaccination (a certificate) against yellow fever before they let you enter the country. • Vaccination is the single most effective way of preventing yellow fever. In the UK, Stamaril (produced by Sanofi Pasteur MSD) is the only licensed yellow fever vaccine. A single dose of the yellow fever vaccine will protect against yellow fever for life. It is no longer recommended to have a booster dose every 10 years (WHO, World Health Organisation, July 2016). • Ideally, you should have the yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days before your travel. This will allow enough time for your body to develop protective antibodies against the yellow fever infection. www.travel-doc.com

4. The Yellow Fever Vaccination is Recommended For • Anyone traveling to, or living in, areas or countries where yellow fever is endemic. • Anyone traveling to a country where an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) against yellow fever is required for entry. • You must have a yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days before you travel. This will allow enough time for your body to develop protective antibodies against the yellow fever infection. www.travel-doc.com

5. Certificate of Proof of Vaccination • Under regulations set out by the World Health Organization (WHO), anyone traveling to a country or area where the Aedes aegypti mosquito is found must have the vaccine or have an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP).  • You can find a list of all the countries that require you to have an ICVP in the WHO International travel and health guide. You can also search the country information on NaTHNaC to find out whether the places you are visiting require an ICVP. • If you have been traveling in an “at-risk” area during the past month, it is a good idea to carry your certificate with you. This will help avoid potential problems with immigration. www.travel-doc.com

6. It is possible for travelers without a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to be vaccinated and held in isolation for up to 10 days. An ICVP is not required for entry into the UK. • If you lose your certificate, you may be able to get another one reissued as long as you have details of the vaccination batch number and the date you had the vaccination. • Always consult staff at a designated vaccination centre if you are planning to travel to an area where there is a risk of getting yellow fever. • If you tell them where you are traveling to, they will be able to advise you about whether you need to be vaccinated against yellow fever and whether you need an ICVP. www.travel-doc.com

7. Side Effects Of The Vaccine • After having the yellow fever vaccine, 10-30% of people will have mild side effects such as: headache, muscle pain, soreness at the injection site and mild fever. • Reactions at the injection site usually occur one to five days after being vaccinated, although other side effects may last for up to two weeks. • An allergic reaction to the vaccine occurs in one case out of every 130,000 doses of the vaccine that are given. Yellow fever vaccine-associated neurological disease (YEL-AND). www.travel-doc.com

8. Rarely, the yellow fever vaccine is associated with a neurological condition known as yellow fever vaccine-associated neurological disease (YEL-AND). Neurological means that it affects the nerves and the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. • YEL-AND occurs in around four cases out of every 1 million doses given. However, for people who are 60 years of age or over and yellow fever vaccine naïve, the incidence of YEL-AND increases to around one in every 50,000. This needs to be balanced against the risk of acquiring the disease. www.travel-doc.com

9. Preventing Mosquito Bites • Avoid places where mosquitoes live, such as swamps, forests and jungles. • Choose air-conditioned accommodation. Mosquitoes do not like air-conditioned spaces. • Choose accommodation with mesh screening over the windows and doors. • Wear loose fitting, long-sleeved tops and trousers, even in the heat of day. www.travel-doc.com

10. Use insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin, such as Jungle Formula. 50% DEET is sufficient. • Burn a mosquito coil or use a plug-in device that releases insecticide in your accommodation. • Use a mosquito net where possible, especially in bedrooms that are not air-conditioned. www.travel-doc.com

11. Country: United Kingdom Email: info@travel-doc.com Website: www.travel-doc.com