What is Yellow Fever?
Yellow fever is a mosquito borne disease which can affect travellers who are planning to visit countries where yellow fever is considered endemic. It is called “yellow fever” because it can cause jaundice or yellow discolouration of skin once infected. It takes three to six days before the symptoms develop and becomes noticeable. The symptoms includes muscle aches, backache, headache, fever, and chills. There is 15% chance of developing severe illnesses leading to organ failure, shock, bleeding and the worst, it can lead to death.
How is it being contracted?
You can be infected by this virus if bitten by the infected mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti species of mosquito, which is the carriere of this virus, is widely distributed in various pars of the world notably Africa and South America
The list below are the countries that the Australian government listed as yellow fever risk countries. If you come from or going to visit these countries, you will be required to present an international vaccination certificate, a proof that you have been vaccinated for yellow fever upon arrival in Australia.
COUNTRIES WITH YELLOW FEVER RISK:
South America and Central America
- Argentina – especially in Misiones Province
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Ecuador (Galapagos Islands not included)
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Suriname
- Trinidad
- Venezuela
Africa
- Angola
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- The central African Republic
- Chad
- Congo, the Democratic Republic of the
- Congo, Republic of the
- Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Togo
- Uganda
What is Yellow Fever Vaccine? How safe is it?
The yellow fever vaccine is the best way to get protected from yellow fever. This live-attenuated type of vaccine is highly recommended for travelers 9 nine months of age or older who are living or traveling in any country listed above. Revita Medical Clinic is fully accredited as a yellow fever vaccination centre in bayside area of melbourne.
According to WHO, this vaccine is highly effective and safe. A booster dose of this vaccine is not needed as a single dose of it gives a lifetime protection against the said disease. If you are pregnant, have severe allergies, have severe immunodeficiency or have thymus disorder, you are excluded from having this vaccination.
If you are planning to travel to a yellow fever prone country please feel free to book an appointment with us. We are one of the few fully accredited yellow fever vaccination providers in Bayside Melbourne. Please note that the travel medicine consultation is bulk billed, however, the yellow fever vaccine is charged. Please see our fees page for more details.
When to get yellow fever vaccine:
It is recommended that you plan well ahead of your trip. Yellow fever vaccine generally needs up to 10 days to become effective following administration. Therefore it is advisable that you book your appointment at least 2 weeks prior to your departure. Please note that we provide a yellow fever vaccintion which is a mandatory requirement for entering into a high risk yellow fever country or returning back to astralia from those countries. Apart from the yellow fever vaccine, you may also require other vaccinations and tailored medical advice for visiting those countries.