Vaccinations for Egypt: Everything you need to know

Travelling is exciting, but it’s a smart plan to check in advance if there are any special health requirements for your holiday. If you’re heading off to Egypt, there are a few situations in which some vaccinations are strongly recommended or even mandatory. This guide walks through all you need to know.

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Do I need vaccinations for Egypt?

It’s sensible to check you’re up to date with all your vaccinations, including travel specific vaccinations, before your trip.

Whether or not any vaccinations are mandatory will depend on where you’re travelling from or transiting through - but even if vaccines aren’t obligatory, seeking travel health advice in advance is the best way to make sure your trip isn’t ruined by illness.

What vaccinations are required for Egypt?

The key vaccinations which are legally required for entry to Egypt are:

• Yellow fever vaccination certificate²
• Proof of polio vaccination³

The good news is that these yellow fever and polio requirements do not apply to people coming to Egypt directly from the UK in most cases.

Yellow fever certificates are required if you’re travelling from or transiting through a country where yellow fever is a risk - mainly countries in Africa, Central and South America, while the list of countries requiring proof of polio vaccination is quite varied. If you need a polio vaccination proof, your vaccination must have been at least 4 weeks prior to your trip.

If you’re on a multi-stop trip, or transiting through any affected country, check the details well in advance so you’ll know if any certificates are mandatory for you.

Egypt required travel vaccinations

Before you travel to Egypt it’s a good idea to have a consultation with a travel doctor, to discuss the vaccinations which may be required or recommended. This should happen about 4 weeks before your trip if possible.

As a basic requirement, you’re advised to make sure you’re up to date with any vaccinations which would be recommended for life in the UK, such as MMR and seasonal flu vaccines. You can learn more about the normal NHS vaccination schedule online, or ask your doctor⁴.

For travel specific vaccines, you’ll usually find some vaccinations are recommended to everyone, while others are recommended based on specific need. This guide walks through the most commonly recommended Egypt travel vaccinations for you to discuss with your doctor.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all travellers to Egypt. Hep A is passed on through contaminated food or water, or by being in contact with someone else who has the illness.

Tetanus

Tetanus boosters are needed every 10 years. Tetanus is a nasty disease which is transmitted by bacteria in soil, and it can be particularly problematic for travellers who aren’t close to medical facilities to get urgent treatment. You can get tetanus if you have cuts, scratches or burns.

Other Egypt travel vaccinations to consider

Some other vaccinations for travellers to Egypt are recommended based on your own specific circumstances, including any underlying conditions, your planned activities and how long you’ll be staying. Some common options include:

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is passed on through bodily fluids, and carried by about 2% of the population in Egypt. Vaccination is recommended if you’re staying for a long time in the country, or if you may be at increased risk because of your lifestyle or employment.

Polio

Polio is a virus passed on by contaminated food and water. Polio vaccination is given in childhood to most people in the UK, but you may be recommended a booster if you’re immunosuppressed or if you’ll be in an area or situation which makes contact with the illness more likely.

Rabies

Rabies is passed on if you’re bitten, scratched or even licked by an infected animal. Rabies is almost always fatal, so vaccination is recommended to long stay travellers, people working with animals and anyone who may be in an area of the country where access to immediate medical attention would be impossible.

Typhoid

Typhoid vaccination is offered where people may not be able to guarantee the safety of the food and water they consume. This means it’s probably not necessary if you’ll be staying in high end hotels for your trip, but if you’re off somewhere more rural or remote, where access to clean water may be harder, it may be a good idea.

Health Tips for Travelling to Egypt

By exercising normal common sense you should be able to stay fit, healthy and safe in Egypt. Get your vaccinations up to date, and use these basic precautions to avoid unnecessary illness ruining your trip away:

• One of the biggest risks in Egypt is heat - stay hydrated and use sun protection
• Avoid tap water, ice and food items which may have been washed in tap water, such as salads
• Use common sense with food hygiene, avoiding raw or undercooked meats, and staying away from street food if you have doubts about its quality
• There’s no risk of malaria in Egypt but avoiding insect bites is still a smart plan - take DEET based repellent with you and cover up at dawn and dusk

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Sources used for this article:

Sources last checked on date: 24-May-2024