Since 1967, vaccination against yellow fever (antiamarillic) is compulsory except in the case of a medical contraindication, for anyone aged 1 year or over and residing or visiting Guyana.
Up until now, a booster vaccination has been necessary every ten years to maintain an effective protection. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared in July 2013 in a position paper that "a single dose of the yellow fever vaccine is sufficient to confer life-long protective immunity; it is not necessary to administer a booster dose".
Pending any changes to the International Health Regulations, the French High Council for public health (HCSP) was asked to give its opinion on whether it would be appropriate to remove antiamarillic booster vaccinations from the national schedule for people from Guyana and those travelling there from the French mainland.
The HCSP took into consideration the WHO arguments, the epidemiology of yellow fever in Guyana, the length of protection conferred by this vaccine in the general population and in specific populations, and tolerance data. It highlighted the potential difficulties caused for people living in or travelling to Guyana who are likely to travel to Guyana's neighbouring countries (Brazil, Surinam) where immunisation, including boosters, is compulsory.
The HCSP does not recommend, based on current knowledge, the removal of the 10-year boosters of the yellow fever vaccine for people living in Guyana or those from the French mainland intending to travel there.
This Notice will be reviewed if the International Health Regulations are modified.
- Recommendation
- Europe
- France
- Yellow fever
