CDC-CERTIFIED YELLOW FEVER CENTER. SCOTTSDALE, AZ

Yellow Fever Vaccine in Arizona

A single dose protects you for life and unlocks the WHO yellow card you’ll need at the border. Get vaccinated, get certified, and travel with confidence. Same-day appointments often available.

Call (480) 435-2774 Book Online

99% effective . Lifetime protection . 10 days to ICVP validity

QUICK FACTS

If you searched for a Yellow Fever vaccine near me, you’ve come to the right place. Learn more about Yellow Fever and find out if the yellow fever vaccine is right for you.

  • Yellow Fever is a potentially fatal viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes, and there is no cure.
  • Yellow Fever is endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa and in the Amazon basin in South America.
  • You may require an official certification of Yellow Fever vaccination if your itinerary includes parts of South America or Africa.
  • The Yellow Fever vaccine is only available from a certified Yellow Fever Vaccine clinic.
  • Whether you should receive a yellow fever vaccine requires a consultation with a travel health specialist to discuss the risks and benefits of receiving the vaccine.

Yellow Fever: A Serious Disease With No Cure

Yellow fever is a viral infection spread by the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and Haemagogus mosquitoes. It circulates in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and South America, where an estimated 200,000 cases and 30,000 deaths occur each year.

There is no specific antiviral treatment for yellow fever. Once infected, care is limited to supportive management. Fluids, fever control, and hospitalization for severe cases. About 15 percent of people who contract yellow fever progress to the severe form, which carries a case-fatality rate of 30 to 50 percent.

The vaccine is the single most effective tool we have. One dose, given at least 10 days before travel, provides durable protection for the vast majority of people who receive it.

Who Needs the Yellow Fever Vaccine

You should plan to receive the yellow fever vaccine if any of the following apply to your trip:

  • You are traveling to a country or region where yellow fever virus circulates
  • You are entering a country that requires proof at the border regardless of where you are arriving from
  • You are transiting or stopping over in a yellow-fever-endemic country before entering a country that requires proof
  • You work in a laboratory that handles yellow fever virus samples
  • You are a field worker, researcher, missionary, volunteer, or military personnel deploying to an at-risk region

Medically Reviewed By

Norman J. Bizon, PA-C, CTH® is Medical Director at TravelBug Health. Over 30 years of clinical experience and certified in travel medicine and international health.

Tessa E. McFall, ASN, EMT is a Travel Health Specialist Clinician at TravelBug Health.

Last updated April 21, 2026

DESTINATIONS

Where Yellow Fever Is a Risk

Yellow fever circulates in 47 countries across equatorial Africa and tropical South America. The CDC and WHO update recommendations regularly. Always confirm at your consultation.

Kenya. Recommended for travelers aged 9 months and older going to areas at risk. Required if arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission (including a layover of 12 hours or more). Strongly recommended for Rift Valley, coast, and western Kenya.

Tanzania.  Vaccination for travelers to Tanzania (only) is generally not recommended. Required if arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission, including travelers who have transited through an at-risk country for more than 12 hours. Not required for direct arrivals from the U.S.

Uganda. Required for all travelers aged 9 months and older on entry, regardless of origin.

Ghana, Nigeria, DRC, Angola. Required for all travelers aged 9 months and older regardless of country of origin.

Ethiopia. Recommended for areas at risk (most of country below 2,300 meters). Required if arriving from a yellow-fever country.

West Africa. Senegal, The Gambia, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Togo, Benin. Required for all travelers aged 9 months and older.

Central Africa. Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea. Required for all travelers aged 9 months and older.

South Sudan, Sudan. Required for arrivals from countries with yellow fever risk. Recommended for most itineraries.

Brazil. Recommended for travelers aged 9 months and older going to areas at risk, which now includes nearly all Brazilian states outside a small strip in the Eastern tip. The 2017 to 2019 outbreak and subsequent epizootic activity expanded the risk zone significantly. Not generally required for entry, but strongly recommended and sometimes required for onward travel.

Peru. Recommended for areas east of the Andes (Amazon basin, Cusco for Manu, Madre de Dios). Not required for Lima, coastal Peru, or classic Machu Picchu itineraries above 2,300 meters.

Bolivia. Recommended for at-risk areas below 2,300 meters. Required if arriving from a yellow-fever country.

Colombia. Recommended for travelers aged 9 months and older going to at-risk areas below 2,300 meters, including the Amazon, Orinoquia, and Pacific coast regions. Required for onward travel from Colombia to certain countries. Required for entry to most national parks and for travel on public transport.

