If you are a citizen of the United States who plans to visit a country which requires that you have been vaccinated for yellow fever, be advised that finding a clinic may be difficult to a depleted supply of availability as the result of a shortage of the vaccine for the next few months.
Notice: Yellow Fever Vaccine Shortage in the United States
This notice — which was posted at the official Internet web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — explains the situation:
Because of a total depletion of their supply of YF-Vax until mid-2018, the manufacturer (Sanofi Pasteur) has worked with CDC and the US Food and Drug Administration to make an alternative yellow fever vaccine, Stamaril, available at select locations until YF-Vax supply returns in mid-2018.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers this interactive map of the United States and its territories where you may be able to find a clinic that still has a supply of YF-Vax.
Summary
If your plans are flexible to travel to a country where you are required to have been vaccinated for yellow fever prior to arrival, you may want to consider postponing your trip and waiting until the vaccine supply is replenished.
Remember that the international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is now valid for the life of the person vaccinated effective as of Monday July 11, 2016 as officially amended and directed by the World Health Organization — and this lifetime validity applies automatically to all existing and new certificates beginning ten days after the date of vaccination.
Photograph ©2016 by Brian Cohen.
