Yellow Fever Vaccination
Do I need the yellow fever vaccine?
It depends on where you’re going — and where you’re travelling from. Yellow fever occurs in parts of Africa and South America, and many countries enforce certificate rules at the border. Your pharmacist will confirm both the health risk and the paperwork at your consultation:
| Traveller | Who should consider it | Doses & schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Advised Travel to risk areas | Yellow fever risk areas of Africa (including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and The Gambia) and South America (including the Amazon in Brazil and Peru, and Iguassu Falls). | Single injection at least 10 days before travel — protection is lifelong for most people. |
| Advised Certificate-check itineraries | Countries such as Ghana require every arrival aged 9 months and over to show a certificate; many others demand one if you arrive from — or transit more than 12 hours through — a risk country. | The International Certificate of Vaccination (ICVP) is issued with your vaccination and is now valid for life. |
| Consider Multi-country trips | Complex routes through Africa or South America where a later border may demand proof — even if your first stop doesn’t. | One dose covers the whole route — bring your full itinerary. |
| Not usually needed Asia and beyond | There is no yellow fever in Asia — but some Asian countries still demand a certificate if you arrive from a risk country, so route order matters. | No vaccine needed for direct UK arrivals to Asia — we’ll check your route. |
A small number of travellers (immune conditions, some over-60s on a first dose, pregnancy) need an individual risk assessment — sometimes a medical exemption letter is the right answer instead. We cover this at your consultation. Vaccine prices are kept up to date on our travel clinic price list.
What is yellow fever?
Yellow fever is a viral infection spread by day-biting mosquitoes in parts of Africa and South America. Many infections are mild, but severe cases cause jaundice (the “yellow” in the name), bleeding and organ failure — and among those who develop severe disease, up to half die. There is no cure, only supportive hospital care.
That severity is why the vaccine matters — and why so many countries police it at the border. Vaccination is more than 99% effective, with protection established within 10 days for 95% of people — and a single dose now counts for life under international health regulations.
The certificate is inseparable from the vaccine: your ICVP is issued when you’re vaccinated, and border officials in certificate countries will ask for it alongside your passport. Lost certificates and date errors are a common cause of travel disruption, so keep it safe.
How the yellow fever vaccine works
A single injection of a live, weakened form of the virus, given at our Camberley clinic — with your certificate issued at the same appointment.
| Traveller | Who should consider it | Doses & schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Adults & children 9 months+ | Standard single dose for anyone travelling to a risk area or needing the certificate. | 1 injection, at least 10 days before travel. Certificate valid for life. |
| Previously vaccinated | If you were vaccinated years ago, your certificate is now valid for life — even if it shows a 10-year expiry. | Usually no booster needed; a few higher-risk situations justify one — ask us. |
| Special cases | Pregnancy, immune conditions, some travellers over 60 having a first dose. | Individual risk assessment — sometimes an exemption letter is issued instead. |
Side effects are usually mild — a sore arm, headache or mild fever for a day or two. Serious reactions are rare, and we screen carefully for the small groups where the vaccine isn’t suitable.
How our travel clinic works
Book online in 2 minutes
Choose a time that suits you — same-week appointments are usually available, and families can be seen together in one visit.
Personalised risk assessment
Your pharmacist reviews your itinerary, health history and previous vaccinations against current UK travel health guidance, and agrees a plan with you.
Vaccinated & certified the same visit
If yellow fever is right for your trip, you’re vaccinated there and then — and you leave with your International Certificate of Vaccination in hand. You only pay for what you actually need.
Where does yellow fever matter?
Yellow fever risk — and certificate checks — apply across much of sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America. See what your destination requires:
Frequently asked questions
How long before travel do I need the yellow fever vaccine?
At least 10 days — that’s when protection kicks in and, crucially, when the certificate becomes valid. Border officials check the vaccination date, so a last-minute jab won’t satisfy the rules. Book as soon as your trip is confirmed.
How long does the yellow fever certificate last?
For life. International rules changed in 2016: a single dose now provides lifelong protection for most travellers, and older certificates showing a 10-year expiry remain valid indefinitely.
Which countries require a yellow fever certificate?
Ghana requires one from every arrival aged 9 months and over. Many others — including Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and The Gambia — require one if you arrive from, or transit more than 12 hours through, a risk country. Requirements change, so we check your exact route against current rules at your consultation.
Is the yellow fever vaccine safe for children?
Yes, from 9 months of age. It isn’t given to younger babies, and a few groups — pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, some over-60s having a first dose — need an individual assessment first.
Can I get a yellow fever exemption letter?
If the vaccine isn’t medically suitable for you, an exemption letter can be issued for border purposes. Whether it’s accepted is at the destination country’s discretion — we’ll talk through the practical implications for your route.
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GPhC registered pharmacy 1105418 · Superintendent pharmacist Jirina Thielens (GPhC 2069634).
This guide follows UK national travel health guidance (TravelHealthPro / NHS) and was last reviewed in August 2026. Recommendations can change — your consultation always reflects the latest advice.
Need a yellow fever jab and certificate?
Book your travel consultation at our Camberley clinic — vaccination and your lifetime certificate in one visit, with the rest of your travel health checked at the same time.
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