Avante Pharmacy is a designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre (UKYFVC10709), so you can get the vaccine and your International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) in the same appointment, at either Avante branch in Edinburgh. Not every pharmacy or GP surgery can give this vaccine — it's only available from centres registered with the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), and Avante is one of them.
Who can give the yellow fever vaccine in Edinburgh?
Only a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre can administer the vaccine and issue a valid certificate. Under the International Health Regulations, countries "shall designate specific yellow fever vaccination centres" within their territory, and only those centres' certificates are recognised at borders. A standard GP practice cannot give the yellow fever vaccine or a valid ICVP — NHS inform confirms that a GP practice is no longer the point of contact for travel vaccines in Scotland, and yellow fever specifically requires a designated centre.
Avante Pharmacy and Travel Clinic on Westfield Road and at Brougham Place are both part of the same designated centre, registered as UKYFVC10709. Murrayfield Pharmacy and Travel Clinic is not a confirmed yellow fever centre, so if you need this vaccine, book at Westfield Road or Brougham Place instead — call ahead to confirm which day the vaccine is available, since clinics run this service on set days.
How long does a yellow fever certificate last?
Every yellow fever certificate issued today is valid for the rest of your life, with no booster needed for most travellers. This changed under a 2016 update to the International Health Regulations: the World Health Organization confirmed that "a valid ICVP … cannot be rejected on the grounds that more than ten years have passed" since vaccination, and that revaccination cannot be demanded at the border. This applies retrospectively too — the NHS confirms that older certificates with a printed expiry date are still valid for life and don't need to be replaced or reissued.
There's one important detail: your certificate only becomes legally valid 10 days after your vaccination date, not on the day of the jab itself. NaTHNaC's guidance for administering the ICVP states the certificate "becomes valid 10 days from the date of vaccination" when it's your first dose. If you're travelling within that 10-day window, some border officials may not accept the certificate as proof, even though you've already had the vaccine.
We always check when someone's flying before we vaccinate, not just what they're flying to. Ten days matters as much as which vaccine you need. — Emmanuel Ebube Umezulike, superintendent pharmacist
Which countries require a yellow fever certificate?
Requirements vary by country and sometimes by which countries you've recently visited, so it's worth checking before you assume you don't need one. Some countries require proof of vaccination for entry regardless of where you're travelling from; others only ask for it if you're arriving from, or have transited through, a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. The safest way to check is the TravelHealthPro country information pages, which list current certificate and vaccine requirements for every destination — we check these with you as part of your consultation, since requirements do change.
The NHS notes that yellow fever itself is still present in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, South America, Central America and Trinidad, so the vaccine may be recommended for the disease risk even where a certificate isn't legally required for entry. A certificate is never needed to enter the UK.
Is everyone able to have the yellow fever vaccine?
No — a small number of people can't safely have this vaccine, which is why a proper pre-vaccination screening matters. According to the NHS, people who should not usually have it include babies under 6 months old, anyone with a significantly weakened immune system (including some cancer treatments and high-dose steroids), those with a thymus gland disorder, and anyone who's had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose or to an ingredient such as egg protein. People aged 60 and over, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and people with certain chronic inflammatory conditions may still be able to have it in some circumstances, following an individual risk assessment.
If you can't have the vaccine but need proof for entry, a yellow fever centre can sometimes issue a medical exemption letter, which is accepted by some (not all) countries in place of a certificate — ask us about this if it applies to you.
How far ahead should I book?
Book as soon as your trip is confirmed, and at least 10 days before you fly, since that's when your certificate becomes valid. In practice we'd recommend more notice than that: the vaccine is given on specific clinic days at each branch, and if you also need other travel vaccines with their own dosing schedules, starting early gives your pharmacist room to plan the whole course around your departure date rather than rushing it.
What if I lose my certificate?
Contact a Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre — a replacement may be possible if there's an accurate medical record of your original vaccination. NaTHNaC's guidance allows a registered centre to reissue a certificate where the original is genuinely lost, damaged beyond reading, or needs a name change, as long as the date of the original vaccination, and ideally the vaccine batch number, can be confirmed. Without that record, you may be asked to consider being vaccinated again after a fresh risk assessment. This is one more reason to keep a photo or scan of your certificate as soon as you're given it.
Booking your appointment
Yellow fever vaccinations are given at Westfield Road travel clinic, where you can book online, and at Brougham Place travel clinic, which takes bookings by phone. Either way, call ahead to check which day the yellow fever clinic runs and to flag your travel date, so your certificate is valid in time.
If you're planning several vaccines for one trip, it's worth reading our guide to where to get travel vaccinations in Edinburgh, or looking at the typhoid vaccine in Edinburgh page if typhoid is also recommended for your destination. Your pharmacist will talk you through exactly what your trip needs at your appointment — we don't push any vaccine that official guidance doesn't recommend for your specific itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a yellow fever jab from the GP?
No. Yellow fever vaccine and certificates are only available from centres registered as designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres. NHS inform confirms GP practices are no longer the point of contact for travel vaccines in Scotland, and standard practices can't issue a valid certificate even if they hold other travel vaccines.
Is yellow fever still a thing in 2026?
Yes. The NHS lists parts of sub-Saharan Africa, South America, Central America and Trinidad as areas where yellow fever is still found, and vaccination continues to be recommended for travel to these regions, alongside certificate requirements for entry to some countries.
How long is a yellow fever certificate valid?
For life. Since an update to the International Health Regulations that took effect on 11 July 2016, a valid yellow fever certificate lasts for the rest of the vaccinated person's life, including older certificates that show a printed expiry date.
What if I lose my yellow fever certificate?
A Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre can sometimes issue a replacement if there's an accurate record of your original vaccination, including the date and ideally the vaccine batch number. Without that record, a fresh risk assessment and possible revaccination may be needed instead.
How long before travel do I need the yellow fever vaccine?
At least 10 days, since that's when a first-time certificate becomes legally valid. We'd recommend booking as soon as your trip is confirmed, especially if other travel vaccines are also needed, so your pharmacist can plan the full schedule around your departure date.
Can everyone have the yellow fever vaccine?
No. It's not usually given to babies under 6 months, people with significantly weakened immune systems, those with thymus gland conditions, or anyone with a serious allergy to a previous dose or to egg protein. A pre-vaccination screening at your appointment checks whether it's suitable for you.
Does Murrayfield Pharmacy give the yellow fever vaccine?
No. Murrayfield Pharmacy and Travel Clinic is not a confirmed yellow fever vaccination centre. For this vaccine, book at Avante Pharmacy and Travel Clinic on Westfield Road or at Brougham Place, both part of designated centre UKYFVC10709.
Sources
- Yellow fever - Vaccination — NHS
- International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) — NaTHNaC Yellow Fever Zone
- Q&A on the extension to life for yellow fever vaccination — World Health Organization
- Travel health and vaccinations — NHS inform
- Search Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres — NaTHNaC Yellow Fever Zone
General information, not a substitute for a consultation. Your pharmacist will recommend what is right for you after assessing your health and plans.
