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Travel health.
Clearly explained.

Yellow fever vaccine

Yellow fever vaccination protects against a mosquito-borne viral haemorrhagic fever and may also be required for an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis.

What is it?

Yellow fever occurs in parts of tropical Africa and Central and South America. Severe illness may cause jaundice, bleeding, organ failure and death.

Where it may be relevant

  • Travellers to a country or area with yellow fever transmission risk
  • People who need a certificate because of destination, transit or onward-travel rules
  • Travellers whose individual disease risk outweighs vaccine risks

Dose schedules.

The clinician will select the appropriate licensed schedule after reviewing age, health, previous doses and departure date.

Primary vaccination

Eligible travellers

Dose 1Day 0

One dose usually provides lifelong protection; certificate and clinical exceptions are assessed individually.

Who may be eligible

  • Most travellers aged nine months or over when vaccination is recommended or required
  • People attending an authorised Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre after formal risk assessment

Who may not be eligible

  • Anyone with a confirmed severe allergic reaction to a previous dose or a vaccine ingredient
  • People who are acutely unwell with a significant fever may need vaccination deferred
  • Pregnancy, breastfeeding, immune suppression and current medicines must be reviewed individually
  • Infants under six months must not receive the vaccine; ages six to eight months require exceptional specialist consideration
  • Significant immune suppression, thymus disorders, pregnancy, breastfeeding and age 60 or over require careful individual assessment because this is a live vaccine

Potential side effects

  • Pain, redness or swelling where the injection is given
  • Headache, tiredness, muscle aches or a mild fever
  • Feeling faint around the time of vaccination

Important risks and precautions

  • A severe allergic reaction is very rare and requires urgent treatment
  • Protection is not absolute, so relevant food, water, bite or exposure precautions remain important
  • The exact product and schedule must be confirmed during a clinical assessment
  • Rare serious reactions include yellow-fever-vaccine-associated neurological or viscerotropic disease
  • A certificate normally becomes valid 10 days after a first dose

Clinical references

Further information.

Information is general and does not replace a personal assessment, prescribing decision or the latest destination-specific advice.

Frequently asked questions

What does the yellow fever vaccine protect against?

It protects against yellow fever and can provide the required international certificate.

Who should consider the yellow fever vaccine?

It is relevant for risk areas and for some entry rules based on travel and transit history.

How many doses of the yellow fever vaccine are needed?

Most eligible travellers need one dose; certificate validity normally begins ten days after a first dose.

Can I have the yellow fever vaccine close to departure?

Book an assessment even when departure is close. Whether vaccination can be completed or still provide useful protection depends on the product, previous doses and time available.

Can the yellow fever vaccine be given with other vaccines?

Many vaccines can be given at the same appointment, but spacing rules can apply to some live vaccines. The clinician will check the products, your history and the proposed schedule.