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Yellow fever vaccine

Generic Name
Yellow fever vaccine
Brand Names
Yf-vax
Drug Type
Biotech
Unique Ingredient Identifier
PY4EET359T

Overview

Yellow fever vaccine prevents against Yellow Fever, a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the transmission of a flavivirus through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms of Yellow fever can range from asymptomatic, to mild flu-like illness, to more severe symptoms such as shock, jaundice, internal bleeding, and organ failure . Interestingly, Yellow fever got its name from the characteristic yellowing of the skin and eyes that occurs from the development of jaundice when the virus attacks the liver. Although there is supportive treatment available for managing Yellow Fever, there are currently no antivirals developed to specifically treat Yellow Fever. Vaccination with Yellow Fever vaccine is therefore 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 Yellow Fever Vaccine, 90% of subjects seroconverted within 10 days after vaccination, and 100% of subjects seroconverted within 14 days . The World Health Organization no longer recommends the use of a 10-year booster dose following primary immunization, as a single dose is "sufficient to confer life-long immunity against yellow fever disease" . Yellow Fever is most commonly found in the southern hemisphere, in tropical regions of Africa and Central/South America . The World Health Organization recommends routine vaccination in countries where Yellow Fever is endemic, and for travellers going to endemic areas as proof of vaccination is often a requirement at border crossings to prevent international spread of the disease . Yellow Fever Vaccine is a subcutaneously administered vaccination for the active immunization and prophylaxis of yellow fever in pediatric patients 9 months of age and older. It 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 . The FDA recommends vaccination with Yellow Fever Vaccine for persons living in or travelling to endemic areas and for laboratory personnel who handle virulent yellow fever virus or concentrated preparations of the yellow fever vaccine virus.

Indication

Yellow Fever Vaccine is indicated for active immunization for the prevention of yellow fever in persons 9 months of age and older in the following categories:

Associated Conditions

  • Yellow Fever

Research Report

Published: Sep 17, 2025

An In-Depth Monograph on the Yellow Fever 17D Vaccine (DB10805): From Molecular Biology to Global Public Health

Executive Summary

The Yellow Fever 17D vaccine (DrugBank ID: DB10805) stands as a monumental achievement in the history of vaccinology and a cornerstone of global public health. Developed in the 1930s through the empirical attenuation of a wild-type virus, it remains one of the most effective live-attenuated vaccines ever created.[1] Its remarkable success is predicated on its ability to induce a robust, polyvalent, and, in most individuals, lifelong immune response that closely mimics natural infection. This monograph provides a comprehensive analysis of the vaccine, synthesizing information from its historical development and molecular biology to its clinical application, safety profile, and global regulatory status.

A single 0.5 mL subcutaneous dose of the vaccine confers durable protection in the vast majority of healthy individuals, a conclusion supported by decades of extensive use and formally endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which have largely eliminated the need for routine 10-year boosters.[3] The vaccine's profound efficacy is rooted in its sophisticated mechanism of action. The live, attenuated 17D virus replicates systemically, engaging multiple arms of the immune system. This process begins with a potent innate immune response mediated through the activation of a broad array of Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) on dendritic cells, which in turn orchestrates a durable adaptive response. This response is characterized by the rapid development of high-titer neutralizing antibodies—the primary correlate of protection—and the generation of a unique, long-lasting, stem-cell-like memory T-cell population that contributes to its lifelong efficacy.[7]

Continue reading the full research report

Clinical Trials

Title
Posted
Study ID
Phase
Status
Sponsor
2025/03/17
Phase 2
Recruiting
2023/06/13
Not Applicable
Recruiting
Leiden University Medical Center
2022/06/16
Phase 3
Completed
2021/08/18
Phase 2
Active, not recruiting
2021/06/28
Phase 2
Active, not recruiting
2020/02/13
Phase 1
Completed
2019/10/29
Phase 1
Completed
2019/09/10
Phase 4
Active, not recruiting
2018/03/08
N/A
Completed
2011/02/04
Phase 4
Completed
Sri Edupuganti

FDA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Manufacturer
NDC Code
Route
Strength
Effective Date
No FDA approvals found for this drug.

EMA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Authorization Holder
Status
Issued Date
No EMA approvals found for this drug.

HSA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Manufacturer
Approval Number
Dosage Form
Strength
Approval Date
No HSA approvals found for this drug.

NMPA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Company
Approval Number
Drug Type
Dosage Form
Approval Date
No NMPA approvals found for this drug.

PPB Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Registration No.
Company
Licence No.
Strength
Registration Date
No PPB approvals found for this drug.

TGA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
ARTG ID
Sponsor
Registration Type
Status
Registration Date
STAMARIL Yellow fever vaccine, live, stabilised powder for injection vial and diluent syringe
58571
Medicine
A
5/14/1998

Health Canada Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Company
DIN
Dosage Form
Strength
Market Date
YF-VAX
00428833
Powder For Solution - Subcutaneous
109648 PFU / 0.5 ML
12/31/1978

CIMA AEMPS Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Company
Registration Number
Pharmaceutical Form
Prescription Type
Status
No CIMA AEMPS (Spain) approvals found for this drug.

Philippines FDA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Company
License Number
Dosage Form
Strength
Approval Date
No Philippines FDA approvals found for this drug.

Saudi SFDA Drug Approvals

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Company
License Number
Dosage Form
Strength
Approval Date
No Saudi SFDA approvals found for this drug.

Malaysia NPRA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Company
Registration Number
Dosage Form
Strength
Approval Date
No Malaysia NPRA approvals found for this drug.

UK EMC Drug Information

Medicine Name
MA Holder
MA Number
Pharmaceutical Form
Active Ingredient
Authorization Date
No UK EMC drug information found for this drug.

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