Yellow Fever Vaccine Edinburgh: Stamaril & ICVP Certificate

If you are travelling to parts of sub-Saharan Africa or tropical South America where yellow fever is present, you may need both the yellow fever vaccine and an official International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) for entry. At Edinburgh Vaccination Clinic (Bruntsfield Pharmacy), we offer the yellow fever vaccine (Stamaril) with your ICVP issued at the appointment. This guide covers who needs the yellow fever vaccine, how the certificate works, when to book, and what to expect from your consultation.

Yellow fever vaccination in the UK can only be administered through a designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, registered with the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC). Suitability and supply are confirmed at your consultation, and one of our Independent Prescriber pharmacists will plan the right approach for your trip at your first appointment.

Yellow fever vaccine Edinburgh: what we offer

At Edinburgh Vaccination Clinic (Bruntsfield Pharmacy), our yellow fever service is built around two things travellers actually need: the vaccine itself, and a recognised ICVP that border officials will accept. Both are handled in a single appointment.

Your appointment includes a private travel health consultation with one of our Independent Prescriber pharmacists, who will review your itinerary, medical history and any current medication, then confirm whether Stamaril is appropriate for you. If clinically suitable, the vaccine is administered at the same visit. Your ICVP is completed, signed, stamped and issued on the day, so you leave with the documentation in hand.

Because yellow fever vaccination overlaps with many other travel vaccines and antimalarials, we will also use the consultation to plan the rest of your travel health needs for your destination, if you would like us to.

How much does the yellow fever vaccine cost in Edinburgh?

Current yellow fever vaccine pricing is listed on our vaccine prices page. The price covers the full appointment, not the vaccine alone.

Yellow fever and the International Certificate of Vaccination (ICVP)

Yellow fever is the only travel vaccine with its own internationally recognised certificate. The ICVP, sometimes still called the “yellow card”, is issued under the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations. It is the document border officials look for when entering or transiting countries with yellow fever entry requirements.

In the UK, only designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres registered with NaTHNaC are authorised to issue the certificate. We complete the certificate at your appointment, so you leave with a fully stamped document.

Who should consider the yellow fever vaccine?

There are two reasons travellers come to us for yellow fever vaccination. The first is medical protection. The second is the certificate. Often it is both.

Country recommendations and entry requirements can change at short notice, particularly during outbreaks. We review the latest guidance for your specific destinations at the consultation, so the advice you receive is based on current information rather than older general assumptions.

When should I book my yellow fever vaccine?

The single most important date in yellow fever planning is the 10-day point after vaccination, when your ICVP becomes valid. You need to be vaccinated at least 10 days before crossing a border that requires the certificate.

In practice, we recommend booking your appointment at least four to six weeks before travel where possible. This window gives time for the ICVP validity period, allows space for other travel vaccines or antimalarials that may be needed for your trip, and provides flexibility in case any clinical questions need follow-up.

If your trip is sooner than four to six weeks away, we can often still help. Book online and our Independent Prescriber pharmacists will work through your timeline at the consultation.

How the yellow fever vaccine works

Stamaril is a live attenuated vaccine. It contains a weakened form of the yellow fever virus that triggers your immune system to recognise and respond to the wild virus, without causing the disease itself.

The immune response builds in the days following vaccination, which is why the ICVP is not considered valid until 10 days after the dose. After that point, a single dose is considered to provide long-term protection for most healthy travellers.

Side effects, age 60+ and suitability

Most side effects from the yellow fever vaccine are mild and short-lived. Common reactions include soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, a mild headache, muscle aches, or a low-grade temperature for a few days after the injection.

Serious adverse reactions to the yellow fever vaccine are rare, but they are recognised and have to be weighed alongside the protection it offers. The risk is higher in two specific groups: adults aged 60 and over, particularly first-time vaccine recipients, and people with weakened immune systems. For travellers in these groups, our Independent Prescriber pharmacists complete a more detailed suitability assessment at the consultation. In some cases, a clinical decision is made not to vaccinate, and we can advise on alternative ways to manage your risk. For more on this specific group, see our guide to the yellow fever vaccine for adults over 60.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, certain medications and a history of severe egg allergy are factors we review carefully before vaccination. A history of thymus disease, including thymoma or myasthenia gravis, or previous thymectomy must also be reviewed, as these can affect whether vaccination is suitable. If you are not sure whether yellow fever vaccination is appropriate for you, book a consultation appointment and we will work through the assessment together.

