What is yellow fever?

Yellow fever is a disease that is spread through mosquito bites and is caused by a virus.

In some people it can develop into serious illness and may even cause death. Yellow fever is found only in parts of Central and South America and Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Caribbean. Yellow fever vaccinations can only be given at designated centres and B.A Williams Chemist in Brentford is a designated yellow fever centre. Call the team today on 0208 560 3834 or visit the store to get your yellow fever vaccination.

Yellow fever article

In this article we look at what yellow fever is, its symptoms, how to stay protected while on holiday, how soon you should start getting travel health advice before your travel date and any side effects of the vaccination.

Symptoms

The symptoms normally take 3 to 6 days to develop and include fever, chills, headache, backache, and muscle aches.

How serious is Yellow Fever?

About 15% of people who get yellow fever develop serious illness that can lead to bleeding, shock, organ failure, and sometimes death.

Treatment & Prevention

Yellow Fever cannot be treated effectively, but can be prevented by vaccination. Travellers to areas carrying the risk of yellow fever may need a single dose injection of Stamaril to stay protected.

Yellow fever vaccination

The vaccine takes time to develop immunity in your body against the virus that causes the infection. Hence it should be given at least 10 days before travelling to an area where the infection is found.

Vaccination certificate for yellow fever is part of entry requirements for some countries. The certificate will only become valid 10 days after you are vaccinated.

The yellow fever vaccination is administered in the form of a single injection and it helps almost over 95% of those who have it to stay protected from the infection.

Is there any need for booster dose?

The vaccination cover lasts for life in most people and hence vaccination certificates are also valid for life.

Booster doses are usually only recommended if you’re travelling to an area where yellow fever is found and you were last vaccinated more than 10 years ago and when you were last vaccinated, you were under 2 years old, pregnant, or had a weakened immune system – for example, because of HIV or preparation for a bone marrow transplant.

If you are unsure, please contact B.A Williams Chemist team and they will be able to give you expert advice.

How much the yellow fever vaccine costs

The yellow fever vaccine is not available for free on the NHS, so you’ll have to pay for it.

It typically costs around £60 to £100.

Certificate of yellow fever vaccination

According to WHO regulations, anyone travelling to a country or area where there is a risk of picking up or spreading the virus that causes yellow fever must have an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP).

It’s always a good idea to keep a photocopy or electronic copy of your ICVP. This will make it easier to get a replacement certificate if the original certificate is lost or damaged

Yellow fever vaccine common side effects

One in every three people experience mild side effects after having the yellow fever vaccine, such as:

• a headache
• muscle pain
• a mild fever
• soreness at the injection site

Reactions at the injection site usually occur one to five days after being vaccinated. The other side effects may last for up to two weeks.

Rare side effects

There are also some more serious but very rare side effects that can occur, including an allergic reaction and problems affecting the brain or organs.

These occur less than 10 times for every million doses of vaccine given.

Get medical advice if you feel very unwell within a few days or weeks of having the yellow fever vaccine.

B.A Williams Chemist – Yellow Fever Centre in Brentford

B.A Williams Chemist in Brentford is a registered yellow fever vaccination centre and the team is always at hand if you need travel health advice and vaccinations. You can call them on 0208 560 3834 or visit the store in person.

Travel Health Tips

Even if you have been vaccinated, it’s still a good idea to take steps to prevent mosquito bites while you’re travelling – for example, by using mosquito nets, wearing loose, long-sleeved clothing, and applying insect repellent containing 50% DEET to exposed skin. You can stay up to date with latest travel health advice and developments on NHS FitforTravel website.