Facts About Yellow Fever Vaccine

If you plan to travel to regions with a risk of yellow fever, such as parts of Africa and Latin America, getting the Yellow Fever vaccine is mandatory. This vaccine is the only one required under the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulation (WHO-IHR 2005).

According to these regulations, you must carry an International Certificate of Vaccination to present at the port of entry. This certificate is typically yellow and may vary in details or format depending on the vaccination center. However, all valid certificates must adhere to WHO standards, including:

• The certificate must be completed in English or French, with an additional language allowed if necessary.
• It must be signed by a medical practitioner or authorized health worker and stamped by the administering center. The stamp alone is not sufficient.
• Any changes, erasures, or incomplete information can invalidate the certificate.
• Certificates are issued individually and must not be used collectively. Separate certificates are required for children.
• The certificate remains valid for the lifetime of the vaccinated individual, starting 10 days after vaccination. For revaccination, it is valid from the date of the new vaccination. The medical professional must record the validity dates on the certificate.

Our clinic uses the standard WHO International Certificate of Vaccination.

When receiving your yellow fever vaccine, ensure to:

1. Verify that your name and passport number are accurate and match your passport.
2. Confirm that all details related to your yellow fever vaccination are correctly filled out.
3. Check for the clinician’s signature and the clinic’s official stamp.
4. Ensure there are no amendments or erasures on the certificate. If errors are found, request a new certificate from the clinic.
5. Once everything is correct, keep your certificate safe and have a pleasant trip!