Yellow Fever Vaccination

Yellow Fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. It occurs in countries of South America and Africa. If your travel plans take you to, from, or through these areas, a yellow fever vaccination may be required. Only authorized travel clinics can give yellow fever vaccinations. Once you receive the yellow fever immunization at an authorized clinic, an International Certification of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) will be issued. The certification is valid ten days after vaccination and is good for ten years. You must take the ICVP with you to enter and exit countries with yellow fever vaccination requirements.

Sample of Valid ICVP - Click to enlarge

For more information, visit the following links:

Travel Vaccines

Utah Travel Clinics

Missionary Vaccine Recommendations

Yellow Fever Vaccination

Travel Vaccines Resources

Childhood Immunization Recommendations

Adults Immunization Recommendations

On February 26, 2015, the ACIP voted that a single dose of yellow fever vaccine provides long-lasting protection and is adequate for most travelers. This recommendation was established based on reviewing available information about the safety and long-term protection offered by yellow fever vaccine. The World Health Organization made similar recommendations in 2013, stating one dose of yellow fever vaccine is sufficient to provide lifelong protection. The current recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, however, note certain people who should receive additional dose(s) of yellow fever vaccine because of an impaired immune response to the vaccine or because they will be at increased risk for yellow fever disease. Click here for detailed information.

Medical Waivers

There are certain medical conditions, which may prevent a person from receiving a yellow fever vaccination. If you are not recommended to be immunized, you will need to obtain a medical wavier. Reasons other than medical contraindications are not acceptable for exemption from vaccination. The waiver needs to state the medical reason the person cannot receive vaccination. The waiver should be written on letterhead stationery and should include a stamp from an authorized yellow fever vaccine provider site to validate it. The Medical Contraindication section of the ICVP should also be completed. Both documents should be carried while traveling.

Sample of Medical Contraindication ICVP - Click to enlarge

Lost or destroyed ICVP

If the ICVP is lost or destroyed, a replacement should be sought from the provider site that issued the original certificate. If it is not possible to return to the original provider site that issued the certificate, a replacement certificate may be requested at another authorized yellow fever provider site, however, other sites will need to verify vaccination and no site is required to provide a duplicate. A fee is likely to be charged at any site for a duplicate. If yellow fever vaccination cannot be verified by a provider site, revaccination may be required to obtain another valid ICVP.

For detailed information on yellow fever, countries requiring or recommending yellow fever vaccination, or current outbreak information; visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site.

For a list of travel and yellow fever vaccination centers in Utah, click on Travel Clinics .