Yellow Fever Vaccine Depleted Until 2018

FDA authorizes STAMARIL as substitute yellow fever vaccine in the USA
(Precision Vaccinations News)

If you are traveling to a ‘Yellow Fever’ hot-zone, and need a vaccination, there may be a change to your immunization plans.

The manufacturer of YF-VAX®, the only yellow fever vaccine authorized in the USA, has now confirmed this product is no longer available.

Moreover, this YF-VAX vaccine shortage may last until mid-2018.

Sanofi Pasteur has worked with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make another yellow fever vaccine available in the USA. Manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur in France, this vaccine, STAMARIL®, Yellow Fever Vaccine Live, is currently distributed in over 70 countries.

However, it is considered investigational in the USA, as it is not a US-licensed product.

Which means, Sanofi Pasteur can only support a limited number of distribution sites.

Working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), geographically distributed sites were identified for inclusion in the program enabling people continued access to a yellow fever vaccine.

According to International Health Regulations, the yellow fever vaccine must be administered at certified vaccination centers. Healthcare providers and pharmacists are authorized to administer the vaccine by state health departments.

Brookshires Grocery Company is excited to be certified and able to offer the Yellow Fever vaccine in 9 of our pharmacies across Texas with more to come.,” said Jeremy H. Ashley, PharmD, RPh, Health Services Clinical Pharmacist with Brookshires.

“Our goal is to become a Travel Wellness Center for our patients and to provide our customers with immunization education, travel-destination recommendations, and peace of mind as they prepare for their departure,” said Ashley.

Yellow fever is an acute viral disease caused by infection with the yellow fever virus, a flavivirus primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Yellow fever disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings, laboratory testing, and travel history, including the possibility of exposure to infected mosquitoes.

According to the CDC, there is no specific treatment for yellow fever.

Health care providers and patients may find locations that can administer STAMARIL vaccine by visiting the CDC web page.

Providers and patients may also visit the CDC Travelers' Health for information about which countries require yellow fever vaccination for entry and for which countries the CDC recommends getting the yellow fever vaccination.

 

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