Yellow fever is the only disease specified in the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, for which countries may require proof of vaccination from travelers as a condition of entry under certain circumstances and may take certain measures if an arriving traveler is not in possession of such a certificate.

 

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In the context of international travel, the amendment to Annex 7 changes the period of validity of the related international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever, and the protection provided by vaccination against yellow fever infection under the IHR 2005, from ten years to the life of the person (traveler) vaccinated. Accordingly, as of 11 July 2016, for either existing or new certificates, revaccination or a booster dose of yellow fever vaccine cannot be required of international travelers as a condition of entry into a State Party, regardless of the date their international certificate of vaccination was initially issued. 

 

This lifetime validity of these certificates applies automatically to certificates issued after 11 July 2016, as well as certificates already issued.

 

Credit: World Health Organization (WHO)