Yellow Fever

Yellow fever inoculation is recommended to all travelers in transit or going to the yellow fever endemic zones of Africa and Central and South America. In many cases it is required. There are no yellow fever endemic areas in Asia and travelers to these areas do not require yellow fever unless they go through Africa or South America. Yellow fever vaccine must be administered in a WHO approved vaccination center. Yellow fever is a live vaccine grown in eggs. It should not be given to those with cancer or to those with decreased immunity. It should not be given during pregnancy unless the risk of yellow fever is very high. It should be avoided in patients with a known allergy to eggs. Intradermal skin testing can be done to determine sensitivity in these cases. The vaccine is given to those over 6 to 9 months of age and after a single dose the certificate is valid for 10 years starting 10 days after administration.

As of June 2016 yellow fever vaccination certificates will be valid for life. Those travelers with contraindications to use or infants under 9 months of age should be given a certificate of exemption.

Yellow Fever Endemic zones -  Africa (WHO CDC)

Yellow Fever Endemic zones -  Americas (WHO CDC)

More info onYellow Fever Vaccine from CDC

Yellow fever is preventable by a relatively safe, effective vaccine. All yellow fever vaccines currently manufactured are live attenuated viral vaccines.

YF-VAX, the only yellow fever vaccine approved for use in the United States and Canada, is manufactured by sanofi pasteur.
Studies comparing the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of various yellow fever vaccines, including those manufactured outside of the United States, suggest that there is no significant difference in the reactogenicity or immune response generated by the various vaccines. Thus, individuals who receive yellow fever vaccines in other countries should be considered protected against yellow fever.

Recommendations for the Use of Yellow Fever Vaccine for Travelers

Persons aged ≥9 months of age who are traveling to or living in areas with risk of yellow fever transmission in South America and Africa should be vaccinated. In addition, some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry. See the following section in this chapter (Yellow Fever Vaccine Requirements and Recommendations, by Country) for more detailed information on the requirements and recommendations for yellow fever vaccination for specific countries.

However, because severe adverse events (see below) can follow yellow fever vaccination, physicians should be careful to administer the vaccine only to persons truly at risk of exposure to YFV.
Refer to Yellow Fever Vaccine Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for additional information or

CDC yellow fever page

Vaccine Dose and Administration

For all eligible persons, a single injection of 0.5 mL of reconstituted vaccine should be administered subcutaneously.

The International Health Regulations (IHR) published by WHO require revaccination at 10-year intervals.

Vaccine Safety and Adverse Reactions

Common Adverse Events

Reactions to yellow fever vaccine are generally mild, with 10%–30% of vaccinees reporting mild systemic adverse events.

Reported events typically include low-grade fever, headache, and myalgias that begin within days after vaccination and last 5–10 days.

Approximately 1% of vaccinees temporarily curtail their regular activities because of these reactions.

Severe Adverse Events

Hypersensitivity

Immediate hypersensitivity reactions, characterized by rash, urticaria, or asthma or a combination of these, are uncommon. Anaphylaxis following yellow fever vaccine is reported to occur at a rate of 1.8 cases per 100,000 doses administered.   

Yellow Fever Vaccine-Associated Neurologic Disease (YEL-AND)

YEL-AND represents a conglomerate of different clinical syndromes, including meningoencephalitis, Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), bulbar palsy, and Bell’s palsy.
Historically, YEL-AND was seen primarily among infants as encephalitis, but more recent reports have been among persons of all ages.
The onset of illness for documented cases ranges 3–28 days after vaccination, and almost all cases were in first-time vaccine recipients.
• YEL-AND is rarely fatal.
The incidence of YEL-AND in the United States is 0.8 per 100,000 doses administered. The rate is higher in persons ≥60 years of age, with a rate of 1.6 per 100,000 doses in persons 60–69 years of age and 2.3 per 100,000 doses in persons ≥70 years of age.

Yellow Fever Vaccine-Associated Viscerotropic Disease (YEL-AVD)

YEL-AVD is a severe illness similar to wild-type disease, with vaccine virus proliferating in multiple organs and often leading to multisystem organ failure and death.

Since the initial cases of YEL-AVD were published in 2001, more than 40 confirmed and suspected cases have been reported throughout the world.

The onset of illness for YEL-AVD cases averaged 3.5 days (range: 1–8 days) after vaccination. YEL-AVD appears to occur after the first dose of yellow fever vaccine rather than with booster doses.

The case–fatality ratio for reported YEL-AVD cases is 53%.

The incidence of YEL-AVD in the United States is 0.4 cases per 100,000 doses of vaccine administered. The rate is higher for persons ≥60 years of age, with a rate of 1 per 100,000 doses in persons 60–69 years of age and 2.3 per 100,000 doses in persons aged ≥70 years of age.

Risk of Dying from common risks  (per year)

recent  outbreaks  WHO