Skip to main content
Print Save

Yellow fever vaccine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 17, 2023.

Applies to yellow fever vaccine: subcutaneous powder for suspension.

Serious side effects

Along with its needed effects, yellow fever vaccine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking yellow fever vaccine:

Rare

  • Confusion
  • convulsions (seizures)
  • coughing
  • difficulty with breathing or swallowing
  • fast heartbeat
  • feeling of burning, crawling, or tingling of the skin
  • nervousness or irritability
  • reddening of the skin
  • severe headache
  • skin rash or itching
  • sneezing
  • stiff neck
  • throbbing in the ears
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • vomiting

Other side effects

Some side effects of yellow fever vaccine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

  • Difficulty with moving
  • joint pain
  • low fever
  • mild headache
  • muscle aching or cramping
  • muscle pains or stiffness
  • pain at the injection site
  • swollen joints

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to yellow fever vaccine: injectable powder for injection, subcutaneous powder for injection.

Nervous system

Frequency not reported: Headaches,

Postmarketing reports: Yellow fever vaccine-associated neurotropic disease (YFV-AND), fatal encephalitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, bulbar palsy[Ref]

Immunologic

Reduced reactogenicity was seen in patients with serological evidence of previous exposure to yellow fever virus.

Frequency not reported: Reduced reactogenicity

Postmarketing reports: Yellow fever vaccine-associated viscerotropic disease (YEL-AVD)

Local

Frequency not reported: Local edema, pain at injection site, mass at injection site, local erythema[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions have infrequently included immediate reactions characterized by rash, urticaria, and/or asthma. These mainly occur in vaccinees with histories of egg allergy.[Ref]

Immediate hypersensitivity occurs principally in patients with allergies to egg or other substances in the vaccine.[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Rash

Other

Frequency not reported: Fever, malaise, asthenia[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Frequency not reported: Myalgia

References

1. Product Information. YF-Vax (yellow fever vaccine). sanofi pasteur. 2001.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer