Travel vaccine
Yellow Fever Vaccine
Yellow fever is a serious viral infection spread by mosquitoes in parts of sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America. A single dose of vaccine gives long-lasting, usually lifelong protection — and the official certificate is required for entry to some countries. We are a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre in Timperley, Manchester.
Free interactive tool
Do you actually need a yellow fever certificate?
Entry rules depend on your destination, your age and your route — including layovers. Check yours in under a minute with our free checker, based on the official WHO list.
Key facts
Who it's for
Travel to risk areas of sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America, or where a certificate is required
Vaccination course
A single dose, giving long-lasting (usually lifelong) protection
Minimum age
From 9 months
Certificate
Valid from 10 days after vaccination — recognised for life
Where
Only at a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre (we are one)
How it spreads
Mosquito bites, mainly during the day
Overview
Yellow fever is caused by a virus spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes — Aedes mosquitoes in towns and cities, and forest mosquitoes in the South American jungle — which bite mainly during the day. It occurs in parts of sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America.
Many infections are mild, but yellow fever can progress to a severe illness with jaundice, bleeding and organ failure, and there is no specific treatment. Because of this — and because some countries require proof of vaccination to enter — vaccination is strongly recommended for travel to risk areas, and is given only at registered centres like ours.
Risk areas
Yellow fever occurs in parts of sub-Saharan Africa and in tropical areas of Central and South America — for example Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Nigeria, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Within an affected country, the risk is often limited to certain regions, so the recommendation can depend on exactly where you are going. Our vaccine finder and certificate checker can help you see what applies to your trip.
Risk for travellers
Travellers to risk areas are at risk of infection, particularly in rural and jungle areas, though urban outbreaks also occur. Vaccination is recommended for most travellers to these regions from 9 months of age. Separately, many countries require an official yellow fever certificate for entry — sometimes only if you have passed through a risk country en route — so it's important to check both the health recommendation and the entry rules for every country on your itinerary.
Signs & symptoms
- Fever and chills
- Headache and muscle or back pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite and tiredness
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) in more severe cases
- Bleeding and organ problems in the most severe cases
Vaccine details
The yellow fever vaccine is a live vaccine given as a single dose, which provides long-lasting and usually lifelong protection. It can be given from 9 months of age. The official International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP, or "yellow card") becomes valid 10 days after vaccination and is now recognised internationally for life. Only registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres may give the vaccine and issue the certificate — we are a registered centre in Timperley, Manchester.
Book your appointment for Yellow Fever Vaccine right now.
Who should have the yellow fever vaccine?
Vaccination is recommended for travel to areas where yellow fever occurs, and may also be needed to satisfy a country's entry requirements. It's relevant if you are:
- Travelling to a risk area of sub-Saharan Africa or tropical South America
- Visiting (or passing through) a country that requires a yellow fever certificate for entry
- Spending time in rural or jungle areas where mosquito exposure is higher
- Aged 9 months or over and the vaccine is suitable for you
The vaccine and your certificate
A single dose protects most people for life. The official certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination, so it's important to be vaccinated at least 10 days before you reach a country that requires it.
Since 2016 the certificate has been recognised internationally as valid for life, although a small number of countries may still apply the older 10-year rule. We issue the official ICVP certificate at the time of vaccination. Use our certificate checker to confirm exactly what your trip requires.
Who should not have the yellow fever vaccine
Yellow fever is a live vaccine, so we always review your health first. For a small number of people it should not be given at all — these are true contraindications. This applies if you:
- Have a significantly weakened immune system, or take medicines that suppress it
- Have a severe allergy to eggs, or had a severe reaction to a previous dose
- Have a disorder of the thymus gland (or have had it removed)
- Are an infant under 6 months of age
- Where the vaccine isn't suitable, we can discuss a medical exemption (waiver) letter if appropriate
Precautions: who needs extra care but can still be vaccinated
These situations are precautions, not reasons you can't have the vaccine. It can still be given after an individual risk–benefit assessment if you're genuinely travelling to a risk area — they simply mean we take extra care and make the decision together with you:
- Adults aged 60 and over having the yellow fever vaccine for the first time
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- People with well-controlled HIV and adequate immunity
- Infants aged 6–9 months (given only on specialist advice)
Yellow fever vaccine if you're aged 60 or over
Being aged 60 or over is a precaution, not a contraindication. You can still have the yellow fever vaccine — it simply means the decision should be made together with a health professional after an individual assessment, rather than automatically.
Why the extra care? The yellow fever vaccine is a live vaccine, and most people of all ages tolerate it well. However, in adults having it for the first time at 60 or over, there is a slightly higher — though still very rare — chance of a serious reaction. The two recognised serious reactions are a severe illness affecting the internal organs that can resemble yellow fever itself, and a reaction affecting the nervous system. Both are rare, but the small increase in risk with age is the reason a careful assessment is recommended for first-time vaccination later in life.
This has to be weighed against the risk of yellow fever itself, which is a serious disease. It is spread by mosquito bites in affected parts of Africa and South America, and while many infections are mild, severe cases cause high fever, jaundice, bleeding and organ failure. A significant proportion of people who develop severe yellow fever do not survive, and there is no specific treatment — only supportive care. For genuine travel to an area with active transmission, the protection the vaccine provides usually outweighs its small risk, so vaccination is often still recommended for over-60s.
Your individual assessment with our health professional brings these two sides together to reach the right decision for you. We will look closely at your trip and your health, and explain the benefits and risks clearly so you can decide with us.
- Exactly where you are going, and whether those specific areas have active yellow fever transmission
- The time of year, how long you are staying, and whether you'll be in rural or jungle areas or only cities
- Your general health, immune system, medications and medical history
- Whether the country requires a certificate only for entry, separately from any real risk to your health — where the risk is low, alternatives such as a medical exemption (waiver) letter can be considered
- If the vaccine is right for you, it is given as a single dose that provides long-lasting protection
Possible side effects
Most people have no more than mild effects in the days after vaccination:
- Soreness at the injection site
- Headache, muscle aches or a mildly raised temperature
- Tiredness
- More significant reactions are rare and are part of why we assess your suitability carefully
Beyond the vaccine: avoiding mosquito bites
The same regions carry other mosquito-borne illnesses, so bite avoidance matters even when you're protected against yellow fever:
- Use an effective insect repellent (such as 50% DEET) during the day
- Cover up with long sleeves and trousers where practical
- Stay in screened or air-conditioned accommodation where possible
Bite avoidance
Spread by daytime mosquito bites
Yellow Fever Vaccine is spread by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite mainly during the day. Avoiding mosquito bites is a key part of your protection. Daytime bite protection matters: use 40–50% DEET repellent, cover up and keep bites off from morning through to dusk.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Keep exploring