Yellow Fever Vaccine: What UK Travellers Need to Know

If you're planning a trip to tropical Africa or South America, there’s one serious illness you need to know about: yellow fever. This mosquito-borne viral infection is rare for UK travellers — but when it strikes, it can be deadly.

Fortunately, there’s a highly effective vaccine. Here’s everything you need to know before you travel.

🦟 What Is Yellow Fever?

Yellow fever is a serious viral haemorrhagic disease spread by infected mosquitoes, mostly the Aedes species. It's most common in:

• Sub-Saharan Africa

• Parts of South and Central America

The virus can cause anything from mild symptoms to severe, life-threatening illness involving liver failure, jaundice (hence the “yellow”), and bleeding.

💡 Did you know? In just one year (2013), yellow fever was responsible for up to 60,000 deaths in Africa alone, according to World Health Organization estimates.

😷 Symptoms of Yellow Fever

Symptoms usually appear 3–6 days after a mosquito bite and fall into two phases:

Initial phase:

• Muscle aches (especially back pain)

• Headache

• Fever

• Nausea and vomiting

• Tiredness and loss of appetite

Toxic phase (15–25% of cases):

• Jaundice (yellow skin/eyes)

• Abdominal pain and vomiting

• Bleeding (from eyes, nose, or mouth)

• Liver and kidney failure

• Shock and death

Sadly, around half of those who enter the toxic phase will die.

🌍 Where Are You at Risk?

You should be concerned about yellow fever if you're travelling to:

• Sub-Saharan Africa (e.g. Nigeria, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo)

• South America (e.g. Brazil, Peru, Colombia)

Many countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry, especially if you’ve recently visited a risk area. Always check with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) before travel.

🧴 How Can You Prevent Yellow Fever?

Your best defences are:

• Mosquito bite prevention (e.g. DEET repellent, long sleeves, mosquito nets)

• Vaccination

• Staying in accommodation with screened windows or air conditioning

💉 Yellow Fever Vaccination in the UK

The Stamaril® vaccine is the only yellow fever jab currently available in the UK. It provides lifelong protection for most people after a single 0.5 ml dose.

🧠 A certificate of vaccination (ICVP) is issued and becomes valid 10 days after the jab — make sure you plan ahead if your destination requires it for entry.

🏥 Important: You Must Visit a Licensed Centre

In the UK, yellow fever vaccines can only be given at designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres (YFVCs).

⚠️ At Ready Health in Standish, we do not currently offer the yellow fever vaccine, but we’re more than happy to refer you to your nearest licensed clinic.

We can also offer advice on other travel vaccinations you may need and provide bite prevention tips and travel health consultations.

📑 Who Should Get Vaccinated?

The yellow fever vaccine is recommended for:

• Travellers (aged 9 months or over) going to an endemic area

• People entering countries that require an International Certificate of Vaccination

• Lab workers handling the yellow fever virus

Some people may not be eligible for the vaccine — including those with weakened immune systems or certain allergies — so always check with a travel health professional.