Yf-Vax
YF-Vax is a vaccine that helps prevent yellow fever, which is a virus that's spread through infected mosquitoes in certain areas of Africa and South America. It's given as an injection under the skin and is recommended for certain people who are at high risk of coming into contact with the yellow fever virus.
What is YF-Vax?
What is YF-Vax used for?
- Prevention of yellow fever in people 9 months and older who are traveling to or living in areas with yellow fever
How YF-Vax works
YF-Vax is a vaccine that protects you from the yellow fever virus, which is a virus that causes a condition known as yellow fever. It's a live-attenuated vaccine that's made from a weakened version of the virus. The vaccine helps your body's immune system make antibodies against the virus, which will attack the virus if it ever infects your body.
Drug facts
Side effects of YF-Vax
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Pain, swelling, and redness at injection site
- Mild headache
- Muscle pain
- Low-grade fever
- Tiredness
- Lack of energy
Less Common Side Effects
- Rash
- Blisters at the injection site
YF-Vax serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reactions: hives, rash, shaking, itching, nausea, flushing, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain
The following YF-Vax side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, confusion or trouble speaking
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Fever
- General discomfort and fatigue
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Pain, redness, or irritation at injection site
- Unusual weakness or fatigue
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Pros and cons of YF-Vax
Pros
- Works well to prevent severe yellow fever disease
- For most people, a single dose provides lifelong protection.
- The vial stoppers don't contain latex.
- Can be given to children as young as 9 months old
Cons
- Needs to be given by a healthcare professional
- Only given through an injection
- Only available at certain vaccination centers
- Need to get it at least 10 days before traveling to an area with yellow fever, so not good for last minute travels
Pharmacist tips for YF-Vax
- Read the vaccine information statement for more information on YF-Vax.
- If you're traveling, check if yellow fever vaccination is recommended for your destination. Some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before you can enter.
- If you're pregnant, don't receive YF-Vax without talking to your provider first because it's not known if it can cause harm to unborn babies or affect your fertility (ability to conceive). You should only receive this vaccine if it's clearly needed.
- You shouldn't get YF-Vax if you're breastfeeding, especially if your baby is less than 9 months old. YF-Vax can pass into your breast milk and cause serious side effects in your baby, such as swelling of the brain (encephalitis).
- Don't donate blood for 14 days after receiving YF-Vax because there's a chance you can pass the vaccine virus to others.
- If you develop any symptoms of yellow fever (e.g., fever, chills, headache, back pain, nausea, vomiting), contact your healthcare provider. Although the majority of people will not have symptoms or only have mild symptoms, there is a chance it can develop into a severe illness.
- There is no treatment or cure for yellow fever. If you develop yellow fever, rest, drink fluids, and ask your provider about taking pain relievers to help with your symptoms.
- It's important that you take precautions, to avoid yellow fever. Aside from getting vaccinated, this includes using mosquito repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and staying in well air-conditioned areas.
- Wait until you're healthy to get YF-Vax. This will help make sure your immune system protects you as best as it can. If your has a mild sickness, such as a cold or low-grade fever, you can still get YF-Vax. But if you feel moderately to severely sick, wait until you recover before getting this vaccine. Ask your provider if you're not sure whether or not you can get this vaccine.
- Make sure to keep a record of all your immunizations and show it to your provider or pharmacist before receiving any vaccine, including YF-Vax, to make sure you're receiving all your vaccines on schedule.
- If you experience a severe reaction to YF-Vax, you or your provider can report it to the vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS) website or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
Common questions about YF-Vax
YF-Vax isn't recommended as routine vaccination in the United States and isn't for everyone. It's only recommended for people 9 months to 59 years of age who are traveling to or who live in areas where there's a known risk of exposure to the yellow fever virus. Some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry, so make sure to check your destination's requirements before traveling. Additionally, YF-Vax is recommended for people who might be exposed to yellow fever virus because of their jobs (e.g., working with the yellow fever virus or vaccine in a lab for research). Ask your provider or pharmacist if you have any questions about whether this vaccine is right for you.
