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Destinations |
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Reference Materials |
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Outbreaks |
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Traveling with
Children |
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Special Needs
Travelers |
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Diseases |
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Safe Food and Water |
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Vaccinations |
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Cruise Ships and Air
Travel |
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Visitor Survey |
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Other Related Sites |
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U.S. State
Department |
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Division of
Quarantine |
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National Center for
Infectious Diseases |
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The Pan American
Health Organization |
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World Health
Organization |
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Comprehensive
Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements
Please see the Destinations
section for recommendations for specific countries. |
|
Yellow fever is a viral disease found in parts of Africa and South America. It is
transmitted to humans by a mosquito bite. Even though there is no risk of becoming
infected while traveling in countries outside of tropical South America or sub-Saharan
Africa (i.e., Central, East, Southern, and West), certain countries REQUIRE
a yellow fever vaccination. Some countries require a Yellow Fever Vaccination for all
travelers, while others require only a vaccination if a traveler is coming FROM
either areas infected with yellow fever or areas where yellow fever transmission has
occurred (called endemic areas). The endemic areas are found in tropical
South America and Africa. For the current list of yellow fever infected countries, read
Summary of Health Information for International Travel (the Blue
Sheet).
In general, if you are traveling only from the United States to countries in
Europe (Western or Eastern), North Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, East
or Southeast Asia, Australia and the South Pacific, the Caribbean, most of Central
America, or temperate South America, CDC does not recommend and you are not required
to have a yellow fever vaccination.
However, if your travel plans include traveling to or from a South American
or African country that is infected with yellow fever or is located in areas
where yellow fever transmission has occurred (endemic areas), then the easiest and
safest thing to do is to get a yellow fever vaccination and a signed certificate. Be
aware, the age requirements for vaccination can vary from country to country. Be sure
to read the Yellow Fever Certificate information below, the instructions, and the
country-by-country requirements on this page.
Yellow fever vaccination, a 1-dose shot, may be administered to adults and to children
over 9 months of age. This vaccine is administered only at designated yellow fever
centers, usually your local health department. If at continued risk, a booster is needed
every 10 years.
MEDICAL REASONS NOT TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE:
- Infants under 4 months must not be immunized.
- Persons severely allergic to eggs should not be given the vaccine. Generally,
persons able to eat eggs or egg products can safely receive the vaccine.
- It is prudent on theoretical grounds to avoid vaccinating pregnant women, and for
non-immunized pregnant women to postpone travel to epidemic areas until after delivery.
(Pregnant women who must travel to high-risk areas should be vaccinated.)
- In general, persons whose immune systems are suppressed (due to HIV infection or other
conditions), persons who are undergoing treatments for cancers (e.g., leukemia and
lymphoma), or persons being treated with corticosteroids, alkylating drugs,
antimetabolites, or radiation should not be vaccinated unless traveling to an area of
known yellow fever transmission. (Patients with suppressed immune systems have a
theoretical risk of encephalitis due to the yellow fever vaccine virus.)
Yellow Fever Certificate
After immunization, an International Certificate of Vaccination is issued and is valid 10
days after vaccination to meet entry and exit requirements for all countries. The
Certificate is good for 10 years. You must take the Certificate with you. Travelers who
have a medical reason not to receive the yellow fever vaccine should obtain a medical
waiver. Most countries will accept a medical waiver for persons with a medical reason not
to receive the vaccine. When required, CDC recommends obtaining written waivers from
consular or embassy officials before departure. A physicians letter clearly stating
the medical reason not to receive the vaccine might be acceptable to some governments. It
should be written on letterhead stationery and bear the stamp used by a health department
or official immunization center to validate the International Certificate of Vaccination.
Check embassies or consulates for specific waiver requirements. |
INSTRUCTIONS: Listed next to each country are the Yellow Fever recommendation
and requirement codes, which are explained at the bottom of the pages. The explanations
are listed in order of broadest requirements (those that apply to most travelers) to the
narrower requirements (fewer people are likely to be in this category). A dash ()
indicates no vaccination is required or recommended. Age requirements are the 4th
column and refer to the age at which vaccination is required: >1y = greater than 1
year; >6m or >9m = greater than 6 or 9 months; >0 = the age requirement is at the
countrys discretion, and vaccination could be required as young as birth. If you are
traveling with infants and young children, check with embassies and consulates for their
specific requirements, and then consult with your doctor.
