travel after yellow fever vaccine

Yellow Fever Vaccination

Vaccines recommended for travel and some specific groups.

Yellow fever can be prevented by vaccination. Travelers should also take precautions against mosquito bites when in areas with yellow fever transmission. Travelers should get vaccinated for yellow fever before visiting areas where yellow fever is found.

For most travelers, a single dose of yellow fever vaccine provides long-lasting protection, and a booster dose of the vaccine is not needed. However, some travelers may require a booster dose. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine if you may need a dose of yellow fever vaccine or a booster dose before your trip to an area at risk for yellow fever.

In the United States, the vaccine is given only at designated yellow fever vaccination centers. International regulations require proof of yellow fever vaccination for travel to and from certain countries. People who get vaccinated should be given an International Certificate of Vaccination. Also note that the vaccine is to be given at least 10 days before travel to an endemic area.

Basic information for people interested in the vaccine...

Vaccine recommendations and contraindications; composition, dosage, and administration; handling and storage...

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• Travel vaccinations

Yellow fever vaccine

Peer reviewed by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP Last updated by Dr Toni Hazell Last updated 10 Feb 2023

Meets Patient’s editorial guidelines

In this series: Travel vaccinations Hepatitis A vaccine Hepatitis B vaccine Rabies vaccine Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine Typhoid vaccine

Yellow fever is a serious disease. You should be immunised against yellow fever before you travel to certain countries.

In this article :

What is yellow fever, what country requires the yellow fever vaccine, who should have the yellow fever vaccine, where can i get the yellow fever vaccine, how does the yellow fever vaccine work, when should you get the yellow fever vaccine, what are the side-effects of yellow fever vaccine, who should not receive the yellow fever vaccine.

You may need an International Certificate of Vaccination to prove you have been immunised, as some countries will not allow you entry unless you can produce one. Check with your practice nurse several months before you travel to see if you need the yellow fever vaccine. You will only be able to get it from your GP if they are a designated yellow fever centre - if not then you will have to see a private travel clinic. Since 2020 there have been some shortages of this vaccine, so allow plenty of time before you travel to get it sorted out.

Continue reading below

Yellow fever is a serious disease caused by the yellow fever virus which is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and which infects humans and other primates (for example, monkeys).

For some people it can cause a flu-like illness from which they recover completely. However, for other people it causes symptoms of high temperature (fever), being sick (vomiting), yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes (jaundice) and bleeding. This is fatal in about 1 in 12 cases. There is no medicine that can destroy the virus, so treatment is to support the person medically whilst they fight the infection themself.

Yellow fever is passed to humans and other primates such as monkeys by mosquitoe bites from a type which tend to bite during daylight hours. (These are different to the type of mosquitoes which carry malaria, which tend to bite from dusk to dawn.)

Yellow fever occurs in certain countries of Africa and South and Central America. In the distant past it has been present in Europe and Asia but these parts of the world are currently free of yellow fever.

Yellow fever is not transmitted directly from person to person; the mosquito is needed to carry the infection from one human to another. Therefore, whilst vaccination offers high protection against yellow fever infection, taking steps to avoid being bitten is also an important part of avoiding the disease.

Travellers over the age of 9 months to countries where yellow fever is a risk. Some countries require an International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever before they will let you into the country. Yellow fever is the only disease which routinely requires proof of vaccination:

In some countries, vaccination is compulsory for all incoming visitors.

In some countries, vaccination is compulsory for those who have travelled from a 'yellow fever' area or country.

Your doctor or practice nurse may be able to advise if you should be immunised for your travel destination and whether you need this certificate of vaccination. Not all practices have the resources to do this - if yours doesn't then you'll need to go to a private travel clinic.

Workers who handle material that may be infected by the yellow fever virus - for example, laboratory workers.

People who are resident in areas where yellow fever is present.

The purpose of vaccination for travellers is two-fold:

Firstly it is to protect you from catching yellow fever.

Secondly it is to protect local populations from catching yellow fever from you, leading to an epidemic. Some countries are theoretically in danger of epidemics, as they have the right mosquitoes to transmit the virus, and have the kinds of monkeys who could become infected and act as a store or reservoir for the virus. They therefore require visitors to be immunised.

Yellow fever vaccine can only be given at accredited centres. Many GP practices (but not all) are accredited. If your local GP practice is not accredited you can find a list of the nearest available centres from NaTHNaC (see 'Further Reading and References', below). You will then be issued with a vaccination certificate which gives the date your vaccine will become effective.

The vaccine stimulates your body to make antibodies against the yellow fever virus. These antibodies protect you from illness should you become infected with this virus. The yellow fever vaccine is a live vaccine which can be given at the same time as other vaccines.

