In accordance with the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations, yellow fever shots must be administered at a certified yellow fever vaccination center authorized by your state’s health department (NOTE: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not authorize providers for yellow fever vaccination). The CDC does maintain the U.S. Yellow Fever Vaccination Center Registry, a web-based directory of authorized yellow fever vaccination centers, to serve as a central reporting agency to facilitate accurate communications and simplify record tracking with vaccine providers. Each Care Spot Clinic is a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Center. For international travelers that do not have a Care Spot Clinic nearby, you can contact the CDC at dqyellowfever@cdc.gov for a prompt email response to your inquiry.
Yellow Fever Travel Waiver
Since there is no known treatment for yellow fever, travelers to certain sub-Saharan areas of Africa and tropical areas of South America (or any foreign country with official travel alerts for yellow fever), should have yellow fever shots provided he or she is over 9 months old and does not fall into one of the four groups where the risk associated with the yellow fever vaccine out-weigh the risk of catching the disease. These groups are: infants under 6 months of age, pregnant women, persons who are allergic to eggs, or persons with an immunosuppressed condition, such as AIDS or leukemia, or those undergoing certain drug or radiation treatments. If you or a member of your party falls into one of these groups, your travel doctor can help you determine whether you should be vaccinated, modify your travel itinerary, postpone your plans for travel or obtain a written medical travel waiver.*
*Most countries will accept a medical travel waiver for persons with a legitimate medical reason for not receiving a yellow fever vaccination. A yellow fever waiver should bear the stamp of an official yellow fever vaccination center to validate the International Certificate of Vaccination. It may also be useful to obtain a written waiver from the foreign country’s consular or embassy before your departure.