Tropical South
America
Bolivia 2 X R >0
Brazil 2 X R >6m
Colombia X R
Ecuador 2 X >1y
French 1 X >1y
Guiana
Guyana 2 X SE >0
Paraguay X R
Peru 2 X R >6m
Suriname 2 X >0
Venezuela X
Temperate South
America
Argentina X S
Chile -
Falkland
Is.(U.K.) -
Uruguay -
Central America
Belize 2 >0
Costa Rica -
El Salvador 2 >6m
Guatemala 3 >1y
Honduras 2 >0
Mexico 2 >6m
Nicaragua 2 >1y
Panama X R
East Asia
China 2
Hong Kong -
Japan -
Korea, -
Republic
Korea, -
Democratic
Macao -
Mongolia -
Taiwan 2
|
Caribbean And
West Indies
Antigua &
Barbuda 2 >1y
Bahamas 2 >1y
Barbados 2 >1y
Bermuda-
(U.K.)
Cayman Is. -
(U.K.)
Cuba -
Dominica 2 >1y
Dominican -
Republic
Grenada 2 >1y
Guadeloupe 2 >1y
Haiti 2 >0
Jamaica 2 >1y
Martinique 2 >1y
(France)
Montserrat 2 >1y
(U.K.)
Netherlands 2 >6m
Antilles
Puerto Rico -
(U.S.)
Saint Lucia 2 >1y
St. Vincent 2 >1y
& the
Grenadines
St. Kitts 2 >1y
& Nevis
Trinidad 2 X >1y
& Tobago
Virgin -
Islands, U.S.
Virgin -
Islands, U.K.
Southeast Asia
Brunei 2 E >1y
Darussalam
Cambodia 2 >0
Indonesia 2 E >0
Laos 2 >0
Malaysia 2 E >1y
Myanmar 2 S >0
Philippines 2 >1y
Singapore 3 E >1y
Thailand 2 E >1y
Vietnam 2 >1y
|
X = Yellow fever vaccination recommended by CDC for
travelers (>9 months) going outside urban areas.
1 = Vaccination and Certificate required for all travelers. For age requirements,
see instructions above.
E = Vaccination and Certificate required for travelers arriving from a yellow fever
endemic country. (See the list of Yellow Fever Endemic Countries below.)
S = Special requirements/recommendations, see Special Requirements below.
3 = Vaccination and Certificate required for travelers arriving from a country any
part of which is infected with yellow fever (as listed on the biweekly
Summary of Health Information for International Travel [the Blue
Sheet]).
2 = Vaccination and Certificate required for travelers arriving from infected areas in
countries currently infected with yellow fever (as listed on the biweekly
Summary of Health Information for International Travel [the Blue
Sheet]).