Venezuela, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana. Recommended for at-risk areas. Required in some entry cases. Always required for onward travel to many destinations.

Argentina. Recommended for the northeastern provinces bordering Paraguay and Brazil (Iguazu Falls in particular). Not required for Buenos Aires, Patagonia, or Mendoza.

Paraguay, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago. Recommended for at-risk areas. Required on entry in some circumstances.

Required on entry from the U.S. for all travelers: Ghana, Nigeria, DRC, Angola, Uganda, and most of West Africa.

Recommended strongly, not required on direct U.S. entry: Kenya, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ethiopia.

Required if transiting through an at-risk country first: Most other African and South American destinations.

This list changes. We pull current CDC and WHO guidance for your specific itinerary at your appointment.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION

The ICVP Yellow Card

Under the International Health Regulations, countries may legally require proof of yellow fever vaccination as a condition of entry. That proof is the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis. The yellow card.

What you receive at your appointment

  • Valid 10 days after the date of vaccination
  • Valid for life. No booster required for travel purposes per WHO 2016
  • Issued only by a designated yellow fever vaccination center. Not a primary care office, not a retail pharmacy
  • Stamped by the issuing center with a UVIS or equivalent official mark
  • Re-issuance available from our records if your card is lost or damaged

Bring it with you alongside your passport. Border officials in required-entry countries will ask to see it, and airlines often check before departure from the originating airport.

SAFETY

Who Should Not Get the Yellow Fever Vaccine

The yellow fever vaccine is a live-attenuated virus, which means it is not appropriate for everyone.

Contraindications

You should not receive the vaccine, or should receive it only after careful consultation, if you:

  • Are younger than 6 months of age
  • Have a severe allergy to eggs, chicken proteins, or gelatin
  • Are severely immunocompromised. Low CD4 HIV, active cancer therapy, organ transplant, primary immunodeficiency, high-dose corticosteroids
  • Have a thymus disorder or have had a thymectomy. Myasthenia gravis, DiGeorge syndrome
  • Are pregnant, unless travel is unavoidable and risk is high
  • Are breastfeeding an infant younger than 9 months

Medical Waiver Letters

If a contraindication applies, we can often issue a medical waiver letter accepted at many required-entry borders. The letter is not universally accepted. The definitive alternative is to adjust the itinerary.

We walk through every option at your consultation and help you decide what’s safe and practical for your specific trip.

Call to Discuss Your Case

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Specific Situations We Handle

Travelers Over 60

First-time recipients aged 60+ face a slightly higher risk of rare serious adverse events. We weigh the risk of severe vaccine reaction against the risk of yellow fever exposure on your specific itinerary. This is a conversation, not a checkbox.

Biologics and Immunosuppressants

If you take Humira, Enbrel, Remicade, Stelara, Cosentyx, Rituxan, or similar, the vaccine is generally contraindicated. Some patients can receive it after a carefully timed pause, coordinated with your prescribing physician. Bring a complete medication list.

Pregnancy

Vaccination during pregnancy is generally avoided because the vaccine uses a live virus. If travel to a high-risk destination is unavoidable, vaccination may be considered after detailed risk-benefit review. Postponing or adjusting the trip is strongly preferred.

Egg Allergy

Yellow fever vaccine is produced in chicken eggs and contains residual egg protein. Severe egg allergy is a contraindication. Mild egg allergy can sometimes be managed with a graded-dose protocol in a medical setting. Bring documentation.

Infants and Young Children

Not recommended under 6 months due to rare neurologic side effects. Between 6 and 9 months, considered only in outbreak or high-risk-exposure scenarios. From 9 months onward, the standard adult dose applies.

Medical Waiver Letters

For contraindicated travelers heading to required-entry destinations, we can issue medical waiver letters accepted at many borders. We coordinate documentation with your specific itinerary.

EFFECTIVENESS

One Dose. A Lifetime of Protection.

A single dose of yellow fever vaccine is approximately 99 percent effective at preventing the disease after the 10-day incubation period.

In 2013, the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization concluded a single dose provides lifetime protection for the vast majority of recipients. In 2016, the International Health Regulations were formally amended. The ICVP is now valid for the life of the person vaccinated.

A booster is still considered for a narrow set of individuals. Pregnancy at the time of initial vaccination, organ or stem cell transplant recovery, HIV at the time of vaccination, frequent occupational lab exposure, or travelers heading into very active outbreak zones who were vaccinated more than 10 years ago.

