YELLOWFEVER VACCINE (Systemic)
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
Generic name product may be available in Canada.
Category
Description
Yellow Fever Vaccine isused to prevent infection by the yellow fever virus. It works by causing yourbody to produce its own protection (antibodies) against the virus.
Vaccination against yellow fever is recommended for all persons 9 monthsof age and older who are traveling to or living in areas of Africa, SouthAmerica, or other countries where there is yellow fever infection and forpeople who are traveling to countries that require yellow fever immunization(certificate of vaccination). It is also needed by other people who mightcome into contact with the yellow fever virus.
Infants 6 to 9 months of age and pregnant women should be vaccinated onlyif they must travel to areas where there is an epidemic of yellow fever andthey cannot be protected from mosquito bites.
Infants 4 to 6 months of age may be vaccinated only if there is a highrisk of getting yellow fever infection.
Vaccination against yellow fever is not recommended for infants youngerthan 4 months of age because they have an increased chance of getting seriousside effects from the vaccine.
The certificate of vaccination for yellow fever is valid for 10 years beginning10 days after the first vaccination, or on the date of the second vaccinationif within 10 years of the first injection.
Yellow fever vaccine is given only at authorized Yellow Fever VaccinationCenters. The location of these centers can be obtained from your state, province,and local health departments.
The vaccine is available in the following dosage form:
Parenteral- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it willdo. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For yellow fever vaccine,the following should be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to yellow fever vaccine. Also tell your doctor if you areallergic to any other substances, such as foods (especially eggs and chicken),preservatives, or dyes. The yellow fever vaccine available in the U.S. andCanada is grown in chick embryo cell culture so it may contain egg or chickenprotein.
If you are allergic to eggs or chicken, your doctor may have to do a skintest before giving you the vaccine. However, if you need the vaccine becauseof international travel requirements, not because you are traveling to a countrywhere there is a high risk of getting yellow fever, you may ask your doctorfor a waiver letter stating the reason why you cannot be vaccinated.
Pregnancy?Yellow fever vaccine may cause birth defects. Therefore,it is not recommended for use in pregnant women, especially in the first3 months of pregnancy, unless they are at high risk of getting yellow fever.Pregnant women who have not already been immunized are generally advised topostpone their travel and vaccination until after giving birth.
If travel to high-risk areas cannot be postponed, pregnant women shouldbe vaccinated. The chance of getting serious problems from infection withyellow fever in those areas is much greater than the chance of getting a seriousside effect from the vaccine for both the mother and the fetus.
However, a pregnant woman who needs the vaccine because of internationaltravel requirements, not because she is traveling to a country where thereis a high risk of getting yellow fever, may ask the doctor for a waiver letter(official-looking on letterhead stationery) stating why she cannot be vaccinated.
Breast-feeding?Yellow fever vaccine has not been shown to causeproblems in nursing babies.
Children?Yellow fever vaccine is recommended for children9 months of age or older if they are traveling to, or living in, areas wherethere is yellow fever infection, or if they are traveling to areas that requireyellow fever immunization (certificate of vaccination). In special cases,such as high-risk exposure, yellow fever vaccine may be given to children4 to 9 months of age. However, the vaccine is not recommended for infantsyounger than 4 months of age, because of an increased chance of serious sideeffects.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Before you receiveyellow fever vaccine, it is especially important that your doctor know ifyou have received any of the following:
- Treatment with x-rays or medicines that may lower the body's protectionagainst infection such as those used for organ transplants (e.g., cyclosporine),cancer medicines, or corticosteroids?May decrease the useful effectof yellow fever vaccine
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of yellow fever vaccine. Make sure you tell yourdoctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Immune deficiency condition (or family history of)?The conditionmay decrease the useful effect of the vaccine or may increase the risk andseverity of side effects
- Serious illness with fever?The symptoms of the illness maybe confused with the possible side effects of the vaccine
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a vaccine may cause some unwantedeffects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occurthey may need medical attention.
Get emergency help immediately if any of thefollowing side effects occur:
Rare
Confusion; convulsions (seizures); coughing; difficulty in breathing orswallowing; fast heartbeat; feeling of burning, crawling, or tingling of skin; nervousness or irritability; reddening of skin; severe headache; skin rash or itching; sneezing; stiff neck; throbbing in the ears; unusual tirednessor weakness; vomiting
Other side effects may occurthat usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go awayduring treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check withyour doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
Other side effects notlisted above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects,check with your doctor.
Developed: 11/22/1993