R = A yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travel to a specific destination
in a country. |
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Argentina: Risk in
northeastern forest areas only. Bolivia: Guyana: Certificate is also
required for travelers from Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Paraguay:
Certificate only required for travelers leaving Paraguay destined to endemic
countries. |
North Africa
Algeria 2 >1y
Canary -
Islands
Egypt 2 SE >1y
Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya 2 >1y
Morocco -
Tunisia 2 >1y
Southern
Africa
Botswana -
Lesotho 2 >0
Namibia 2 SE >1y
South 2 E >0
Africa
St. Helena -
Swaziland 2 >0
Zimbabwe 2 >0
Central
Africa
Angola 2 X >1y
Cameroon 1 X >1y
Central 1 X >1y
African
Republic
Chad X S >1y
Congo 1 X >1y
Equatorial 2 X >0
Guinea
Gabon 1 X >1y
Sudan 2 X SE >1y
Zaire 1 X >1y
Zambia - X
|
West Africa
Benin 1 X >1y
Burkina Faso 1 X >1y
Cape Verde 2 S >1y
Islands
Cote d'lvoire 1 X >1y
Gambia 2 X E >1y
Ghana 1 X >0
Guinea 2 X >1y
Guinea-Bissau 2 X E >1y
Liberia 1 X >1y
Mali 1 X >1y
Mauritania 1 S >1y
Niger 1 X S >1y
Nigeria 2 X >1y
Sao Tome/ 1 S >1y
Principe
Senegal 1 X >1y
Sierra Leone 2 X >0
Togo 1 X >1y
East Africa
Burundi 2 X >1y
Comoros -
Djibouti 2 >1y
Eritrea 2 X
Ethiopia 2 X >1y
Kenya 2 X >1y
Madagascar 2 S >0
Malawi 2 >0
Mauritius 2 E >1y
Mayotte -
Mozambique 2 >1y
Reunion 2 >1y
Rwanda 1 X >1y
Seychelles 2 SE >1y
Somalia 2 >0
Tanzania 2 X E >1y
Uganda 2 X E >1y
|
X = Yellow fever vaccination recommended by CDC for
travelers (>9 months) going outside urban areas.
1 = Vaccination and Certificate required for all travelers. For age requirements,
see instructions above.
E = Vaccination and Certificate required for travelers arriving from a yellow fever
endemic country. (See the list of Yellow Fever Endemic Countries below.)
S = Special requirements/recommendations, see Special Requirements below.
3 = Vaccination and Certificate required for travelers arriving from a country any
part of which is infected with yellow fever (as listed on the biweekly
Summary of Health Information for International Travel [the Blue
Sheet]).
2 = Vaccination and Certificate required for travelers arriving from infected areas in
countries currently infected with yellow fever (as listed on the biweekly
Summary of Health Information for International Travel [the Blue
Sheet]).
R = A yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travel to a specific destination
in a country.
>1y, >9m, >6m, >0 = Age requirements - see instructions above. |
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS: Egypt: Add
Botswana and Malawi, plus Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Trinidad,
and Tobago to endemic list. Travelers in transit without certificate are detained in
airport precincts. Mauritania and Sao Tome/Principe: No certificate required
if arriving from non-infected country and staying 2 weeks. Namibia: Required for
all unscheduled air flights. A certificate is required ALSO from travelers arriving from
countries in the endemic zones (see the list of Yellow Fever Endemic Countries below). A
certificate is required ALSO from travelers on unscheduled flights, who have transited an
infected area. Children under one year of age may be subject to surveillance. Niger: recommends
vaccination for travelers leaving the country. Seychelles: Certificate required
from travelers within the preceding 6 days transited through an endemic area. Sudan: Certificate
may be required from travelers leaving Sudan. |
Indian Subcontinent
Afghanistan 2 >0
Bangladesh 3 SE >0
Bhutan 2 >0
India 3 SE >0
Maldives 2 >0
Nepal 2 >0
Pakistan 3 SE >0
Sri Lanka 2 >1y
Middle East
Bahrain 2 >1y
Cyprus -
Iran 2 E >1y
Iraq 2
Israel -
Jordan E >0
Kuwait -
Lebanon 2 >0
Oman 2 >0
Qatar 2 >1y
Saudi 3 >0
Arabia
Syrian 2 >0
Arab
Republic
Turkey -
United
Arab -
Emirates
Yemen 2 >1y
|
Australia & South
Pacific Islands
Australia 3 >1y
American 2 >1y
Samoa
Christmas 3 >1y
Island
Cook Island -
Fiji 2 >1y
Guam -
Kiribati 2 >1y
Nauru 2 >1y
Marshall -
Islands
Micronesia -
(Fed. States of)
New Caledonia 2 >1y
New Zealand -
Niue 2 >1y
Northern -
Mariana
Islands
Papua New 2 >1y
Guinea
Pitcairn 2 >1y
Samoa 2 >1y
Solomon 2 >0
Islands
Tahiti 2 >0
Tonga 2 >1y
Tuvalu -
U.S. Trust -
Terr. of
the Pacific
Islands
Vanuatu -
Wake Island -
North America
Canada -
St. Pierre -
and Miquelon
United States -
|
X = Yellow fever vaccination recommended by CDC for
travelers (>9 months) going outside urban areas.
