Looking to dive back into the world of travelling? If you are heading off to new destinations such as South America or the Caribbean, you will need a yellow fever vaccine before you fly. Trying to find out what you need to do before you fly can be stressful; that’s why we are here to help you. As a certified Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, we have put together this guide containing everything you need to know about the disease. Keep reading to find out why you need to book your yellow fever vaccine in Tamworth.
Essentially, in having the vaccine, you are allowing your body to develop protection against the disease. This is why we would recommend booking your vaccine at least 10 days in advance of your trip, in order to give the vaccine enough time to work.
However, if you or your child have recently had the MMR vaccine, you should wait a minimum of 4 weeks before you get this one.
You can learn more about the expansive variety of vaccines we offer within our ultimate travel clinic guide here:
Yellow fever is a virus that is vaccine-preventable; it spreads through infected mosquito bites. These mosquitoes are normally active during the day. Ordinarily, they are found in cities, rural areas and towns in high-risk countries.
Essentially, if you are visiting destinations such as the following, you will need a vaccine:
– Trinidad (in the Caribbean)
– Parts of Sub-Saharan Africa
– Parts of South and Central America
It is vital that you stay up-to-date with travel guidance leading up to your trip. This is especially true in the case of yellow fever, as certain countries require an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) before you can enter.
You can find out more about our status as a Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, as well as further yellow fever information here:
Currently, there is no cure for yellow fever. However, your symptoms can be treated when you are fighting against the disease. Generally, in the case of its more severe symptoms, up to half of those experiencing said symptoms will die.
Ordinarily, yellow fever is characterised by symptoms such as:
– Losing your appetite
– Backache and muscle pain
– Your eyes becoming sensitive to light
– Feeling generally unwell
– Feeling sick or vomiting
– Having a high temperature
Up to 1 in 4 people also experience more severe symptoms such as:
– Jaundice
– Blood in their poo or vomiting blood
– Bleeding from their ears, eyes or mouth
Aside from having the vaccine itself, there are a number of things you can try to help protect yourself from mosquitoes on your travels.
These include:
– Using mosquito nets
– Covering your arms and legs with clothing
– Using insect repellent that contains 30-50% DEET
You can find more helpful tips on preventing insect bites on the NHS website.
Mostly, the vaccine offers you protection for your whole life once you have had it. However, you are advised to get a booster jab if you met certain conditions at the time of your initial injection. These include:
– If you had a bone marrow transplant after your jab
– Having your jab during pregnancy
– If you had a weak immune system at the time of vaccination
– Living with HIV
– Being under 2 years old
If you are looking to head off on your next trip, we offer online booking at your convenience. We advise that you book in plenty of time so that you have the necessary protection and documentation before you travel.
So, why wait to protect yourself?
Contact us to book your jab with us today!
This blog post was written on behalf of The Travel Health Clinic by Carla Moore from Pharmacy Mentor.
