Yellow Fever

What is the Yellow Fever Virus?

Yellow fever occurs in tropical parts of South America and Africa (see maps on attached links). It is passed on to humans through bites from mosquitoes that are carrying the disease. The yellow fever virus begins suddenly after an incubation period of around 3 to 5 days in the human body. The symptoms of yellow fever can be severe, ranging from fever, nausea, vomiting, constipation, back pains and rapid heart beat, jaundice of the skin is very common. The severity of the illness can vary from flu like illness to sever illness and death.

Although most cases occur in the countryside, it can also occur in cities, particularly in parts of West Africa. The World Health Organization estimates that 200,000 cases occur each year.  For a map of Yellow Fever endemic areas please click on the following link:

http://www.nathnac.org/pro/factsheets/yellow.htm#epi

Vaccinations for yellow fever can only be given in approved yellow fever vaccination centres (YFVCs). All of our vaccination clinics are designated Yellow Fever Centres.

Yellow fever vaccine must be given 10 days or more before your trip to be effective and to be officially accepted by the country to which you are travelling. Travellers who are leaving sooner than the 10 day interval should discuss with their YFVC the advisability of still getting the vaccine. You must carry your Certificate of Vaccination with you during travel. It is a record of your vaccination and may be requested by immigration officials during your trip. We will give you this certificate, when we give you your vaccine. For international travel, the yellow fever certificate lasts for 10 years.

See Yellow Fever Leaflet

Duplicate Certificates

If you (or your employee) has lost your yellow fever certificate and you had your vaccine here at the LSTM Well Travelled Clinic we can re-issue you with a new certificate. The cost is £10.00.

If you have lost your yellow fever certificate and you had your yellow fever vaccine at another yellow fever clinic in the UK, we can still issue you with a new certificate if you have all the information relating to the original vaccine on a clinic letterhead from where you originally received the vaccine.

Exemption Letters

You should not consider travelling to a yellow fever affected country without vaccination. Should the trip be unavoidable and you are unable to have the vaccine then a medical exemption letter will be considered.

For some countries vaccination is mandatory. For others it is not a legal entry requirement, but it is recommended for your own personal protection. For example, Yellow fever vaccination is not a legal entry requirement for Gambia, however, it is recommended for your own personal protection. If you are unable to have Yellow fever vaccination for medical reasons, we will discuss with you whether you should consider an alternative destination or receive a medical exemption letter. There is a charge of £10.00 for issuing exemption certificates.