Yellow Fever Vaccine

The vaccine is intended to protect children aged 9 months and older and adults who plan to travel to areas at risk of yellow fever infection.

The vaccine should be administered at least 10 days before travelling to an endemic area, i.e. a region where the disease is common. This step is essential to ensure that the vaccine is effective within the expected timeframe.

The vaccination will be entered on the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (the so-called Yellow Card). In most cases, such an entry is valid for the life of the vaccinated person and takes effect 10 days after the vaccination.

What is yellow fever?

Yellow fever is a viral disease belonging to the group of viral haemorrhagic fevers, which occurs mainly in South and Central America, but also in Africa.

Flavivirus febricus, the virus that causes the infection, is transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Infection is often accompanied by fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, muscle aches and fatigue. In extreme cases, symptoms of haemorrhagic fever can occur, including liver and kidney damage and gastrointestinal bleeding, with a mortality rate of up to 50%.

There is no effective treatment for yellow fever. The only way to protect yourself against this disease is to get vaccinated.

What does the vaccine contain?

The vaccine contains live, attenuated (weakened) viruses that are unable to infect the body. It is highly effective, providing long-term immunity in most cases.

Who should be vaccinated?

Yellow fever vaccination may be required or recommended depending on your destination. The vaccination is intended for people who:

• travel to tropical regions of Africa and Central and South America where there is a high risk of infection with the yellow fever virus, e.g. Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Kenya;
• travel to any country where an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis is required for entry.

IMPORTANT! Please make an appointment with a travel medicine docotr at least 6-8 weeks prior to departure. If your health plan does not include an appointment with a travel medicine physician, you should purchase the qualification separately.

What is the duration of protection provided by the vaccine?

Normally, one dose of the vaccine provides long-term protection (at least 10 years, but possibly for life) and no booster dose is needed. A booster dose may only be needed for people who are still at risk of yellow fever virus infection (e.g., travellers to endemic areas) and if 10 or more years have elapsed since the last vaccination. It may be necessary to have a booster vaccination based on official advice from the local health authorities in the country you are travelling to. The vaccination certificate becomes valid immediately after the booster vaccination.

Contraindications include:

• age under 6 months;
• moderate or severe illness accompanied by fever (until recovery);
• significant immunodeficiency;
• thymus dysfunction or its removal;
• HIV infection;
• hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not be vaccinated unless absolutely necessary.

Due to the increased risk of serious and life-threatening side effects, the vaccine may only be given to children aged 6-8 months and adults over 60 years in certain cases.

Post-vaccination reactions are generally mild and include headache, muscle aches and low-grade fever. Inflammation of the liver, kidneys or central nervous system (visceral or neurotropic disease) is rare in vaccinated individuals. The risk of adverse reactions is higher in people over 60 years of age and in those with compromised immune systems.

Conditions that increase the risk of serious adverse reactions will be excluded by the physician at the time of vaccination.

Yellow fever prevention

The yellow fever virus and other tropical viruses are transmitted by mosquitoes. In addition to vaccination, it is recommended that you take steps to protect yourself from mosquito bites, including chemical repellents, protective clothing and mosquito nets.

Make sure you book your vaccination appointment within 3 months of the date shown on your order confirmation.

1. First, select the city/town and Medicover Medical Centre where you wish to be vaccinated.

   IMPORTANT: The vaccination does not include an appointment with a travel medicine doctor. If this is not included in the health plan, patients should purchase the qualification separately.

2. After paying for the vaccination package, please book a Vaccine Qualification appointment - this is mandatory before any vaccine is administered. The vaccination will take place immediately after the qualification appointment. Book your appointment at the reception of the Medicover Medical Centre or call the Medicover hotline on +48 500 900 550.
3. If the doctor does not qualify you for the vaccination, you will need to book a follow-up appointment on a date specified by the doctor. This follow-up appointment will be charged extra, unless it is already included in your healthcare package.