Yellow Fever Vaccination Service + ICVP Certificate

The Yellow Fever Vaccination Service from Ways Pharmacy is a private, single-dose immunisation with Stamaril administered at our designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre in Holborn, London, and includes issue of the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP, the "Yellow Book") required for entry to many tropical destinations.

Key facts

Who the yellow fever vaccine is for

• Travellers visiting yellow-fever-endemic regions of sub-Saharan Africa or tropical South America (e.g. Nigeria, Ghana, DRC, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela)
• Travellers transiting through, or arriving from, a yellow-fever-risk country to a destination that mandates proof of vaccination on entry
• Laboratory workers handling yellow fever virus or vaccine
• People relocating to live in an endemic area

Not suitable for: infants under 9 months; people with a confirmed allergy to egg, chicken protein or any vaccine component; people who are severely immunocompromised (including those on certain biologics or post-transplant); people with thymus disorders or a history of thymectomy. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and age 60+ require individual clinical risk assessment by the pharmacist before vaccination.

How the service works

1. Book your appointment online or by phone. The pharmacist confirms suitability at a short assessment before vaccination; payment is taken at the pharmacy.
2. Call Holborn to book your appointment: 020 8106 7084. Allow at least 10 days before your departure date — the certificate is not valid until day 10 after the injection.
3. Bring your passport and travel itinerary to the appointment. Without a passport the ICVP cannot be issued.
4. The pharmacist reviews your travel plans, age, medical history and concurrent vaccines, then administers the single dose into the upper arm.
5. Receive your stamped ICVP at the same visit. Replacement certificates can be re-issued at our clinic for a £30 administration fee.

Frequently asked questions

How long before my trip should I have the yellow fever jab?

At least 10 days before departure. The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) only becomes valid from day 10 after the injection, and border officials in destination countries may refuse entry to travellers presenting a certificate dated less than 10 days ago.

Is the certificate accepted internationally?

Yes. The ICVP we issue is the standard WHO-approved International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, the same document accepted at borders worldwide. It is only valid when issued by a designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre (such as Ways Pharmacy Holborn) and signed and stamped by the practitioner who administered the dose.

How long is the certificate valid?

Under current WHO International Health Regulations (since 11 July 2016), a single dose of yellow fever vaccine is considered to provide lifetime protection and the certificate is valid for the life of the person vaccinated. Older certificates with a 10-year expiry date remain valid even if the printed expiry has passed.

Do I need a booster?

For most healthy adults, no. WHO no longer routinely requires a 10-yearly booster. A second dose may be considered for people who were vaccinated under the age of 2, women vaccinated while pregnant, people who were immunocompromised at the time of their first dose, or those at very high ongoing exposure — the pharmacist will advise based on your history.

Can I have other vaccines at the same time?

Live vaccines such as MMR are best either given on the same day or at least 4 weeks apart from yellow fever to avoid blunting either response. Inactivated vaccines (such as hepatitis A, typhoid Vi, hepatitis B, flu) can be given at the same visit without affecting yellow fever protection. Tell the pharmacist about any vaccines you have had in the past 4 weeks.

What are the common side effects?

Most people experience mild reactions: soreness at the injection site, headache, low-grade fever, or muscle ache in the days after vaccination. Serious reactions (yellow-fever vaccine-associated viscerotropic or neurotropic disease) are very rare and the risk is higher in people over 60 receiving a first dose. The pharmacist will assess this with you before vaccinating.

Safety

• Ways Pharmacy Holborn is a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre
• Administered by a GPhC-registered pharmacist trained in travel health
• Pre-vaccination travel risk assessment included
• Mosquito-bite avoidance advice (DEET, long sleeves, screens) given at appointment
• 15-minute observation period after injection
• Replacement ICVP available if your certificate is lost (£30 admin fee)

References

• NHS — Yellow fever
• TravelHealthPro — Yellow fever country recommendations
• Stamaril — Patient Information Leaflet (emc)

* Subject to availability. Eligibility criteria and clinical exclusions apply. This is a private travel vaccination service and is not provided by the NHS. Yellow fever vaccine is administered only at our Holborn (London) Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre.