Do I Need Yellow Fever Vaccination for Travel?
The need for a Yellow Fever vaccination depends on the specific countries a traveler plans to visit. It is a mandatory requirement for entry into certain countries, and a proof of vaccination is required for a traveler arriving in Singapore from an endemic area.
Understanding the Yellow Fever Vaccine
The Yellow Fever vaccine is a live, attenuated vaccine that provides protection against the Yellow Fever virus.
Key Details
- Administration: It is administered as a single injection.
- Proof of Vaccination: A traveler must have an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), also known as the "Yellow Card," which is proof of vaccination issued by an authorized Yellow Fever Vaccination Center.
- Validity: The vaccination is valid for life, starting 10 days after the vaccination is administered.
Determining if You Need the Vaccination
Travelers should determine their need for vaccination based on the following three categories of risk:
Mandatory Requirement for Entry
Certain countries, primarily in Africa and South America, require all travelers to show proof of Yellow Fever vaccination for entry. This is regardless of the traveler's origin.
Proof of Vaccination Required Upon Arrival to Singapore from Endemic Areas
All Travellers, including Singapore residents, with recent travel to countries with risk of yellow fever transmission in the past six days prior to arrival in Singapore must produce a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) officer upon arrival in Singapore. This requirement also applies to travellers who spent more than 12 hours in airport transit in these countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.
Countries with risk of Yellow Fever:
Africa:
- Angola
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Congo
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Togo
- Uganda
Latin America:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Suriname
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Venezuela
3. Recommendation for Personal Protection
Even if not legally required for entry, vaccination is strongly recommended for personal protection if traveling to areas where Yellow Fever transmission is present. This recommendation is based on the risk of contracting the disease during the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of vaccination is yellow fever vaccination?
It is a live attenuated vaccine. It is a single dose, subcutaneous vaccination to protect against the yellow fever infection.
Is yellow fever vaccination safe?
Yes. However, those with previous allergy to yellow fever vaccinations, hypersensitivity to egg proteins, immunocompromised individuals, and history of thymus dysfunction may not be suitable candidates.
Can I take the vaccination if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
Pregnancy Use: Yellow fever vaccination is a live attenuated vaccine, it should not be given during pregnancy unless clearly needed and only after careful consideration of the potential risks and benefits. Pregnancy should be avoided for one month following vaccination.
Breastfeeding Use: Yellow fever vaccination should not be given to nursing mothers unless clearly needed such as during an outbreak, and only if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks, including those to the breastfed child. In case vaccination is needed, it is recommended to interrupt breastfeeding for at least 2 weeks following vaccination.
What is the recommended age for vaccination?
The vaccination is recommended for ages 9-months old and above.
For children between 6 to 9 months old, vaccinations should only be vaccinated under special circumstances (e.g. during major outbreaks) and on the basis of current official advice.
What are the side effects of yellow fever vaccination?
Common side effects: Redness, pain at injection site, fever, nausea, headaches, bodyache, lethargy.
Rare side effects: Yellow fever vaccine-associated neurotropic disease (YEL-AND) may occur and can have fatal outcomes in some cases. YEL-AND is characterised by high fever with headache that may progress to confusion, encephalitis or encephalopathy, meningitis, focal neurological deficits or Guillain–Barré syndrome.
Yellow fever vaccine-associated viscerotropic disease (YEL-AVD) may occur. YEL-AVD resembles fulminant infection by wild-type yellow fever virus, presenting fever, fatigue, myalgia, headache and hypotension, progressing to metabolic acidosis, muscle and liver cytolysis, lymphocytopenia and thrombocytopenia, or renal and respiratory failure. The mortality rate is 60%.
Age group considerations: Persons aged 60 years and older may have an increased risk of serious and potentially fatal adverse reactions.
How much does the yellow fever vaccination cost?
The vaccination typically costs between $200 to 300, inclusive of GST and the international vaccination booklet / yellow booklet.
How long before the trip should I take the yellow fever vaccination?
The vaccination should be done at least 10 days before the intended trip.
Do I need another vaccination if I have done it before?
Revaccination with one dose may be needed in individuals who had an insufficient immune response after their primary vaccination if they continue to be at risk for yellow fever virus infection. Re-vaccination may also be required, depending on official recommendations of local Health Authorities.
If you are considering yellow fever vaccination, services are available at Minmed Clinics. Speak to our doctors to understand which option is suitable for you and your family.
🔗 Find out more about yellow fever vaccination services
Medical Review & Authorship
This page is medically reviewed by:
Dr Dylen Mun
MBBS DWD(CAW) GDFM
Minmed Group Medical Doctor
The information provided is for general educational purposes and does not replace an individual medical consultation.
Last updated: April 2026