Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search


Español  Other Languages


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
 Search
		×
			Vaccines site
			Vaccines site
				All CDC
				Submit
			For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
			Advanced Search
		Advanced Search


Vaccine Information Statements (VISs)








Yellow Fever VIS						Print
																Related Pages
										Current Edition Date: 4/1/2020Print VIS [2 pages]
RTF file [4 pages](For use in electronic systems)
VIS in other languages
More information about yellow fever vaccinationYellow Fever Vaccine
Yellow Fever Vaccine: What You Need to KnowOn This Page
			Why get vaccinated?Yellow fever vaccineTalk with your health care providerRisks of a vaccine reactionWhat if there is a serious problem?How can I learn more?Why get vaccinated?**Yellow fever vaccine** can prevent **yellow fever**. Yellow fever is a serious disease caused by the yellow fever virus. There is no medicine to treat or cure yellow fever.
Yellow fever virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. It is found in parts of Africa and South America.
The majority of people with yellow fever virus infections will either not have symptoms, or have mild disease and completely recover. But some people will develop severe disease.
Symptoms and signs of yellow fever include:
Sudden onset of fever and chills
Headache, back pain, or general body aches
Nausea or vomitingMore severe symptoms of yellow fever can include:
Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)
Bleeding from multiple body sites
Shock (life-threatening condition in which the body is not getting enough blood flow)
Liver, kidney, or other organ failureSevere yellow fever can cause death in 30% to 60% of affected people.
In addition to getting vaccinated, you can also protect yourself from yellow fever by avoiding mosquito bites:
Use insect repellent
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
Stay in well-screened or air-conditioned areasYellow fever vaccineYellow fever vaccine is a live vaccine containing weakened, live yellow fever virus. It is given as a single shot. One dose provides lifelong protection for most people.
Yellow fever vaccine is recommended for:
**P****eople 9 months through 59 years of age who are traveling to or living in areas at risk for yellow fever virus activity,** or traveling to a country with an entry requirement for vaccination. (People younger than 9 months or older than 59 years who are at increased risk might receive yellow fever vaccine in some situations. Ask your health care provider for more information.)
**Laboratory personnel** who might be exposed to yellow fever virus or vaccine virus.Yellow fever vaccine is given only at designated vaccination centers. After getting the vaccine, you will be given an “International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis” (ICVP, sometimes called the “yellow card”). You will need this card as proof of vaccination to enter certain countries. If you don’t have it, you might be required to get yellow fever vaccine upon entering the country, or be forced to wait for up to 6 days to make sure you are not infected.
Do not donate blood for 14 days after vaccination, because there is a risk of passing vaccine virus to others during that period.Talk with your health care providerDiscuss your itinerary with your health care provider before you get your yellow fever vaccination. You can visit CDC’s Travelers’ Health website at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel to learn if yellow fever vaccination is recommended or required based on your travel location.
Tell your vaccine provider if the person getting the vaccine:
Has had an **allergic reaction after a previous dose of yellow fever vaccine, or has any severe, life-threatening allergies**.
Has a**weakened immune system.**
Has had **their thymus removed** or been **diagnosed with a thymus disorder**.
Is **pregnant** or
Has **gotten any other vaccines in the past 4 weeks**.People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting yellow fever vaccine.
In some cases, your health care provider may decide to postpone yellow fever vaccination to a future visit.
If you cannot get yellow fever vaccine for medical reasons and you are traveling to a country with a yellow fever vaccination entry requirement, your doctor will need to fill out the Medical Contraindications to Vaccination section of your yellow card. In addition, your doctor should give you a waiver letter. If you plan to use a waiver, you can contact the embassies of countries you plan to visit for more information.Risks of a vaccine reactionSoreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given are common after yellow fever vaccine.
Fever sometimes happens.
Headache and muscle aches can occur.
More serious reactions happen rarely after yellow fever vaccine. These can include:
Nervous system reactions such as inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and/or spinal cord covering (meningitis), or Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), among others.
Life-threatening severe illness with organ dysfunction or failure.People 60 years and older and people with weakened immune systems might be more likely to experience serious reactions to yellow fever vaccine.
People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccination. Tell your provider if you feel dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.
As with any medicine, there is a remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death.What if there is a serious problem?An allergic reaction could occur after the vaccinated person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, or weakness), call **9-1-1** and get the person to the nearest hospital.
For other signs that concern you, call your health care provider.
Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your health care provider will usually file this report, or you can do it yourself. Visit the VAERS website or call **1-800-822-7967**.  *VAERS is only for reporting reactions, and VAERS staff do not give medical advice.*How can I learn more?Ask your health care provider.
Call your local or state health department.
Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Call **1-800-232-4636** (**1-800-CDC-INFO**) or
Visit CDC’s Yellow Fever websiteMany vaccine information statements are available in Spanish and other languages. See www.immunize.org/vis
Hojas de información sobre vacunas están disponibles en español y en muchos otros idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/visVaccine Information Statement
Yellow Fever Vaccine (4/1/20)
Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Office Use Only
Yellow Fever VISTop of Page
					View Page In:PDF [155K]RTF [134K]		
					
							Last Reviewed:  April 1, 2020						Source: 	National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
					Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate VIS Home
Current VISs
What's New with VISs
About VISs
Instructions for Using VISs
Facts About VISs
Frequently Asked Questions
Dates of Current and Past VISs
VIS Barcodes Vaccines & ImmunizationsImmunization Schedules


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue