Honestly, it is best to get Yellow Fever Vaccine if you have plans traveling someday. If you’re planning a trip, this is a must-have travel document. At least ten days before your scheduled departure date, you should get the immunisation.
Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne disease that is present in Africa and South America. Because there is no specific cure for the illness, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends being vaccinated before travelling to or from certain countries.
Yellow Fever vaccination is one of the most important things to think about while planning a trip, as the WHO estimates that 30,000 people die each year from the disease.
Read More: YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION CARD FOR TRAVEL
WHAT IS YELLOW FEVER VACCINE AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
Yellow fever is a dangerous disease caused by a virus that is transmitted by a mosquito bite. Fever and flu-like symptoms, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), liver failure, lung failure, renal failure, blood vomiting, and death are all possible symptoms of yellow fever.
- The yellow fever vaccine is used to help prevent this disease in adults and children who are at least 9 months old. This vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.
- Yellow fever vaccine is recommended for people who plan to live in or travel to areas where yellow fever is known to exist, or where an epidemic has recently occurred. The vaccine should also be given to people who will spend any amount of time in rural areas where yellow fever is endemic, or those who are otherwise at high risk of coming into contact with the virus.
- You should receive the vaccine at least 10 days prior to your arrival in an area where you may be exposed to the virus.
- Yellow fever vaccine is also recommended for people who work in a research laboratory and may be exposed to yellow fever virus through needle-stick accidents or inhalation of viral droplets in the air.
- Like any vaccine, the yellow fever vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.
- Yellow Fever Vaccine is available under the following different brand names: YF Vax.
WHAT ARE DOSAGES OF YELLOW FEVER VACCINE?
Dosages of Yellow Fever Vaccine:
Injection (17D-204 strain)
- At least 4.74 log 10 plaque-forming units/0.5 ml
Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:
Yellow Fever
Adult Dosage:
- Prophylaxis: 0.5 ml subcutaneously at least 10 days before travel
- A single, lifetime dose of yellow fever vaccine is sufficient for most people traveling to endemic areas, although some high-risk groups may benefit from a booster dose according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on ImmunizationPractices
- Booster/additional dose for high-risk groups
- A single primary dose of yellow fever vaccine provides long-lasting protection and is adequate for most travelers
- Additional doses of yellow fever vaccine recommended for
- Women who were pregnant (regardless of trimester) when they received their initial dose of yellow fever vaccine should receive 1 additional dose before their next travel that puts them at risk for yellow fever virus infection
- ersons who received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant after receiving a dose of yellow fever vaccine and who are sufficiently immunocompetent to be safely vaccinated should be revaccinated before their next travel that puts them at risk for yellow fever virus infection
- Booster dose for high risk after 10 years
- A booster dose may be given to travelers who received their last dose of yellow fever vaccine at least 10 years previously and who will be in a higher-risk setting based on season, location, activities, and duration of their travel
- Persons who were infected with HIV when they received their last dose of yellow fever vaccine should receive a dose every 10 years
- Travelers who plan to spend a prolonged period in endemic areas or those traveling to highly endemic areas such as rural West Africa during peak transmission season or an area with an ongoing outbreak
- Laboratory workers who routinely handle wild-type yellow fever virus should have yellow fever virus–specific neutralizing antibody titers measured at least every 10 year to determine if they should receive additional doses of the vaccine
- For laboratory workers who are unable to have neutralizing antibody titers measured, yellow fever vaccine should be given every 10 year as long as they remain at risk
Pediatric Dosage:
- Infants over 6 months (off-label): 0.5 mL subcutaneously for 1 dose at least 10 days before travel
- Infants over 9 months: 0.5 mL subcutaneously for 1 dose at least 10 days before travel
- A single, lifetime dose of yellow fever vaccine is sufficient for most people traveling to endemic areas, although some high-risk groups may benefit from a booster dose according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s
- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
- MMWR June 19, 2015:64(23);647-650
- Booster/additional dose for high-risk groups
- A single primary dose of yellow fever vaccine provides long-lasting protection and is adequate for most travelers
- Additional doses of yellow fever vaccine recommended for
- Persons who received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant after receiving a dose of yellow fever vaccine and who are sufficiently immunocompetent to be safely vaccinated should be revaccinated before their next travel that puts them at risk for yellow fever virus infection
- Booster dose for high risk after 10 years
- A booster dose may be given to travelers who received their last dose of yellow fever vaccine at least 10 year previously and who will be in a higher-risk setting based on season, location, activities, and duration of their travel
- Persons who were infected with HIV when they received their last dose of yellow fever vaccine should receive a dose every 10 years
- Travelers who plan to spend a prolonged period in endemic areas or those traveling to highly endemic areas such as rural West Africa during peak transmission season or an area with an ongoing outbreak
WHAT ARE SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH USING YELLOW FEVER VACCINE?
