We are an accredited Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre. Thanks to Dr Keen, a Specialist General Practitioner with an interest in travel medicine, we can give the yellow fever vaccine here at the practice and issue the official certificate you need for travel.
What is yellow fever?
Yellow fever is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes in parts of Africa and Central and South America. Many people have a mild illness, but some become seriously unwell with liver damage, bleeding and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). There is no specific treatment, so prevention matters.
Do I need the vaccine?
You may need it if you are travelling to, or through, a country where yellow fever occurs. Some countries won’t let you in without proof of vaccination. Others ask for it if you have recently been in a yellow fever country.
Australia has its own rule too. If you are aged one year or over and have stayed overnight or longer in a declared yellow fever country in the six days before arriving in Australia, you need to show a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Your doctor will check your itinerary, including stopovers, and advise you.
About the vaccine and certificate
- Only an accredited Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre can give the vaccine and sign the official International Certificate of Vaccination.
- For most people, one dose gives lifelong protection, and the certificate is valid for life.
- The certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination, so book well before you leave.
- It is a live vaccine and isn’t suitable for everyone. Babies under 9 months, people with weakened immune systems, people with a serious egg allergy, and pregnant or breastfeeding women usually need special advice. People over 60 have a slightly higher risk of side effects. Dr Keen will go through your health history with you.
The yellow fever vaccine isn’t covered by Medicare. Current vaccine and appointment fees are on our fees page.
Other travel vaccines and advice
A travel consultation is about more than one vaccine. Depending on where you are going, we can talk about:
- other travel vaccines, such as hepatitis A, typhoid or rabies, and whether your routine vaccines are up to date
- malaria prevention and avoiding mosquito bites
- food and water safety and travellers’ diarrhoea
- managing your own medicines and health conditions while away
Ideally, see us six to eight weeks before you travel, because some vaccines need more than one dose or time to work. Even if you are leaving sooner, it is still worth coming in.