Yellow fever

There is a vaccine available for cholera but it is not on the Australian Immunisation Schedule. It is only recommended for;

  • people who work in laboratories with the yellow fever virus
  • people aged ≥9 months who are travelling to an area with a risk of yellow fever virus transmission

 

The disease

Yellow fever is a viral disease that is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Complications from yellow fever can be severe and can cause death. Some travellers may need yellow fever vaccination, documented by a valid International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis against yellow fever, to meet a country’s vaccination requirements for travel.

The vaccine

Yellow fever vaccine is recommended for laboratory workers who work with the yellow fever virus. Workers should have their antibody titres measured if their last vaccine dose was 10 years ago or more to check that they still have protective antibody levels.

Yellow fever vaccine is recommended for people ≥9 months of age who are travelling to an area with a risk of yellow fever virus transmission.

The following travellers are recommended to receive a booster dose if their last vaccine dose was 10 years ago or more:

  • women who were pregnant (in any trimester) when they received their 1st dose of yellow fever vaccine
  • people who had HIV when they received their 1st dose of yellow fever vaccine
  • people who will be staying in a high-risk location for an extended period of time
  • people travelling to an area with ongoing outbreaks

People who have had a haematopoietic stem cell transplant after a dose of yellow fever vaccine are recommended to receive an extra vaccine dose if they will be in an area with a risk of yellow fever virus transmission.

(Text adapted from the Australian Immunisation Handbook)

For more information about cholera and the vaccine available please see here.

Page reviewed November 2018.
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