 | With Insurance: $10-$40 |
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 | Without Insurance: $150-$350 |
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| Vaccination against yellow fever is legally required for travel to and from some countries -- mostly in sub-Saharan Africa -- and also is recommended for travel to tropical locations in South America. The vaccination protects against the viral, mosquito-borne disease that can cause hemorrhagic fever and death. | | |
| Typical costs: | - For patients not covered by health insurance, the cost of a yellow fever vaccination typically includes: a consultation fee, sometimes a fee to administer the shot, and the cost of the single required dose of vaccine. The total cost typically ranges from $150 to $350. For example, at the travel clinic operated by the San Francisco Department of Public Health, an initial consultation is $39, and the yellow fever vaccination costs $110, with no shot administration fee, for a total of $149. And at Baylor Travel Medicine in Texas, an initial consultation costs $85 to $150, depending on the complexity of the patient's travel itinerary and medical history, and a follow-up appointment to administer the vaccine costs $25 to $85, and the vaccine costs $105 for a total of at least $215.
- Many health insurance plans do not cover travel-related vaccinations because they are considered elective. However, some plans that offer preventive benefits do cover them.
- For patients covered by health insurance, typical expenses include a copay of $10 to $40 for the doctor visit and possibly a copay for the vaccination. For example, this BlueCare Direct HMO covers travel vaccinations for a $20 copay.
What should be included: | - After an initial consultation to determine that you need the yellow fever vaccination, the health care provider will administer the shot and give you an official proof-of-vaccination document to take along on the trip. You must get the shot at least 10 days before your trip.
- The yellow fever vaccine is almost 100 percent effective in preventing the disease. Immunity lasts at least10 years.
Additional costs: | - Because yellow fever and other diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes, an insect repellent containing up to 50 percent DEET is recommended for trips to areas where there is a yellow fever risk. A bottle or tube typically costs less than $10. For example, Magellans.com, a travel supply website, sells a 12-hour repellant. Repellants with DEET as the active ingredient also can be purchased at drugstores, discount stores and outdoors supply stores.
- A booster shot is recommended after 10 years.
Discounts: | - Prices at publicly run travel clinics are sometimes lower than at private clinics.
Shopping for yellow fever vaccine: | - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a table that shows yellow fever vaccination requirements and recommendations for travelers by destination country. .
- For vaccination against yellow fever, you must visit a clinic authorized by the U.S. government to administer the vaccine. Those clinics can provide an official International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, which you must carry with you on your trip to avoid being quarantined, re-vaccinated or denied entry to a country.
- Because of vaccination health risks -- including a few reported cases of encephalitis and some cases of multiple organ failure and death -- the vaccine should only be administered to travelers truly at risk for the disease. Overall, the vaccine is considered fairly safe for most adults, especially those aged 60 and younger.
- According to CDC guidelines, the following travelers should check with their doctors and discuss risks before receiving a yellow fever vaccination: pregnant or nursing mothers -- who should avoid or postpone travel if possible; people with certain allergies; immunocompromised individuals; patients whose thymus gland has been removed or who have a history of thymus problems; and anyone 65 or older. If the vaccine is contraindicated for medical reasons, a letter from a physician on official letterhead might be accepted; check ahead of time with the embassy of the country you plan to visit.
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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Article updated January 2010 |
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