1 = Vaccination and Certificate required for all travelers. For age requirements,
see instructions above.
E = Vaccination and Certificate required for travelers arriving from a yellow fever
endemic country. (See the list of Yellow Fever Endemic Countries below.)
S = Special requirements/recommendations, see Special Requirements below.
3 = Vaccination and Certificate required for travelers arriving from a country any
part of which is infected with yellow fever (as listed on the biweekly
Summary of Health Information for International Travel [the Blue
Sheet]).
2 = Vaccination and Certificate required for travelers arriving from infected areas in
countries currently infected with yellow fever (as listed on the biweekly
Summary of Health Information for International Travel [the Blue
Sheet]).
R = A yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travel to a specific destination
in a country.
>1y, >9m, >6m, >0 = Age Requirements - see instructions above. |
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Bangladesh: Add Belize, Costa
Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Trinidad, and Tobago to endemic list. India:
Add Trinidad and Tobago to endemic list. Madagascar: Also includes transiting
travelers. |
Eastern Europe
Albania 2 >1y
Armenia -
Azerbaijan-
Belarus -
Bosnia/ -
Herzegovina
Bulgaria -
Croatia -
Czech -
Republic
Estonia -
Georgia -
Hungary -
Kazakhstan -
Kyrgyzstan -
Latvia -
Lithuania -
Moldova -
Poland -
Romania -
Russia -
Serbia/ -
Montenegro
Slovak -
Republic
Slovenia -
Tajikistan -
Turkmenistan -
Ukraine -
Uzbekistan -
|
Western Europe
Andorra -
Austria -
Azores 2 S >1y
Belgium -
Denmark -
Faroe -
Island
Finland -
France -
Germany -
Gibraltar -
Greece 2 >6m
Greenland -
Iceland -
Ireland -
Italy -
Liechtenstein -
Luxembourg -
Madeira 2 S >1y
Malta 2 S >9m
Monaco -
Netherlands -
Norway -
Portugal S >1y
San Marino -
Spain -
Sweden -
Switzerland -
United -
Kingdom
|
X = Yellow fever vaccination recommended by CDC for
travelers (>9 months) going outside urban areas.
1 = Vaccination and Certificate required for all travelers. For age requirements,
see instructions above.
E = Vaccination and Certificate required for travelers arriving from a yellow fever
endemic country. (See the list of Yellow Fever Endemic Countries below.)
S = Special requirements/recommendations, see Special Requirements below.
3 = Vaccination and Certificate required for travelers arriving from a country any
part of which is infected with yellow fever (as listed on the biweekly
Summary of Health Information for International Travel [the Blue
Sheet]).
2 = Vaccination and Certificate required for travelers arriving from infected areas in
countries currently infected with yellow fever (as listed on the biweekly
Summary of Health Information for International Travel [the Blue
Sheet]).
R = A yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travel to a specific destination
in a country.
>1y, >9m, >6m, >0 = Age Requirements - see instructions above. |
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Azores: Except no certificate
required from travelers in transit at Santa Maria. Portugal: Certificate required
only for travelers in transit to the Azores and Madeira from an infected county. However,
no certificate is required from passengers in transit at Funchal, Porto Santo, and Santa
Maria. |
Yellow Fever Endemic Countries
Countries in Africa |
Countries in South America |
Angola
Benin
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Congo
Cote d'Ivoire
Djibouti
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia |
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Liberia
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
Nigeria |
Rwanda
Sao Tome & Principe
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Uganda
Zaire
Zambia |
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
French Guiana
Guyana
Panama
Peru
Suriname
Venezuela |
For more information on yellow fever see the Diseases section and the following links:
- Yellow Fever Disease and Vaccine Information
- Yellow Fever Vaccinations Required and Information on Malaria Risk and Prophylaxis, By
Country
(We are updating this information)
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