99%

Effectiveness
After day 10

1

Dose
For life

10 days to lifetime

From injection to immunity and lifelong ICVP validity

COST AND INSURANCE

What to Expect at Checkout

Travel vaccines are generally not covered by commercial health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid because they’re considered elective rather than medically necessary. That pattern is industry-wide.

At Your Appointment

You’ll be charged for:

  • Travel health consultation (itinerary-based risk assessment)
  • The yellow fever vaccine itself
  • WHO-approved ICVP issuance
  • Any other vaccines or prescriptions you elect

Pricing varies based on services. Call (480) 435-2774 for current pricing.

What to Ask Your Insurer

Before your appointment, call the member services number on your insurance card and ask:

  • Does my plan cover travel vaccines, including yellow fever?
  • What CPT code do I submit? Yellow fever is typically 90717
  • Do I need pre-authorization?
  • Can I apply HSA or FSA funds?

For Reimbursement

After your appointment, we provide a detailed itemized receipt with:

  • CPT codes
  • Diagnosis codes
  • Clinician’s NPI
  • Itemized line items

Reimbursement outcome is between you and your insurer.

SAFETY PROFILE

Side Effects and Safety

The yellow fever vaccine has been administered more than 600 million times globally. The safety record is well-established.

COMMON. 10 to 30%

Mild and Self-Limited

  • Mild soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site (1 to 3 days)
  • Low-grade fever, fatigue, mild headache, or muscle aches (possible in the first 5 to 10 days)
  • Temporary joint soreness

RARE. ~1 IN 250,000

YEL-AND

Yellow fever vaccine-associated neurologic disease. Approximately 1 in 150,000 to 250,000 doses, more common in first-time recipients over 60. Symptoms include encephalitis, meningitis, or acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.

VERY RARE. ~1 IN 400,000

YEL-AVD

Yellow fever vaccine-associated viscerotropic disease. Approximately 1 in 250,000 to 400,000 doses, more common in first-time recipients over 60 and those with thymus disorders. Severe multi-organ illness.

Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis): approximately 1 in 130,000 doses, typically within minutes to hours of vaccination. We observe you for 15 minutes after your injection. These rare reactions are precisely why yellow fever vaccine is delivered only by designated centers with training in travel medicine. Not by retail or pharmacy-chain providers.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

After Your Yellow Fever Vaccination

1

The First 10 Days

The vaccine needs 10 days to generate full protection. Your ICVP isn’t valid for border crossings until then. Plan at least 10 days, ideally 4 to 6 weeks, before departure.

2

Mild Symptoms

Low-grade fever, tiredness, or headache between days 5 and 10 is normal. Rest, fluids, and acetaminophen help. Call us if symptoms are severe or persist beyond 10 days.

3

Carry Your ICVP

Keep the yellow card with your passport. Never in checked luggage. Some airlines request it at check-in. Most required-entry countries check it at immigration.

4

Other Vaccines

Yellow fever can be given the same day as most other vaccines. If you need additional live vaccines (MMR, varicella), we coordinate the sequence at your consultation.

WHY A TRAVEL CLINIC

TravelBug vs. Primary Care or Pharmacy

Yellow fever vaccine is only administered at designated centers certified by state health authorities. Here’s how we compare to the alternatives.

TravelBug Health

  • CDC-certified yellow fever center
  • Issues WHO ICVP yellow card at appointment
  • Specialist-led itinerary-based risk consultation
  • Same-day or next-day appointments often available
  • Coordinates full panel of travel vaccines
  • Medical waiver letters when appropriate

PCP or Retail Pharmacy

  • Not authorized to administer yellow fever
  • Cannot issue the WHO ICVP yellow card
  • Limited or general consultation only
  • Variable scheduling
  • Limited stock of travel-specific vaccines
  • Cannot issue medical waivers

SCHEDULE YOUR VACCINATION

TravelBug Health in Scottsdale

We’re a certified yellow fever vaccination center in the heart of the Phoenix metro. We see travelers from across the Valley and northern Arizona, and we have the flexible scheduling and travel-medicine specialization that primary-care offices and retail pharmacies cannot match.

TravelBug Health Travel Clinic
8603 E Royal Palm Rd, Suite 120
Scottsdale, AZ 85258

Phone: (480) 435-2774
Email: team@travelbughealth.com
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (by appointment)

Call Now Book Online

Just minutes from across the Valley

North Scottsdale near the 101 and Shea Blvd:

No referral required. Same-day and next-day appointments are often available. Call us with your itinerary and we’ll find a time.