You should have an injection of vaccine at least ten days before the date of travel to countries with yellow fever to allow immunity to develop.

A single dose of vaccine was previously considered to provide immunity for at least 10 years. In 2013 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that a single injection can be considered to give lifelong immunity. The International Health Regulations have not yet been altered to reflect this and so the certificate is only valid for 10 years, after which a booster is needed.

Some countries now accept it as being valid for life, so it is important to check the regulations for the countries you are visiting. You can do this on the WHO or National Travel Health Network and Centre (NatHNaC) websites or at your GP surgery.

Severe reactions after receiving the yellow fever vaccine are very rare but mild reactions can last for up to 14 days. Common side-effects of the vaccine may include feeling generally unwell, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, mild fever or soreness at the injection site. Always contact a doctor if you have any concerns. A more serious, but rare, side-effect is encephalitis or infection in the brain. Most people recover fully from this side-effect which presents between 2 and 56 days after the vaccine with a fever or headache which may progress to confusion and a coma. This serious side-effect is more common in those aged over 60, who should therefore only have the vaccine if there is a serious and unavoidable risk of catching yellow fever.

The yellow fever vaccine is not usually given under the following circumstances, although advice should be taken from your doctor or practice nurse:

If you have reduced immunity (immunosuppression) - for example, people with HIV, people taking high-dose long-term steroids, people receiving chemotherapy, etc.

If you are ill with a fever you should ideally postpone the injection until you are better.

As a rule, pregnant women should not be immunised with this vaccine, although if travel is unavoidable then the woman and her doctor will need to make an assessment of the risks versus the benefits of having the vaccine - a private travel specialist would need to be approached for this, rather than your GP.

This vaccine may be given if you are breastfeeding and cannot avoid being at high risk of catching yellow fever, but expert advice should be sought before doing so.

You should not have the yellow fever vaccine if you have had a severe (anaphylactic) reaction in the past to egg. (This is because the vaccine contains small amounts of egg. A severe reaction to egg is very rare and it does not mean an upset stomach eating eggs or disliking eggs.)

Children under 9 months old should not receive the yellow fever vaccine. (Babies aged 6-9 months may occasionally receive the vaccine if the risk of yellow fever during travel is unavoidable.)

Older travellers (those aged over 60 years) who have not previously been vaccinated against yellow fever are at a higher risk of side-effects with the yellow fever vaccine and should therefore only have it if there is a serious and unavoidable risk of catching yellow fever. .

If you have had a severe reaction to the yellow fever vaccine in the past.

If you have a thymus disorder.

Dr Mary Lowth is an author or the original author of this leaflet.

Further reading and references

• Travel Health Pro ; National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC)
• Travelling if you have a medical condition ; British Airways (includes downloadable MEDIF forms)
• Immunisation against infectious disease - the Green Book (latest edition) ; UK Health Security Agency.
• Travellers' Health ; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• MHRA updated guidance on use of yellow fever vaccine in patients with immunosuppression, with thymus dysfunction, and in those aged over 60 ; Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, April 2019

Article History

The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

Next review due: 6 Jan 2028

10 feb 2023 | latest version.

Last updated by

Peer reviewed by

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• Disease Prevention Advice

Yellow Fever Vaccine

• Yellow Fever Pre-vaccination Checklist

Side Effects

Vaccination in those older than 60 years of age, medical exemption certificates, avoiding travel to a yellow fever risk area.

• Locate Your Nearest Yellow Fever Centre

Yellow fever is a dangerous disease caused by a virus that is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Avoiding mosquito bites is a very important part of protecting yourself from yellow fever. See the yellow fever page for further information.

The yellow fever vaccine protects against yellow fever. It is helpful in two ways – it protects you as an individual against catching the disease for the whole of your life, and also helps to prevent the disease from spreading further around the world.

The vaccine can be recommended for two reasons:

• It protects you for life as an individual from being infected when you travel to a country where yellow fever virus is present. See the individual country pages for specific information for your destination. 
• It helps with preventing the international spread of this disease between countries.

After you have received the vaccine, you are given a yellow fever vaccine certificate to prove that you have received the vaccine and are protected from infection. This certificate is designed to fit inside your passport, and is valid for life.

Proof of vaccination is most often required for travellers journeying from countries where yellow fever is present to countries where transmission could occur (including sometimes where travellers are transiting through airports in such countries).

The countries that require proof of vaccination at their borders are those where either the disease occurs, or countries that currently do not have yellow fever within their borders but they do have the correct mosquito and monkey species that could harbour the infection if it were to get in.

