The aims of this study were to estimate global yellow fever vaccination coverage from 1970 through to 2016 at high spatial resolution and to calculate the number of individuals still requiring vaccination to reach population coverage thresholds for outbreak prevention.

Substantial outbreaks of yellow fever in Angola and Brazil in the past 2 years, combined with global shortages in vaccine stockpiles, highlight a pressing need to assess present control strategies. 

Although elimination of yellow fever is not feasible due to its sylvatic reservoir, control is achievable due to the availability of a safe, low-cost, and highly effective vaccine. If control is insufficient, yellow fever virus can cause devastating epidemics, especially in populations where vaccine-derived or naturally acquired immunity is low, with high case-fatality rates. Understanding the present coverage of the vaccine is necessary for designing an effective response.

Further information, and a download link for the report, can be found here.