Where can I find the yellow fever vaccine in Arizona?

At Away Clinic we offer yellow fever vaccines to travelers at all of our clinics. See our locations page for more information. Schedule an appointment at your local Away Clinic to get vaccinated and receive your International Certificate of Vaccination (also known as a ‘yellow card’). This roughly passport-sized, foldable yellow vaccine card can be used to enter any country where proof of yellow fever vaccination is required. Yellow fever vaccines are recommended for everyone over 9 months of age who will be traveling to areas with high risk of yellow fever including many countries in Africa and South America. Certain medical conditions may prohibit you from receiving the vaccine, please talk to your Away Clinic travel health specialist for more details.

How much does yellow fever vaccination cost?

See our pricing page for the most up-to-date pricing information.

Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?

The yellow fever vaccination is recommended by the CDC or required for many international travelers. Depending on what countries you plan to visit, your age and health factors, you may need the yellow fever vaccination. Many countries in Africa require proof of yellow fever vaccination. It is recommended for other destinations in Africa and South America.

How do I get a yellow fever vaccine certificate for international travel?

Some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination to enter. If you are visiting multiple countries, the sequence of your travels may impact whether the yellow fever vaccine is required or not. Spending 12 hours or more (even just a plane layover) in a country with high risk of yellow fever transmission may lead your next destination to require you to be vaccinated for yellow fever.

Only Arizona state-certified yellow fever vaccination clinics can give the yellow fever vaccination in Arizona. The U.S. CDC maintains a list of all certified yellow fever clinics in the country. Away Clinic is a certified yellow fever vaccination center and keeps the yellow fever vaccine in stock at all of its clinics. Additionally, we are able to provide an international (yellow) vaccine card with stamped proof of immunization that can help you get a visa or gain entry to several destinations in Africa. We provide this as a standard part of our service so you don't have to request it.

Who should not get the yellow fever vaccine?

YF-VAX should not be administered to

1. Anyone who has experienced a serious allergic reaction to eggs, egg products, or to any component of the vaccine (including gelatin). A severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) may occur following the use of YF-VAX, even in individuals with no prior history of hypersensitivity to the vaccine components.

2. Infants younger than 9 months of age due to an increased risk of inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)

3. Women who are breastfeeding infants younger than 9 months of age

4. Severely immunocompromised individuals

5. Serious, but rare, adverse events occur more often in individuals 60 years of age and over. In such cases, the vaccine can cause inflammation of the brain and lead to problems with other organs.

How do I get a yellow fever vaccine waiver?

If you are over 65 years old or in poor health, you may not safely be able to get the yellow fever vaccine. The vaccine is a live virus so it can harm someone with a weakened immune system. In such cases Away Clinic, as a yellow fever vaccination center, can provide a waiver that should still allow you to travel wherever you want to go without risking potentially harmful side effects of the vaccine.

Is the yellow fever vaccine safe and effective?

The yellow fever vaccine (YF-Vax) is a live vaccine manufactured by Sanofi that has been used to protect against yellow fever for over eighty years. It is considered to be extremely safe and provides up to 99% immunity for life.

How long does the yellow fever immunization last?

Most people only need one yellow fever vaccine for lifelong immunity, but a booster may be recommended if it has been over 10 years since your last vaccination and your destination has had ongoing outbreaks of yellow fever because the initial immunity may wear off slightly over time.

What is Yellow Fever?

Yellow fever is a virus spread by mosquitos in South America and Africa countries. The disease can affect humans and non-human primates. Yellow fever symptoms can include fever, vomiting, chills, body aches, severe headache, and more. Some people develop severe symptoms which include a high fever, yellow skin/jaundice, organ failure, bleeding, and shock. About 30-60% of those who develop severe symptoms die. There is no medicine or treatment to cure yellow fever, so vaccination is the best prevention.

How can I avoid getting yellow fever and other mosquito-borne illnesses?

The yellow fever vaccine is very effective. But even if you are up to date on immunizations it's good to take precautions against mosquito bites. Many mosquito-borne illnesses are not vaccine preventable so other disease control steps are necessary. Thus we recommend:

• Using insect repellent (DEET, lemon of eucalyptus, picaridin are all ingredients to look for)

• Wearing the right clothing (Long sleeve shirts, pants, and tall socks are best for outdoor activities to decrease the likelihood of a mosquito bite)

• Being aware of the time (mosquitos are most active at dusk and dawn)

See our safe travel guide for mosquito prevention supply recommendations.

What are the side effects of the yellow fever shot?

The yellow fever vaccine is a live virus vaccine so you can feel a little bit sick after receiving it. These side effects could include fever, muscle aches and headaches in about 1 out of 3 yellow fever vaccine recipients and injection site pain, redness or swelling in about 1 out of 5 vaccine recipients [1]. If you have a more severe reaction such as difficulty breathing you should see a medical doctor. Severe side effects are rare. The most common side effects are pain, swelling and rash at the injection site.

What if I'm pregnant or hoping to become pregnant?

In this case you should avoid travel to regions that have active yellow fever outbreaks. If you do get vaccinated while pregnant it is unlikely to harm you or your baby.

Sources

Roukens, Anna H., Darius Soonawala, Simone A. Joosten, Adriëtte W. de Visser, Xiaohong Jiang, Kees Dirksen, Marjolein de Gruijter, Jaap T. van Dissel, Peter J. Bredenbeek, and Leo G. Visser. "Elderly subjects have a delayed antibody response and prolonged viraemia following yellow fever vaccination: a prospective controlled cohort study." PLoS One 6, no. 12 (2011): e27753.