The yellow fever vaccine given as one fifth of the regular dose could be used to control an outbreak in case of vaccine shortages.
Experts agreed with this proposal at a meeting convened by WHO to consider potential shortages in yellow fever vaccine due to the outbreak in Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization reviewed existing evidence that demonstrates that using a fifth of a standard vaccine dose would still provide protection against the disease for at least 12 months and possibly much longer.