The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and Public Health Scotland (PHS) have produced a yellow fever pre-vaccination checklist that should be completed by all those considering receiving yellow fever vaccine.

The pre-vaccination checklist has been produced in interactive PDF format to give users the option of completing and saving the document electronically; instructions on how to download and use the yellow fever pre-vaccination checklist can be found here:

Stamaril® is the yellow fever vaccine that is currently available in the UK.  It is manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur and is made in chicken eggs. The vaccine can be given routinely from 9 months of age, but may also be given to younger infants from 6 months onwards, although it can only be used in special circumstances.

• Patient information leaflet Stamaril®

Stamaril® is a live vaccine, which means that it contains a “weakened” form of the yellow fever virus. Live vaccines usually do not cause disease in healthy people, but are not suitable for people with an impaired immune system, for example, caused by treatment with certain drugs or underlying illness. This is because in such circumstances the weakened viruses are able to multiply and may cause a yellow fever like disease, which can be serious.

In most people one dose of yellow fever vaccine provides lifelong protection. A booster dose would only be recommended if you had previously been vaccinated in one of the following circumstances:

• while pregnant
• aged less than 2 years old
• had a weakened immune system
• whilst infected with HIV
• before undergoing a bone marrow transplant

Contraindications to vaccination

There are some people who should never be given the yellow fever vaccine. These include:

• infants less than 6 months of age
• an allergy to a previous dose of yellow fever vaccine
• an allergy to eggs or chicken proteins
• a weakened immune system due to pre-existing disease
• a weakened immune system due to medication such as chemotherapy drugs, methotrexate, azathioprine or steroids
• the thymus gland is sometimes removed during cardiac (heart) surgery
• having a first degree relative who has had a serious complication following yellow fever vaccination

Yellow fever vaccination should usually be avoided during pregnancy and when breastfeeding. A healthcare practitioner will discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination in these circumstances.

The vaccine can be given safely to those with HIV infection, but only if their CD4 counts are > 200 and they are stable on treatment.

Latex: the tip caps of the prefilled syringes contain a natural rubber latex derivative, which may cause allergic reactions in individuals with latex allergy.

Common Side effects

It is common to experience mild side effects after having the yellow fever vaccine such as:

• joint and muscle pain
• nausea and/or vomiting
• soreness at the injection site

These side effects can occur from the day of vaccination up until 14 days after vaccination.  They usually last no more than 3 days.

Rare side effects

Rarely, serious complications can occur after receiving the yellow fever vaccine. These are more common in those over 60 years of age. These include:

• over 60 years of age = 2.2 cases per 100,000 doses of vaccine administered
• less than 60 years of age = 0.8 cases per 100,000 doses of vaccine administered
• over 60 years of age = 1.2 cases per 100,000 doses of vaccine administered
• less than 60 years of age = 0.3 cases per 100,000 doses of vaccine administered

If you have recently received the yellow fever vaccine and feel unwell please contact your GP or the 111 service if your GP practice is closed.  You should let them know that you have recently received yellow fever vaccine. 

In a medical emergency, when someone is seriously ill and their life is at risk, dial 999.

If you are 60 years of age or older, it is possible for you to receive yellow fever vaccine, but only if you are fit and well, fully understand the risks of vaccination, and have a real risk of getting yellow fever infection at your destination (rather than requiring the vaccine just for certificate purposes). A healthcare practitioner will discuss your risk of disease at your destination and the potential risks of the vaccine, to help you to make an informed decision regarding whether or not to get vaccinated.

A healthcare practitioner will decline to vaccinate you if there is a contraindication to the vaccine and may decline to vaccinate you if the risk of serious vaccine side effects is assessed as being higher than the disease risk. If the risk of disease is deemed low, and you agree, a medical exemption certificate can be issued in these circumstances.

• A medical exemption certificate is only valid for a single trip.
• You must practice strict mosquito bite avoidance during travel because you will not have any protection from the vaccine against potential infection.
• You must be reassessed for any subsequent trips.

If you have a contraindication to the vaccine or the risk of serious side effects is high, and there is a significant risk of contracting yellow fever on your trip, you are likely to be advised to cancel or change your travel plans. Healthcare practitioners are not obliged to administer yellow fever vaccine if they believe it unsafe to do so, or it is not required for your trip. If you have any medical conditions, it is best to seek travel advice before you book your trip.

Locate your Nearest Yellow Fever Centre

The yellow fever vaccine can only be administered at designated yellow fever centres. To locate your nearest yellow fever centre please follow the links below:

• Locate your nearest centre in Scotland
• Locate your nearest centre England, Wales and Northern Ireland

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• General Travel Health Advice

Vaccination - Yellow fever

There's a very effective vaccine that can stop you getting yellow fever if you're travelling to an area where the infection is found.

It's given as an injection into your upper arm.

But even if you have been vaccinated, it's important to prevent insect bites  as mosquitoes can also spread other serious illnesses.

Who should have the yellow fever vaccine

The yellow fever vaccine is recommended for people from 9 months of age who are travelling to:

• an  area where yellow fever is found , including parts of sub-Saharan Africa, South America, Central America and Trinidad in the Caribbean
• a country that requires you to have a certificate proving you have been vaccinated against yellow fever

You should be vaccinated at least 10 days before you travel to allow enough time for the vaccine to work.

If you or your child has had the MMR vaccine , you or they need to wait at least 4 weeks before having the yellow fever vaccine.

If it is not possible to leave a 4-week gap, the yellow fever vaccine should be given but an additional dose of MMR should be considered at a later date. Re-vaccination with the yellow fever vaccine can also be considered on an individual basis for those at on-going risk.

Yellow fever vaccination certificate

Some countries require a certificate showing you have been vaccinated before you're allowed entry.

This is known as an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP).

All vaccination certificates are now valid for life, including older ones with an expiry date on them. You'll be given a certificate when you're vaccinated at a yellow fever vaccination centre.

Check the  country information  on the TravelHealthPro website or with a yellow fever vaccination centre to see if you need a certificate for the area you're visiting.

A certificate is not needed for entry into the UK.

Keep your certificate safe and make a copy for your records.

If you lose your certificate, you may be able to get another one reissued if you have a copy showing full details of the vaccination batch number and the date you had the vaccination.

Where to get the yellow fever vaccine

The yellow fever vaccine and vaccination certificates are only available from registered yellow fever vaccination centres.

Find a yellow fever vaccination centre near you

How much the yellow fever vaccine costs

The yellow fever vaccine is not available for free on the NHS, so you'll have to pay for it.

It typically costs around £60 to £85.

How long the yellow fever vaccine lasts

The yellow fever vaccine provides lifelong protection for most people.

A further dose of vaccine is recommended for a small number of travellers who are visiting yellow fever risk areas, including those who were previously vaccinated when they were:

• under 2 years old
• living with HIV
• had a weakened immune system
• before having a bone marrow transplant

Rarely, a further dose of vaccine may also be advised if there's a concern about the traveller's risk of yellow fever, for example, if they're working or living for some time in a high-risk area.

Contact a yellow fever vaccination centre for advice if you're not sure if you need another dose before travelling.

Who cannot have the yellow fever vaccine

There are some people who cannot have the yellow fever vaccine when it's recommended.

People who cannot have the vaccine include:

• babies under 6 months old
• people with a weakened immune system, such as those with leukaemia or lymphoma
• people whose immune system is weakened by treatment, such as steroids and chemotherapy
• people who are allergic to any of the ingredients in the vaccine, including people with an egg allergy
• people who've had a severe reaction to a previous dose of yellow fever vaccine
• people with a thymus gland disorder or who've had their thymus gland removed
• people over the age of 60 who are travelling to areas where yellow fever vaccine is not generally recommended
• people who have a close relative who has had a severe reaction to the vaccine causing damage to the brain or other organs

If you need a vaccination certificate for the country you're visiting but you're not able to have the vaccine, contact a yellow fever vaccination centre.

They may provide you with an exemption letter, which may be accepted by officials in countries that usually require a vaccination certificate.

Who may be able to have the vaccine in some circumstances

If you're not sure whether you can have the yellow fever vaccine, ask a travel health specialist at the vaccination centre. They'll do a full risk assessment based on your or your child's medical history and where you're travelling to.

People who may be able to have the vaccine include:

• those aged 60 and over – only when travel to a high-risk area is unavoidable
• those who are pregnant – if travel to a high-risk area is unavoidable
• those who are breastfeeding – expert advice is needed for women who are breastfeeding babies under 9 months
• those with long-term (chronic) inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis – if on low-dose steroid therapy
• babies from 6 months to under 9 months of age – if travel is unavoidable and risk is high, expert advice is needed
• those living with HIV – only after specialist advice

Take extra care to  prevent insect bites  while travelling if you have not been vaccinated.

Side effects of the yellow fever vaccine

The yellow fever vaccine can cause some side effects, but the risk of not being vaccinated usually outweighs the risk of having side effects.

After having the vaccine, up to 1 in every 3 people gets:

• a  headache
• muscle pain
• a raised temperature
• soreness at the injection site

These side effects usually pass within 2 weeks.

