YF-Vax

Uses

Prophylaxis of Yellow fever infection

YF-Vax is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Yellow Fever

How YF-Vax works

YF-Vax is composed of two live, attenuated strains of yellow fever virus, 17D-204 and 17DD, which have been shown to elicit an immune response identical to that induced by wild-type infection . Vaccination with Yellow Fever vaccine is considered to be the most important and effective measure to protect against Yellow Fever, with protective immunity developing within 10 days after vaccination; in two separate clinical trials of YF-Vax, 90% of subjects seroconverted within 10 days after vaccination, and 100% of subjects seroconverted within 14 days .

Dosage

YF-Vax dosage

Primary Vaccination:

• Adults and Children >9 months: 0.5 mL of reconstituted vaccine administered as a single dose.
• Children : The vaccine must not be given to children

The vaccine should be given at least 10 days before entering an endemic area since protective immunity may not be achieved until at least this time has elapsed.

Elderly

: The dose is the same as for adults. However, due to a higher risk of yellow fever vaccine-associated severe and potentially fatal disease in persons from 60 years of age, the vaccine should only be given when it is considered that there is a considerable and unavoidable risk of acquiring yellow fever infection.

Re-Vaccination

: Re-vaccination with 1 dose of 0.5 mL is recommended every 10 years in persons considered to be at risk of exposure. International Health Regulations (IHR) require re-vaccination, using the same dose as for primary vaccination, at intervals of 10 years in order to retain a valid certificate.For IM use, the recommended injection sites are the anterolateral aspect of the thigh in the infants and toddlers (6 months up to 2 years of age) and the deltoid muscle in older children and adults.

Side Effects

Fever, headache, seizure, myalgia, weakness, focal neurological defects. Local inj site reactions e.g. erythema, pain, oedema.

Precaution

Caution when used in immunocompromised patients e.g. patients receiving chemo-radiation therapy or other immunosuppressive therapy such as high-dose corticosteroids and patients 65 yr. Monitor for adverse events 10-30 days post-vaccination.

Interaction

Immunosuppressants eg. cytotoxic agents, systemic steroids.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Pregnancy Category D. There is positive evidence of human foetal risk, but the benefits from use in pregnant women may be acceptable despite the risk (e.g., if the drug is needed in a life-threatening situation or for a serious disease for which safer drugs cannot be used or are ineffective).Lactation: There is a theoretical risk of transmission of vaccine components to the infants from breast-feeding mothers, lactation constitutes a contraindication, particularly when infants are <9 months of age because of the risk of encephalitis

Contraindication

• Hypersensitivity reaction to eggs, chicken proteins or to any component of this vaccine.
• Serious hypersensitivity reactions (eg, anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of any yellow fever vaccine.
• Immunosuppression, whether congenital, idiopathic or as a result of treatment with systemic steroids (greater than the standard dose of topical or inhaled steroids), radiotherapy or cytotoxic drugs.
• History of thymus dysfunction (including thymoma, thymectomy).
• Symptomatic HIV infection.
• Asymptomatic HIV infection when accompanied by evidence of impaired immune function (see Precautions).
• Age
• Current severe febrile illness.

Innovators Monograph

You find simplified version here YF-Vax