Q. How do we become a YFVC?

A. Those wishing to become YFVCs should apply for designation by using the application form in the YF Information pack.

Q. How do I obtain International Certificates of Vaccination or Prophylaxis?

A. Call the Department of Health Publications Orderline on 0300 123 1002 or Textphone 0300 123 1003

Q. Can I give yellow fever vaccines at my branch surgery?

A. Yellow fever vaccine can only be administered at 'designated' centres as established in the International Health Regulations (IHR) by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In England, branch surgeries or additional surgeries which have a different geographical location are required to register as a separate Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre (YFVC).

Q. We have recently moved to new premises. Do we need to re-register as a designated YFVC?

A. No. However you must let NaTHNaC know of any changes of address.

Q . The registered medical practitioner responsible for the YFVC has now left this practice. Can we continue to administer yellow fever vaccine?

A. A new registered medical practitioner who is responsible for the Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre will be required to submit a new declaration and to sign that he / she accepts the conditions of designation. This change will not affect your YFVC number.

Q. The registered medical practitioner in charge of the clinic has moved to another practice. Can he / she use the YFVC number at his / her new practice?

A . No. The YFVC number is unique to your practice and is non-transferable. NaTHNaC should be informed of any changes at the centre that might affect its designation, including changes of address or change of responsible medical practitioner.

Q. We no longer wish to be a YFVC. What is the procedure for de-designation?

A. NaTHNaC should be informed immediately in writing.

Q. If a child receives a yellow fever vaccine, who should sign the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis for the child?

A. NaTHNaC would recommend that for children under the age of 16 years, the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis should be signed by the child's parent.

Yellow Fever and the over 60s

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Requirements

The International Health regulations (IHR (2005)) require that the designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre [YFVC] maintain adequate vaccination records for ten years following the date of each vaccination.

If, at any stage, the centre ceases to remain as a designated centre, arrangements must be made to keep the records either at that centre, or be transferred to another centre. In both cases NaTHNaC must be informed of the change.

Patients who have received Yellow Fever vaccine must be issued with an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) . They should be advised to store it in a safe place, usually with their passport, and be encouraged to make a photocopy, kept separately, which would be of assistance should re-issue become necessary.

 

Re-issuing a yellow fever vaccination certificate

In the case of a lost certificate, it should be re-issued by the original administering YFVC after verifying their records. The re-issued certificate need not necessarily be signed by the original vaccinator, but by a person authorised to sign at the time of re-issue. The name of the original vaccinator should, in any case, be noted in the records. The date on the certificate should be the date of the original vaccination.

If the original administering YFVC is no longer a designated centre or the patient has lost their ICVP and the records of the original vaccination are also lost, the patient may have to be revaccinated in order to assure that they are protected against yellow fever.

In every case it is important that the re-issuing practitioner is satisfied that the patient is adequately protected against yellow fever, and when there is doubt about that protection, a repeat vaccination should be performed. Individual advice should be sought if this situation occurs within 4 weeks of the original vaccination.

When there is a name change since the issue of the original certificate, for example marriage or divorce, the name change should be verified by checking passport details or by carrying appropriate official documentation relating to the name change.