Side effects of Yellow Fever Vaccine include:
- behavioral changes
- body aches
- chills
- confusion
- reddening of the skin
- flu symptoms
- general ill feeling (malaise)
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- headache
- irritability
- joint pain
- loss of balance or coordination
- loss of bladder or bowel control
- low fever
- memory loss
- inflammation of the brain (meningoencephalitis)
- mild headache
- mild rash
- muscle pain
- muscle weakness or loss of movement in any part of your body
- pain, tenderness, swelling, or a lump at the injection site
- problems with walking, breathing, speech, swallowing, vision, or eye movement
- rash
- seizures (blackouts or convulsions)
- sensitivity to light
- severe lower back pain
- stiff neck or back
- hives
- vomiting
- warmth
- weakness or prickly feeling in your fingers or toes
Suspected adverse events after administration of any vaccine may be reported to Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS), 1-800-822-7967
This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.
WHAT OTHER DRUGS INTERACT WITH YELLOW FEVER VACCINE?
If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.
- Severe interactions of yellow fever vaccine include:
- belimumab
- certolizumab pegol
- hydroxyurea
- ixekizumab
- methotrexate
- secukinumab
- Yellow fever vaccine has serious interactions with 42 different drugs.
- Moderate interactions of yellow fever vaccine include:
- anthrax immune globulin
- belatacept
- obinutuzumab
- Minor interactions of yellow fever vaccine include:
- chloroquine
This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions, concerns, or for more information about this medicine.
WHAT ARE WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS FOR YELLOW FEVER VACCINE?
Warnings
- This medication contains a yellow fever vaccine. Do not take YF Vax if you are allergic to the yellow fever vaccine or any ingredients contained in this drug.
- Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to chicken eggs
- Acute or febrile disease
- Immunosuppressed patients (due to malignancy, radiation, or medications)
- Infants under 6 months (per Center for Disease Control and Prevention if exposure to the yellow fever virus is unavoidable)
- Infants under 9 months (per manufacturer due to risk of encephalitis)
- Lactation
Effects of Drug Abuse
- No information available
Short-Term Effects
- See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Yellow Fever Vaccine?”
Long-Term Effects
- See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Yellow Fever Vaccine?”
Cautions
- The vial stopper contains natural latex rubber; epinephrine should be available when the vaccine
- Fainting (syncope) accompanied by visual disturbances, tonic-clonic movements, or weakness reported with injectable vaccines
- Hypersensitivity to egg or chicken protein may be tested with a 1:10 vaccine dilution utilizing a scratch, prick, or puncture test; if the vaccine is essential, desensitize the individual before administering a full dose
- Oral prednisone or other systemic corticosteroid therapy may have an immunosuppressive effect on recipients of yellow fever vaccine that potentially decreases immunogenicity and increases the risk of adverse events
- Postpone immunization in acute or febrile illness; low-grade fever not a reason to postpone vaccination
- The risk of encephalitis may be increased (theoretically) in patients who are immunosuppressed
- Following vaccination, wait two weeks before donating blood
- Effective immunity may not occur in all vaccinated patients
- Malnourished persons may have decreased response to vaccination
Pregnancy and Lactation
- Use yellow fever vaccine with caution during pregnancy if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies are not available or neither animal nor human studies were done.
- There is a theoretical risk of transmission of vaccine components to infants from breastfeeding mothers. Lactation constitutes a contraindication, particularly when infants are under 9 months of age because of the risk of encephalitis.