This document is intended to provide information for individuals who may require the Yellow Fever vaccine. It is organized according to the physician’s evaluation process to help you understand the steps involved and prepare the necessary information for your consultation.
Step 1: Assessing the Need for Vaccination
The first step is a thorough evaluation of your travel itinerary by the physician. This is to determine whether your destination is a high-risk area for Yellow Fever transmission, making the vaccine necessary, or if it is a requirement for entry by the destination country or a specific organization.
In general, we recommend scheduling a pre-travel consultation at least 4-6 weeks in advance. This allows sufficient time to consider other necessary vaccines or additional preventive measures. For the Yellow Fever vaccine specifically, for first-time recipients, the vaccination certificate will become valid 10 days after administration. Therefore, the vaccination must be completed at least 10 days before entering the at-risk area.
Step 2: Assessing Contraindications and Precautions if Vaccination is Necessary
If the vaccine is deemed necessary, the physician will conduct a detailed review of your health status and medical history to identify any contraindications or special precautions. Key topics to discuss with your doctor include:
- Travelers aged 60 and over*
- Infants under 9 months of age
- A history of severe allergy to eggs or gelatin
- Immunocompromised individuals (e.g., HIV infection, cancer, immunosuppressive drug therapy)
- A history of thymus gland disorders (e.g., Myasthenia Gravis, thymoma)
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
* Note for travelers aged 60 and over: Older adults have a higher risk of developing serious adverse effects after vaccination, including:
- Neurologic disease (YEL-AND): occurring at a rate of approximately 2.2 cases per 100,000 vaccine recipients.
- Viscerotropic disease (YEL-AVD): occurring at a rate of approximately 1.2 cases per 100,000 vaccine recipients.
Step 3: Procedure in Case of Contraindications or Precautions
If you have significant contraindications or precautions, for your primary safety, the physician may advise against administering the vaccine and recommend that you cancel or postpone your trip.
Initially, you may consider delaying the booking of flights, hotels, or travel programs; changing your flight; or altering your travel itinerary to avoid high-risk areas for your utmost safety.
In cases where travel is absolutely essential and plans cannot be changed, a further detailed risk assessment will be necessary. This may require an appointment with a travel medicine specialist for an in-depth consultation.
For more information or to make an appointment, please contact the Health Promotion Center: Tel. +66 3890 9077, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
