by Dr Alan Leeb, Ballajura
As we emerge from the acute Covid era and the world gets moving once again, it is a timely reminder about the diseases we may be exposed to overseas and the vaccinations that are required when travelling to certain destinations.
Yellow fever is prevalent in many areas of Africa and Central and South America. It is a serious disease that is transmitted by infected mosquitos.
So named because it causes the skin to turn yellow or jaundiced in severe cases, yellow fever is estimated to cause 30,000 deaths each year.
Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
There is no specific treatment for yellow fever; however, there is a safe, effective and affordable vaccine available, which provides the best protection against the disease.
The yellow fever vaccine is delivered as a single dose that will last for life. It is recommended for all travellers to a yellow fever risk country aged 9 months or older.
Some countries require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against yellow fever before they are allowed to enter. In Australia, anyone aged 1 year or older who is arriving in or returning to Australia from a declared yellow fever infected country, and who has stayed in that country overnight or longer within the previous six days, must hold an international vaccination certificate for yellow fever.
Only approved clinics in Australia are allowed to give yellow fever vaccinations and these clinics are determined by State and Territory health departments. Approved clinics will provide you with a vaccination certificate, as required by the World Health Organization (WHO), following your yellow fever vaccination.
This certificate is usually in a little yellow book - digital certification has not yet come to Yellow fever vaccination. However the vaccine can be added to your (digital) Australian Immunisation Register entry.
If you are planning any travel to Africa or South America, it is highly recommended that you book in for your yellow fever vaccination at least 4 weeks prior to departure. Map of Yellow fever regions is here
To find your local approved vaccination clinic, checkout the list of TMA members here
Further Information
Further information can be found at:
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - https://www.health.gov.au/diseases/yellow-fever?utm_source=health.gov.au&utm_medium=callout-auto-custom&utm_campaign=digital_transformation
- World Health Organization - https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/vaccination-requirements-and-recommendations-for-international-travellers-and-malaria-situation-per-country-2022-edition