- When to get the yellow fever vaccine
- How the yellow fever vaccine is applied
- How the fractional yellow fever vaccine works
- Side effects
- Who can not get the yellow fever vaccine
The yellow fever vaccine is part of the basic vaccination schedule for children and adults, in some states of Brazil, with an indication for people residing or who will travel to endemic areas, as the disease is transmitted through the mosquito bite belonging to the genus Haemagogus, Sabethes or Aedes aegypti.
This vaccine can be applied to everyone over 9 months of age, especially up to 10 days before traveling to an affected location, being applied by a nurse on the arm at a health center. Those who have had this complete vaccine at least once in their life, do not need to do the vaccination before traveling, since they are protected for the rest of their lives. However, in the case of babies who received the vaccine up to 9 months, it is advisable to make a new booster dose at 4 years.
When to get the yellow fever vaccine
The Yellow Fever vaccine is indicated for all who live in endemic areas but it must also be taken by all who intend to travel to endemic places, such as northern Brazil and some African countries.
Babies over 9 months of age can already get the vaccine, especially if they live in places where there is a risk of the disease. The vaccine is also recommended for people who work in rural tourism and workers who need to enter the forest or forest in these regions. The yellow fever vaccine recommendations are as follows:
| Age | How to take |
| Babies 6 to 8 months | Take 1 dose in case of an epidemic or if you are traveling to a risk area. You may need to have a booster dose at age 4. |
| From 9 months | Single dose of the vaccine. Booster dose at 4 years of age may be recommended. |
|
From 2 years |
Take the vaccine booster dose if you live in an endemic region |
| + 5 years (without ever having this vaccine) | Take the 1st dose and make a booster after 10 years |
| 60+ years | Evaluate each case with the doctor |
| Pregnancy | It is not recommended, only if there is an extreme need |
| Breastfeeding a baby under 6 months | It is not indicated because the vaccine passes through milk |
| Breastfeeding a baby older than 6 months | Take 1 dose in case of an epidemic in the region or if you are traveling to a risk area. Cease breastfeeding for 28 days after taking the vaccine |
| If you travel to a risk area |
|
The Brazilian states that require vaccination against yellow fever are Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Goiás, Tocantins, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Maranhão and Minas Gerais. Some regions of the following states can also be indicated: Bahia, Piauí, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
The vaccine against yellow fever can be found free of charge in Basic Health Units or in private vaccination clinics accredited with Anvisa.
How the yellow fever vaccine is applied
The yellow fever vaccine is administered through a skin injection by a nurse. The vaccine can be applied to babies over 9 months of age and to all people who may be exposed to yellow fever.
How the fractional yellow fever vaccine works
In addition to the complete yellow fever vaccine, the fractionated vaccine was also released, which contains 1/10 of the complete vaccine composition and which, instead of protecting for life, only protects for 8 years. During this period the vaccine's effectiveness remains the same and there is no increased risk of catching the disease. This measure was implemented to allow a greater number of people to be vaccinated during periods of epidemic and the fractionated vaccine can be made at health centers free of charge.
Side effects
Some side effects include skin rash, muscle pain, seizure, headache, fever and malaise. The injection site is usually painful, but placing a small piece of ice on the site, giving a gentle massage helps to relieve this discomfort.
Who can not get the yellow fever vaccine
It is not recommended to take the yellow fever vaccine during pregnancy, it is recommended to vaccinate only in case of an epidemic. Nor should the vaccine be given to people who are allergic to egg protein, allergic to kanamycin and erythromycin, immunosuppressed patients, such as those with cancer, AIDS or using immunosuppressive drugs, infections and children under 6 months of age.
It is recommended to postpone the yellow fever vaccine in the following cases:
- Up to 3 months after treatment with corticosteroids or immunosuppressants in high doses, above 2 mg / kg / day; In case of fever; For women who are breastfeeding babies under 6 months of age.
Learn more about the yellow fever contraindications.
