yellow fever vaccine

Vaccination Yellow fever


The topics in this section are edited by: Directorate General of Health Prevention



Yellow fever vaccination centers
The yellow fever vaccination certificate is the only certificate that should be required for international travel and only for a limited number of travelers.

Vaccination against yellow fever takes place for two different purposes:

1. To prevent the international spread of the disease by protecting countries from the risk of importation or spread of yellow fever virus. The requirements are established by the country
The countries that require the vaccination certificate are those in which the disease can more or less occur and where the mosquito vector and the potential non-human primate hosts of yellow fever are present. Any import of the virus in these countries from infected travelers could lead to the spread and establishment of the virus, leading to a permanent risk of infection for the human population. Vaccination certificates are often required for travelers from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and sometimes to travelers in transit through these countries (note that the requirements for vaccination of children over 6 months of age by some countries do not comply with WHO recommendations, but travelers should be informed that there is an obligation to enter the countries concerned).

Travelers are advised to consult the requirements of individual countries by contacting the embassy of each country they wish to visit. Some countries require a vaccination certificate for all travelers.

Countries that require vaccination against yellow fever for entry into their country do so according to the International Health Regulations. Country requirements are subject to change at any time. Updates are available on the WHO website.

The fact that a country does not require vaccination against yellow fever does not mean that there is no risk of transmission of the disease.

2. To protect the individual traveler exposed to yellow fever
The risk of transmission of yellow fever depends on the presence of the virus in the country in people, mosquitoes or animals. Because yellow fever is often fatal to those who have not been vaccinated, vaccination is recommended to all travelers (with few exceptions) who visit areas where there is a risk of yellow fever transmission.The WHO determines those areas where "there is a risk of transmission of yellow fever" based on the diagnosis of cases of yellow fever in people and / or animals, laboratory results and the presence of vectors and animal reservoirs. the classifications defining the areas at risk of transmission of yellow fever virus can be consulted on the WHO page)

The decision to use yellow fever vaccine to travelers must evaluate several factors, including the risk of illness associated with the trip, the requirements of the country, and the possibility of serious adverse events following vaccination against yellow fever.

The following table summarizes the recommendations revised by the WHO for vaccination against yellow fever to travelers.

Yellow fever - vaccination category Rational for recommendations
Recommended Vaccination is recommended for all travelers ≥9 months of age in areas where there is evidence of persistent or periodic transmission of yellow fever virus.
Generally not recommended Vaccination is generally not recommended in areas where yellow fever virus exposure is potentially low (no human case of notified yellow fever and evidence suggesting only low levels of yellow fever virus transmission in the past). However, vaccination could be considered for a few travelers in those areas, which are at increased risk of exposure to mosquitoes or unable to avoid mosquito bites. When considering vaccination, each traveler must take into account the risk of yellow fever virus transmission, the entry requirements of the country and the individual risk factors (age, immune status) for serious adverse events associated with the vaccine


GPs should note that the current areas of yellow fever virus far exceed the officially infected areas and that in recent years fatal yellow fever cases have occurred in unvaccinated tourists who have visited rural areas inside areas endemic to yellow fever.

Vaccination is about 100% effective, while the incidence of fatal cases for the disease is greater than 60% in unimmunized adults. The current vaccine tolerance is excellent.

The only contraindication to its use, apart from the real allergies to egg proteins, is the cellular immunodeficiency (congenital or acquired, the latter being sometimes only temporary). The vaccination certificate is valid only if it conforms to the model approved by the WHO and issued by a lawful yellow fever vaccination center.
The duration of vaccination against yellow fever is for life, starting from the 10th day following vaccination.