Travellers immunized against yellow fever are issued with an internationally recognized vaccination certificate for inspection by immigration officials. The international health regulations concerning yellow fever are unequivocal, and unvaccinated travellers may face denial of entry, or even quarantine in certain circumstances.
This strict control is maintained to ensure that both the individual traveller and the broader communities are protected against outbreaks of this disease.
Travellers to yellow fever areas should be vaccinated for their own personal protection.
Travellers from yellow fever areas should have been vaccinated to prevent the spread of the infection into the broader community in their home countries.
Many countries currently free of yellow fever have mosquitoes that are potentially capable of transmitting the disease. South Africa is home to such mosquito species, but remains free of yellow fever.
The vaccine provides immunity against the disease for 10 years.