Rarely, a person can get more serious side effects, including an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients in the vaccine.

A very rare side effect of the vaccine can cause problems with the brain or other organs, which can be fatal. This is more likely to affect:

• people aged 60 or older
• people with weakened immune systems
• anyone who's had their thymus gland removed or has a thymus gland disorder

Get medical advice if you feel very unwell within a few days or weeks of having the yellow fever vaccine.

Page last reviewed: 25 July 2023 Next review due: 25 July 2026

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Travellers Going to Yellow Fever Areas

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For Travellers

• Find a Vaccination Centre

For Health Care Sites

• Designation Process
• FAQ for Health Care Sites
• Contact Information

Yellow fever is a disease that is present in many areas of South America and Africa, and is caused by a virus that is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Yellow fever can be prevented by a vaccine.

• Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their individual protection.
• Requirements are put in place by certain countries to protect both individual travellers and countries from the risk of importing or spreading the yellow fever virus.
• If these requirements apply, you will need an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis as proof of vaccination.
• A list of yellow fever country entry requirements for yellow fever vaccination is available from the World Health Organization.
• It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify additional entry requirements.
• If you do not show a valid certificate at the country border when requested, you may not be allowed to enter, you may be quarantined for up to 6 days or put under medical surveillance, or you may be required to be vaccinated at point of entry.

Not all countries where yellow fever exists require proof of vaccination, but you may still be at risk of getting the disease. It is recommended that travel plans include consulting a travel health clinic, Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, or other health care professional at least 6 weeks before departure for an individual assessment to determine the need for immunizations and/or preventive medication, and to get advice on precautions to reduce health risks.

Click here to find a Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre near you.

It is recommended that travel plans include consulting a travel health clinic, Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, or other health care professional at least 6 weeks before departure for an individual assessment to determine the need for immunizations and/or preventive medication, and to get advice on precautions to reduce health risks.

When you visit a Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, a health care professional should :

• Assess whether the vaccine is required for your itinerary;
• Assess whether the vaccine is recommended, if it is not required;
• Administer the vaccine if indicated;
• Provide you with additional advice on how to protect yourself against yellow fever;
• Provide you with written proof of yellow fever vaccination on the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis;  
• If required, may provide you with written documentation explaining why you cannot receive the yellow fever vaccine for medical reasons.

The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis is the official document to show proof of vaccination against yellow fever.

The health care professional who gives you the vaccine must provide you with a completed International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis .

• The certificate becomes valid  10 days after the vaccine is received.
• The certificate is valid for the life of the person vaccinated.
• An International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis issued prior to 2016 will indicate a validity period of 10 years.
• A single dose of yellow fever vaccine is now considered protective for life.
• Lifetime validity applies to new certificates and certificates issued prior to 2016.
• Individuals with a certificate issued prior to 2016 should continue to use their existing certificate.
• Do not try to change a certificate. Any changes made to an existing certificate may invalidate it.
• Travellers with certificates indicating a validity of 10 years may want to carry a copy of the World Health Organization’s Amendment to International Health Regulations (2005), Annex 7 (yellow fever) , which announces lifelong validity of the vaccine in case of difficulties at an international border.
• Individuals immunized during a period of reduced immunocompetence
• Individuals who underwent a stem cell transplant after their last vaccination
• Individuals who received a dose insufficient for long term protection
• Individuals at a particularly high risk of exposure
• Laboratory personnel working with yellow fever virus

Each designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre has been given stamps with a unique identification number by the Public Health Agency of Canada. This number contains the province code and a unique four-digit number. Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres must use this stamp on the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis in the column marked “Official stamp of the administering centre”.

If your certificate was issued in Canada prior to 2012 and bears a Public Health Agency of Canada stamp, it will remain valid until it expires.

If you cannot receive the vaccine for medical reasons, but you are travelling to a country that requires proof of vaccination, the health care professional may provide you with written documentation explaining their medical opinion.

This can be done on official letterhead from the health care site, or using the Certificate of Medical Contraindication to Vaccination , which is provided to all designated sites by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

This document is valid for the duration of your trip.

If you have lost your International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis , contact the Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre where you received the vaccine. They will be able to provide you with a new certificate.

It is strongly recommended that you keep your certificate in a safe place.

• If you have lost your International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis , but the Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre where you received the vaccine no longer exists, contact another Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre.
• The health care professional may choose to reissue a certificate if they feel that you have acceptable proof of prior vaccination.
• If you do not have acceptable proof of vaccination, you will need to be revaccinated in order to receive a new certificate.
• To avoid unnecessary revaccination, it is strongly recommended that you keep your certificate in a safe place.

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