Registered Yellow Fever Centre
Travel Vaccines for Egypt
Whether you are heading for a Red Sea resort, a Nile cruise or the sights of Cairo and Luxor, a quick travel health check before Egypt is a good idea. Our pharmacists follow current UK guidance from TravelHealthPro and tailor advice to your trip. You can book an appointment online.
Vaccines recommended for most travellers
Make sure your routine UK vaccines are up to date, including MMR and diphtheria, tetanus and polio. TravelHealthPro then advises most travellers to Egypt to consider:
Hepatitis A, recommended for all previously unvaccinated travellers. See our hepatitis A vaccine page.
Tetanus, if you have not completed the UK course, or a booster if your last dose was more than 10 years ago and medical care may be limited where you are going. See our tetanus page.
Vaccines for some travellers
Depending on your plans, you may also be advised to have:
Typhoid, which may be considered if you are at higher risk, for example visiting friends and relatives or staying longer where food and water hygiene is poor. Injectable and oral vaccines are available. See our typhoid vaccine page.
Hepatitis B, which could be considered for all travellers and is recommended for long stays or if you might need medical treatment abroad. See our hepatitis A and B page.
Rabies, recommended for some travellers, such as those working with animals, going somewhere remote, doing higher-risk activities or staying more than a month. See our rabies vaccine page.
Dengue, which may be considered only for people aged 4 and over who have had dengue before. Vaccination of people who have never had dengue is exceptional and needs specialist advice. We’ll check stock when you book so it’s ready for your appointment. See our dengue vaccine page.
Yellow fever and polio certificates
There is no risk of yellow fever in Egypt, and you do not need a certificate if you fly from the UK. However, Egypt requires proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers over 9 months old who arrive from a risk country, or who have spent more than 12 hours in transit at an airport in one. If you are combining Egypt with countries such as Kenya or Ethiopia, we can check your route. Since July 2016 the certificate is valid for life, and as a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre we can give the yellow fever vaccine if needed.
TravelHealthPro also notes that proof of polio vaccination may be required for some travellers. Fit for Travel suggests a polio booster may be advised if you are staying more than 4 weeks and have not had a polio-containing vaccine in the last 12 months. We will check the latest rules for your trip.
Is there malaria in Egypt?
No. The World Health Organization certified Egypt as malaria-free in 2024, and TravelHealthPro lists no malaria risk, so antimalarial tablets are not needed for Egypt itself. Mosquito bite avoidance is still advised because of other insect-borne infections. If your trip continues to Sudan or other parts of Africa, malaria advice may be different, so see our Africa travel advice.
Other health risks
Food and water: stomach upsets are common. Choose freshly cooked food, drink bottled or treated water and wash your hands often. Typhoid and hepatitis A spread through contaminated food and water.
Dengue: there is a risk of dengue in Egypt. The mosquitoes that spread it bite mainly in the daytime and are more common in towns and cities, so use repellent during the day.
Other insect bites: leishmaniasis, West Nile virus and other insect and tick-borne infections occur in some areas, with no vaccine, so cover up and use repellent day and night.
Rabies: rabies is present in Egypt. Avoid touching dogs, cats and other animals, including bats. If you are bitten, scratched or licked on broken skin, wash the wound with soap and water and get medical help the same day, even if you have been vaccinated.
Schistosomiasis: this parasite lives in fresh water, including the Nile. Avoid swimming, wading or bathing in fresh water. Chlorinated pools and the sea are not a risk.
Sun and heat: temperatures can be very high, especially in Upper Egypt and the desert. Drink plenty of fluids and use high-factor sunscreen.
Altitude: if you climb Mount Sinai or Mount Catherine, go steadily.
Live vaccines, pregnancy and weakened immunity
Some travel vaccines, such as yellow fever, MMR and oral typhoid, are live vaccines. The Green Book advises avoiding live vaccines in pregnancy and in people with weakened immunity, so tell us if either applies.
Before you go
A small travel health kit saves a lot of hassle if you feel unwell abroad. It is worth packing:
Any regular medicines in your hand luggage, with a copy of your prescription
Insect repellent and high factor sun cream
Oral rehydration sachets and simple pain relief
Plasters, antiseptic and hand sanitiser
Make sure your travel insurance covers medical treatment and repatriation. Save the local emergency numbers in your phone before you leave; the FCDO travel advice for Egypt lists them along with current safety information.
When to book
Ideally book 6 to 8 weeks before you travel, so there is time for any vaccines that need more than one dose. Leaving sooner? A last-minute appointment is still worthwhile. If Egypt is part of a wider trip, our Middle East and destinations pages may help.
Book your Egypt travel consultation
Every appointment is with one of our pharmacists. We check your whole itinerary against current UK guidance and go through every vaccine and travel medicine you might need in one visit.
We have two branches, and both are registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres. Cambridge Travel Clinic at Petersfield Pharmacy, 56 Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 2AS (01223 354383), is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. Book at Mill Road online. Cambridge Travel Clinic at Waterbeach Pharmacy, 5 Greenside, Waterbeach, Cambridge CB25 9HW (01223 564422), is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm and 1:30pm to 5:45pm. Book at Waterbeach online.
We see travellers from Cambridge, Cherry Hinton, Trumpington, Chesterton, Histon, Milton, Cottenham, Waterbeach and nearby villages. Our current fees are on the pricing page. You can also read about Morocco and other destinations in Africa.
We’re happy to talk through your plans, however close your departure.