Yellow fever vaccine and certificate: what you need to know
You need a yellow fever vaccine for two reasons: to protect yourself in risk areas of Africa and South America, and to meet entry rules, because some countries demand an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP). Your certificate starts to count 10 days after vaccination, and one dose now covers you for life. Brighton Hill Pharmacy is a designated NaTHNaC centre, and the vaccine costs £80 with the certificate.
Vaccines
Two different reasons to have it
Protection. Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne virus with no cure. The vaccine is recommended for most travellers to areas with a risk of transmission, which lie in tropical Africa and parts of South America.
Entry rules. Separately, countries set their own certificate rules. Some ask every arriving traveller for a certificate. Others ask only if you are coming from, or have passed through, a country with yellow fever risk. You can need a certificate for a country that has no yellow fever itself.
Countries with a risk of yellow fever
Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo and Uganda.
Central and South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
Risk is often limited to certain regions of a country, and certificate rules change, so always check the current rules for every country on your route. This is general guidance. Your pharmacist will confirm what you need using the latest NaTHNaC country information, your full itinerary and your health. You can also read the country pages on TravelHealthPro.
Transit: the rule people miss
Some countries require a certificate if you have changed planes in a risk country, typically when the stopover lasted more than 12 hours. A safari in Kenya followed by a beach week in Zanzibar or a flight home through another African hub can therefore trigger a certificate check. Plan the whole route, not just the destination.
Your certificate (ICVP)
- It becomes valid 10 days after your first yellow fever vaccination.
- Since July 2016 it is valid for life, including older certificates showing a 10-year expiry date.
- It must be signed by the clinician and carry the official stamp of a designated centre.
- Carry the original with your passport. If you lose it, the centre that vaccinated you may be able to issue a replacement from its records.
Who should not have the vaccine
Yellow fever vaccine is a live vaccine, so it is not suitable for everyone. It is not given to babies under 6 months, and only rarely between 6 and 9 months. It is usually avoided if your immune system is weakened by illness or treatment, if you have had your thymus removed or have a thymus disorder, or if you have had a severe allergic reaction to egg or to a previous dose. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and age over 60 need a careful individual risk assessment.
Exemption letters
If the vaccine is not safe for you, Brighton Hill Pharmacy can issue the medical letter of exemption itself, to carry instead of a certificate. Border officials decide whether to accept it, so you should still take strict precautions against mosquito bites.
Timeline for a trip
- 6–8 weeks before: book your travel consultation and plan any other vaccines.
- At least 10 days before you enter a country that checks certificates: have the yellow fever vaccine.
- Departure day: certificate in your hand luggage with your passport.
Getting vaccinated in Basingstoke
Only designated centres can give the vaccine and issue the certificate. Brighton Hill Pharmacy, 3 Brighton Hill Parade, is listed on NaTHNaC’s yellow fever centre finder. You can get your yellow fever jab and certificate at Brighton Hill Pharmacy, where the vaccine costs £80 including the ICVP, and other travel vaccines can usually be given at the same visit.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries require a yellow fever certificate?
Some countries ask every traveller for one, and others only travellers arriving from or transiting through a country with yellow fever risk. Rules change often, so check every country on your route before you book.
How long is a yellow fever certificate valid?
For life. Since July 2016 one dose counts for life, and older certificates with a 10-year expiry date are now treated as valid for life too.
When does my yellow fever certificate become valid?
10 days after you are vaccinated, so have the jab at least 10 days before you arrive in a country that checks.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate if I am only transiting?
Possibly. Some countries ask for one if you spent more than about 12 hours in an airport of a risk country on the way.
What if I cannot have the yellow fever vaccine?
Brighton Hill Pharmacy issues medical exemption letters itself, so you can get yours from us. The destination decides whether to accept it, and you will need strict mosquito-bite precautions.
Is one yellow fever jab enough for life?
For most people, yes. A few groups, such as some people vaccinated as young children, during pregnancy or with weakened immunity, may be advised to have another dose.
Is Basingstoke Travel Clinic the same as Brighton Hill Pharmacy?
Yes. Basingstoke Travel Clinic is run by Brighton Hill Pharmacy, and its yellow fever vaccinations take place at the pharmacy on Brighton Hill Parade.