Yellow Fever Vaccination at Southgate Medical

FAQ

The Yellow Fever vaccine can prevent Yellow Fever. This vaccine is given only at designated vaccination centers. After vaccination, you will be given a stamped and signed “International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis” (yellow book). This certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination and is good for life. You will need this card as proof of vaccination to enter certain countries.

As Yellow Fever is transmitted by mosquito bites, mosquito avoidance will also minimize risk of infection. The following personal protective measures are therefore also very important:

-wearing clothes that cover most of your body,
-using an effective insect repellent, such as those containing DEET.

Mild Reactions

Yellow Fever vaccine has been associated with fever, muscle aches, and local soreness, redness or swelling at the vaccination site on the arm. These problems occur in up to 1 in 4 persons vaccinated. They usually begin soon after the vaccination, and can last for up to one week.

Severe Reactions

Severe allergic reaction to a vaccine component (about 1 person in 55,000).
Severe nervous system reaction (about 1 person in 125,000).
Life-threatening severe illness with organ failure (about 1 person in 250,000).
This risk is increased over the age of 60 ( 1in 100,000 age 60-69; 1 in 43000 age > 70)

Anyone with a severe (life-threatening) allergy to eggs.
Infants younger than 9 months of age

It may not be advisable if:

You are pregnant or breastfeeding
You have HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system.
Your immune system is weakened as a result of cancer or other medical conditions, an organ or bone marrow transplant, or radiation or drug treatment (such as steroids, cancer chemotherapy, or other drugs that affect immune cell function).
Your thymus has been removed or you have a thymus disorder, such as Myasthenia Gravis, DiGeorge syndrome, or Thymoma.

Yellow Fever vaccination provides life long protection

You will need to stay at the clinic for 15 minutes, as this is the time period during which an allergic reaction may occur.
Please contact our clinic if you have any concerns after you go home