You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.
Before taking this medicine
You should not receive this vaccine if you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a yellow fever vaccine, or if you have:
an allergy to gelatin, eggs, or chicken proteins;
cancer, leukemia, or lymphoma;
a weak immune system caused by disease (such as cancer or HIV), or by taking certain medicines such as steroids;
a disorder such as myasthenia gravis;
a disease or tumor of the thymus gland, or if your thymus has been surgically removed; or
if you have received a transplant.
If you have a high risk of exposure to yellow fever, you may need to receive the vaccine even if you have an allergy to eggs or chicken products. Your doctor can give you the vaccine in several small doses to avoid an allergic reaction.
In special cases, a doctor or health official may determine that a child between 6 and 9 months old should receive a yellow fever vaccine. Children younger than 6 months old should not receive this vaccine.
To make sure yellow fever vaccine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
a seizure;
a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain (or if this was a reaction to a previous vaccine);
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia;
Guillain Barré syndrome; or
an allergy to latex.
You can still receive a vaccine if you have a cold or fever. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.
It is not known whether yellow fever vaccine will harm an unborn baby. However, if you are at a high risk for infection with yellow fever during pregnancy, your doctor should determine whether you need this vaccine.
You should not receive this vaccine if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How is yellow fever vaccine given?
This vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle.
Yellow fever vaccine is given every 10 years to people who are at risk of exposure to yellow fever. The first shot can be given to a child who is at least 9 months old. Your individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
After receiving the vaccine, you will be given an International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card) from the clinic where you receive your yellow fever vaccine. You will need this card as proof of vaccination to enter certain countries. This card becomes valid 10 days after you receive the vaccination and remains valid for 10 years.
Yellow fever vaccine can cause false results on a blood test for dengue or Japanese encephalitis. Tell any doctor who treats you if you have received a yellow fever vaccine within the past 4 to 6 weeks.
In addition to receiving yellow fever vaccine, use protective clothing, insect repellents, and mosquito netting around your bed to further prevent mosquito bites that could infect you with the yellow fever virus.
If you continue to travel or live in areas where yellow fever is common, you should receive a booster dose of yellow fever vaccine every 10 years.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Talk with your doctor if you are receiving this vaccine less than 10 days prior to your arrival in an area where you may be exposed to the yellow fever virus.
Be sure you receive a booster dose of yellow fever vaccine every 10 years if you continue to travel or live in areas where yellow fever is common. If you do not receive the vaccine every 10 years, you may not be fully protected against the disease.
What happens if I overdose?
An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely to occur.
