Yellow fever is a serious disease caused by the yellow fever virus. It is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito and cannot be spread directly from person to person. It is found in certain parts of Africa and South America.
Yellow fever can cause:
People with yellow fever disease usually have to be hospitalized.
Yellow fever vaccine can prevent yellow fever. Yellow fever vaccine is given only at approved vaccination centers.
After receiving the vaccine, you should receive an International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card) that has been validated by the vaccination center. This Certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination and lasts for 10 years. You will need this card as proof of vaccination to enter certain countries. Consult your health department or visit CDC's travel information website at http:// www.cdc.gov/travel to learn the travel requirements for different countries or to find the nearest approved vaccination center.
Please make sure you discuss your travel itinerary with your doctor or nurse before you receive your yellow fever vaccination.
As with any disease transmitted by mosquitoes, precautions and insect repellent are also recommended to prevent exposure to yellow fever virus. These precautions include remaining in well-screened areas, wearing clothes that cover most of the body, and using effective insect repellent (i.e., containing up to 50% N,N-diethylmetatoluamide [DEET]) on skin and clothing.
Persons 9 months of age or older traveling to or living in a country that requires yellow fever vaccination for certain travelers. Check with your health-care provider. Persons 9 months of age or older traveling to a country that does not require yellow fever vaccination but is located in an area where the risk of yellow fever is known to exist. Check with your health-care provider.
Information about known or probable infected areas is available from the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int), the Pan American Health Organization (http://www.paho.org), and CDC (http://www.cdc.gov/travel).
If you continue to live or travel in yellow fever-endemic areas, you should receive a booster dose of yellow fever vaccine after 10 years. Yellow fever vaccine may be given at the same time as most other vaccines.
Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid or postpone travel to a yellow fever area. If travel cannot be avoided, discuss vaccination with your doctor.
A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of a vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Reactions are less likely to occur after a booster dose of yellow fever vaccine than after the first dose.
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In the rare event that you or your child has a serious reaction to a vaccine, a federal program has been created to help pay for the care of those who have been harmed.
For details about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, call 1-800-338-2382 or visit the program's website at http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation.
Ask your doctor or other health care provider. They can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information. Call your local or state health department's immunization program. Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or visit the National Immunization Program's website at http://www.cdc.gov/nip.
Yellow Fever Vaccine Information Statement. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Immunization Program. 11/9/2004.