King's Pharmacy
Should You Get Yellow Fever Vaccination Before Travelling?
There is a very effective vaccine that can prevent you from getting yellow fever if you travel to a region where the disease is widespread. Prior to your trip, it’s critical to make sure you have all the information you require. Even if you have had your vaccination, you should still try to prevent mosquito bites because they can spread deadly diseases like malaria. Keep reading to learn more about the yellow fever vaccine in Birmingham.
Who needs a yellow fever vaccine?
Travellers above the age of nine are advised to receive a yellow fever vaccination before visiting:
– Trinidad, South America, Central America and Sub-Saharan Africa.
– A country that requires proof of yellow fever immunisation.
To give the jab time to work, you should get vaccinated at least ten days before your trip.
If you or your child recently had the MMR jab, you must wait around four weeks after getting it to have the yellow fever vaccine.
Yellow fever vaccination should be given if a 4-week gap cannot be maintained, although a second MMR dose should be taken into consideration.
It’s also important to take malaria tablets to prevent yourself from contracting malaria in an area where the disease is prevalent. Learn more about malaria tablets below:
Yellow fever vaccine for people over 60
You can receive the yellow fever vaccine if you are in good health, understand the risks of immunisation, and there is a genuine risk of the yellow fever virus where you are travelling (instead of getting the vaccine just because you need a certificate). The likelihood of contracting a disease where you’re going as well as any possible side effects of the vaccine will be discussed with you by your pharmacist or doctor. You can use this to decide whether you should receive the vaccination or not.
How long is the yellow fever vaccine effective for?
Most people are immune to yellow fever for as long as they are alive after getting the vaccination.
It’s unlikely that you should need a second dose of the vaccine. Please get in touch with us if you’re unsure about whether you need to take another dose before travelling.
What are the side effects of the vaccine?
People who have not received the yellow fever vaccine are more likely than those who have to experience severe side effects.
After getting the vaccine, 1 in every 3 people develops:
– A headache
– A temperature increase
– Muscle pain
– Pain or discomfort at the site of injection
These adverse effects often disappear after two weeks.
More severe side effects, such as an allergic reaction to a vaccination component, can occur in incredibly rare circumstances.
Is the yellow fever vaccine mandatory?
All travellers to countries where the disease is widespread should get vaccinated against yellow fever, as some governments mandate it.
Can I travel without proof of my yellow fever vaccination?
If there is a contraindication to the vaccine, a medical professional will decline to administer it. If it is determined that the danger of serious adverse effects from vaccinations outweighs the risk of disease, the same circumstance may arise. A medical exemption certificate could be offered if the risk of sickness is determined to be low. This can only be accomplished with your consent.
Book your appointment or visit King’s Pharmacy today to get your yellow fever vaccine in Birmingham.
This blog post was written on behalf of King’s Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor.