Yellow Fever: A Travelers Guide

A quick guide about the dangers of Yellow Fever and the need to avoid it

Have you ever looked into cruises or travels to Africa or South America, and seen “yellow fever vaccine required?”

Photo by Alonso Reyes on Unsplash

 For travelers going to countries with risk of yellow fever transmission, the yellow fever vaccine is recommended or required for travelers over 9 months old. The destination country requires travelers to show their ‘yellow card’ to enter. This proof of vaccination only becomes valid 10 days after receiving the yellow fever vaccine, so plan your trip accordingly.

The yellow fever vaccine only needs to be administered once in a person’s lifetime to be accepted by countries requiring proof of vaccination, but a booster dose every ten years may be recommended for travelers going to countries with high risk of transmission. 

Travelers over 60 have a higher risk of negative reactions to the yellow fever vaccine. The two major adverse reactions to the yellow fever vaccine for mature travelers include:

Travelers aged 60 years and older should generally be in good health without immunocompromising conditions or have unavoidable travel to high risk areas to receive the yellow fever vaccine. Medical exemptions are issued when the destination country is at low risk for yellow fever transmission and the yellow fever vaccine is contraindicated for the traveler due to specific health conditions. A medical exemption is not always accepted at the destination, so even if you are granted a medical exemption, you may not be able to enter the country. 

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People who have experienced the following are not eligible for yellow fever vaccination at Away Clinic:

-Previous reaction to a yellow fever vaccine 

-Age <6 months

-Anaphylactic reaction to egg, chicken, or gelatin 

-Immunosuppression (HIV/AIDS, cancer, thymus disorder, etc.)

-Organ transplantation

The yellow fever vaccine is a necessary preventative measure for many travels, but insect repellant is still recommended. Insect repellant with DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus is best to deter mosquitoes during your trip. Most insect repellants should be applied one to three times a day. Additionally, mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn, so try to minimize your exposure during those times.

If you are unsure about your eligibility for the yellow fever vaccine, your primary care physician can provide guidance regarding your medications and health history prior to receiving the yellow fever vaccine. For Arizona residents, the yellow fever vaccine is always available at Away Clinic!