Yellow fever is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the yellow fever virus. This virus is found in tropical and subtropical areas in South America and Africa and you can get infected if you're bitten by an infected mosquito. The virus can cause a range of symptoms, but majority of people either won't have symptoms or will have mild symptoms (e.g., fever, chills, body aches, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, headache) and completely recover within a week. There is a chance you can develop severe, life-threatening symptoms from the yellow fever virus, such as high fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), bleeding, shock, and even organ failure. There aren't any treatments or cures for yellow fever so it's important to take precautions, to prevent infection.
It should be given at least 10 days before traveling because this is how long it takes for your immune system to make antibodies against the virus after receiving YF-Vax.
YF-Vax is only given at certain vaccination centers. You can search for a local vaccination clinic near you to receive your dose of YF-Vax.
A single dose of YF-Vax typically provides lifelong protection for most people. But, people traveling to areas with a yellow fever outbreak might consider getting a booster dose if it's been more than 10 years after they were last vaccinated. Some countries might also require a booster dose.
YF-Vax and Stamaril are both live-attenuated yellow fever vaccines that are given as an injection. YF-Vax is only given as an injection under the skin, whereas Stamaril can be given as an injection under the skin or into the muscle. Stamaril isn't approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but it was authorized for distribution in the U.S. through an Expanded Access Program (EAP) while the YF-Vax vaccine was going through a shortage and wasn't available. As of April 5, 2021, YF-Vax became available again in the U.S. and distribution of Stamaril was stopped.
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Risks and warnings for YF-Vax
YF-Vax can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe allergic reactions
- Risk factors: Severe allergy to eggs, egg products, or chicken protein
As with any vaccine, there's a rare chance that you might have a severe allergic reaction to YF-Vax. Additionally, since the vaccine is in chicken embryos, people with a severe allergy to eggs or egg products shouldn't receive YF-Vax. Your provider might ask you to stay at the clinic for a short period of time after you've received your vaccine to make sure you can get proper care in case of a serious allergic reaction. Sometimes, these reactions can happen after you've already left the clinic. Get medical help right away if you notice symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as feeling faint, swelling of the face, closing of the throat, difficulty breathing, hives or rash, dizziness, shaking, nausea, or chest pain.
Maintain necessary precautions
Just like all vaccines, receiving YF-Vax doesn't guarantee that you won't get infected with the yellow fever virus. For the best protection against yellow fever, you should receive YF-Vax as well as take all necessary precautions to avoid getting bit from an infected mosquito. A few ways to do this include using insect repellent (such as DEET), wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting, and using air conditioning, if available.
Risk of vaccine complications
- Risk factors: Age 60 years and above | Weakened immune systems
Adults age 60 years and above and people with weakened immune systems are at risk for certain complications after receiving YF-Vax, including multi-organ system failure, bleeding inside your body, and swelling of your brain (encephalitis). These complications are life-threatening and have been seen after people received the first dose of YF-Vax. Don't receive YF-Vax if you're 60 years of age and older or have a weakened immune system without talking to your provider first to make it's safe for you.
Not recommended for people with weakened immune systems
- Risk factors: Weakened immune system from medical conditions or medications
Live-attenuated vaccines, like YF-Vax, aren't recommended for people with weakened immune systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people with weakened immune systems to avoid live-attenuated vaccines. This is because there is a safety concern for a higher risk of accidental infection from uncontrolled growth of the weakened virus contained in the vaccine and possibility that the vaccine won't work as well. People with weakened immune systems include those with certain medical conditions (e.g., HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), cancer) and those taking medications that can weaken the immune system (e.g., high-dose corticosteroids, transplant medications). If you have a weakened immune system, ask your provider or pharmacist if YF-Vax is right for you.
YF-Vax dosage
Typical dosage for YF-Vax
The typical dose is 1 injection (0.5 mL) under the skin at least 10 days before travel.
How much does YF-Vax cost?
$259.23
YF-Vax contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because YF-Vax will not be safe for you to take.
- Severe allergy to eggs or egg products
- Age less than 9 months
- Breastfeeding babies less than 9 months of age
- Severely weakened immune systems from medical conditions or medications