QUESTIONS TRAVELERS ASK

Frequently Asked Questions

Pricing varies based on your specific consultation and services rendered. Call (480) 435-2774 for current pricing before your appointment. We’re transparent about costs so there are no surprises. Travel vaccines are typically not covered by commercial insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, though we provide detailed itemized receipts for HSA, FSA, or partial-reimbursement claims.

Most commercial health insurance plans, Medicare, and Medicaid don’t cover travel vaccines, including yellow fever. Some plans may offer partial reimbursement if you submit a claim with the appropriate CPT and diagnosis codes. HSA and FSA funds can generally be applied. We provide all required receipts and documentation.

For most healthy adults, a single dose provides lifetime protection. The WHO updated guidance in 2013 and 2016 to reflect this. The ICVP is now valid for the life of the person vaccinated, with no booster required for travel purposes in the vast majority of cases.

Yellow fever vaccination is not generally required for travelers entering Kenya directly from the United States. It is, however, strongly recommended for itineraries to the Rift Valley, western Kenya, and coastal regions. Yellow fever vaccination becomes required if you’re arriving from, or have transited for more than 12 hours in, a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Not required for direct arrivals from the U.S., but required if you are arriving from or have transited through a yellow-fever-risk country. 

Brazil does not require yellow fever vaccination at the border, but it is strongly recommended for nearly all Brazilian destinations outside a small area on the Eastern tip. Recent outbreak activity has expanded the at-risk zone. Some onward destinations require proof of yellow fever vaccination after a Brazil visit.

The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) is the official WHO-approved proof of yellow fever vaccination. It’s issued only by designated yellow fever vaccination centers, stamped and signed by the clinician, and valid 10 days after vaccination for the life of the recipient. Border officials in required-entry countries check the ICVP alongside your passport.

No. The yellow fever vaccine is only administered at designated yellow fever vaccination centers certified by state health authorities. Retail pharmacies, urgent care clinics, and most primary care offices cannot issue the WHO-approved ICVP required for international travel.

Pricing varies between providers, but the cheapest option is rarely the best value for travel vaccines. A designated yellow fever center includes the specialty consultation, ICVP issuance, and ongoing travel health guidance. Visiting a travel health specialist may even save you money by helping you choose only the vaccines that you really need. A pharmacy or urgent care that cannot issue the ICVP will require a second visit elsewhere, often costing more in total.

It depends. Adults aged 60 and older receiving the yellow fever vaccine for the first time face a slightly higher risk of rare serious reactions. For required-entry destinations, the benefit typically outweighs the risk. For only-recommended destinations, declining the vaccine and relying on mosquito bite prevention may be the better choice. We walk through this decision at your consultation.

Yellow fever vaccine is a live virus and is generally avoided during pregnancy. If travel to a high-risk destination is unavoidable, vaccination may be considered after careful review. The preferred alternative is to delay travel or adjust the itinerary.

Individual vaccine vials have expiration dates we check at every appointment. Your ICVP, however, doesn’t expire. Since 2016 it’s been valid for life. A booster is no longer required for travel purposes in the vast majority of cases.

The most common side effects are mild soreness at the injection site and a low-grade fever, fatigue, or headache 5 to 10 days after vaccination. Serious reactions are rare. Approximately 1 in 150,000 to 250,000 doses for neurologic reactions, 1 in 250,000 to 400,000 doses for viscerotropic disease. Both are more common in first-time recipients over 60.

Yes. The yellow fever vaccine is a live-attenuated virus, which is why it’s contraindicated in people who are severely immunocompromised, pregnant, or under 6 months of age.

At least 10 days before departure. This is when the ICVP becomes valid. Ideally plan 4 to 6 weeks ahead so we can coordinate other recommended vaccines, malaria prophylaxis, and medications without rushing.

  • A detailed travel itinerary (destinations, dates, activities)
  • Any prior immunization records
  • A current medication list (especially biologics and immunosuppressants)
  • Your insurance card, if you plan to submit for reimbursement
  • Documentation of any prior severe allergic reactions

Yes. TravelBug Health is a certified yellow fever vaccination center in Scottsdale, serving the entire Phoenix metro. Call (480) 435-2774 to schedule.

For the vast majority of healthy adults, no. A single dose provides lifetime protection and a lifetime-valid ICVP. Boosters are considered for a narrow set of circumstances. Pregnancy at time of initial vaccination, organ transplant recovery, HIV, lab workers, ongoing active outbreak. We review your history at your consultation.

Ready to Travel With Confidence?

Schedule Your Yellow Fever Vaccination

No referral required. Same-day and next-day appointments often available. We handle the consultation, the vaccine, and the WHO yellow card. All in one visit.

Call (480) 435-2774 Book Online