Travel vaccines are recommended if you travel to or work in some countries. Discuss your travel plans with a public health unit, a travel clinic, or your health care provider at least 6 to 8 weeks before you travel.
Most travel vaccines are not covered by the provincial medical services plan (MSP), so check with your local travel clinic to find out the cost.
Bring a copy of your immunization records to the travel clinic. Keep a record of all the travel vaccines you receive and take them with you on your trip.
What is yellow fever vaccine?
Yellow fever vaccine helps protect against the yellow fever virus. Yellow fever is a viral disease spread by infected mosquitoes. The vaccine is approved by Health Canada.
Who should get the vaccine?
If you are travelling to or working in tropical areas of Africa or Central and South America, you may need to get the vaccine. Talk to your health care provider or travel clinic for more information.
For a list of yellow fever vaccination centres in B.C., visit the Public Health Agency of Canada: "https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/travel-health/yellow-fever/vaccination-centres-canada-british-columbia.html
The vaccine is recommended for workers routinely exposed to the yellow fever virus. This includes researchers and lab employees.
Adults and children 9 months of age and older can receive the vaccine, which is given as one dose or shot.
The vaccine provides effective immunity within 30 days for more than 99 percent of those vaccinated. Do not travel to affected areas before this time. A single dose is enough to build life-long immunity against yellow fever. A booster dose of the vaccine is not needed.
After you get the vaccine, you will receive a stamped document called the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis. This document is an official record and a legal requirement for entry into some countries. If you cannot receive the yellow fever vaccine due to a medical reason, you will need written documentation on official letterhead from your health care provider or a Certificate of Medical Contraindication to Vaccination from a travel clinic. The letter or certificate should state the medical reason why the vaccine could not be given.
Without the certificate or your health care provider’s letter, you may be refused entry to the country you are visiting or be given the vaccine at the country’s port of entry.
What are the benefits of the vaccine?
The yellow fever vaccine is the best way to protect against the yellow fever virus, a serious and sometimes fatal infection.
What are the possible reactions after the vaccine?
Vaccines are very safe. It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get yellow fever. Common reactions to the vaccine may include soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given. A mild headache, slight fever, or aching muscles lasting one or 2 days can occur 5 to 10 days after getting the vaccine.