Why choose Edinburgh Vaccination Clinic for your yellow fever vaccine?

If you are paying privately for your yellow fever vaccination, it is reasonable to want to know how the service is set up before you book. Yellow fever vaccination is a regulated activity, the certificate has to be issued correctly, and the clinical assessment matters more than for many other travel vaccines.

For our full range of travel vaccinations, see our travel vaccines page. Yellow fever vaccination often sits alongside hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies and antimalarial advice for the same trip, all of which we can plan together.

Booking your yellow fever vaccine in Edinburgh

Booking with us is direct. There are four steps.

Appointments are limited each week due to vaccine availability and the time needed for full travel consultations. If you have a fixed travel date, book early.

Book your yellow fever appointment online

Use the secure booking widget below to choose an appointment time that suits you. Your appointment includes a full travel health consultation with one of our Independent Prescriber pharmacists, administration of Stamaril where clinically appropriate, and your ICVP issued at the same visit.

Yellow fever vaccine Edinburgh — your questions answered

Can I get the yellow fever vaccine in Edinburgh privately?

Yes. Edinburgh Vaccination Clinic (Bruntsfield Pharmacy) offers Stamaril yellow fever vaccination privately, subject to age, consent and clinical suitability confirmed at consultation. Your ICVP is issued at the same appointment.

How much does the yellow fever vaccine cost in Edinburgh?

Current yellow fever vaccine pricing is published on our vaccine prices page. The price covers the full appointment, including consultation with one of our Independent Prescriber pharmacists, suitability check, administration of Stamaril, the ICVP and aftercare advice.

How long is the yellow fever certificate valid?

Under the 2016 World Health Organization International Health Regulations update, a single dose of yellow fever vaccine is considered to provide lifelong protection for the purposes of the ICVP, and a booster is generally not required. The certificate itself becomes valid 10 days after vaccination.

When should I book before travel?

You should be vaccinated at least 10 days before crossing a border that requires the ICVP, so the certificate is valid on arrival. We recommend booking four to six weeks before travel where possible, which gives flexibility for the certificate validity window and allows time to plan any other travel vaccines for the same trip. If your travel date is closer than that, book online and we will work through your timeline at the consultation.

Which countries require a yellow fever certificate?

Yellow fever entry requirements vary by country and can change at short notice. Some countries require proof from all incoming travellers, while others only require it from travellers who have recently been in, or transited through, an at-risk country. We review the current requirements for your specific destinations at your consultation.

Can I have the yellow fever vaccine if I am over 60?

In many cases, yes, but the risk of rare serious side effects is higher in adults aged 60 and over, particularly in first-time vaccine recipients. Our Independent Prescriber pharmacists complete a more detailed suitability assessment in this age group, weighing up your destination, itinerary and personal health history before any vaccine is given. For a full guide, see our yellow fever vaccine for over 60s page.

What are the side effects of the yellow fever vaccine?

Most side effects are mild and short-lived, including soreness at the injection site, mild headache, muscle aches or a low-grade temperature for a few days. Serious reactions are rare. Suitability is reviewed at your consultation, and you will be asked to remain at the clinic for a short observation period after the injection.

Do I need other travel vaccines as well?

Often, yes. Yellow fever vaccination usually goes alongside other travel vaccines and antimalarial advice, depending on your destination, itinerary and length of stay. We can review the rest of your travel health needs alongside yellow fever in the same consultation. See our travel vaccines page for the full range we offer.

How do I book the yellow fever vaccine in Edinburgh?

All appointments are booked online — use the secure booking widget above, or visit our booking page. Choose a time that suits you, complete your pre-appointment questionnaire, and come to 129 Bruntsfield Place for your consultation.

Last reviewed: 15 May 2026