Illustration of a globe, passport and aeroplane, representing travel vaccinations

What vaccinations do I need for Egypt?

ByZain Rajabali

Whether you’re heading for a Red Sea resort, a Nile cruise or the pyramids in Cairo, the vaccine advice for Egypt is shorter than many people expect. There’s no malaria, and most travellers need only one or two vaccines. The main risks come from food, water, animals and insect bites, so what you do there still matters.

This guide is based on the UK’s official travel health advice from TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC). It’s general information: which vaccines are right for you is decided at a travel consultation, based on your plans and health.

The short answer

  • Recommended for most travellers: hepatitis A, tetanus.
  • Some travellers, depending on your plans: typhoid, hepatitis B, rabies.
  • Malaria: There’s no malaria risk in Egypt. The World Health Organization declared Egypt malaria-free in 2024, so you don’t need malaria tablets.
  • Yellow fever: There’s no yellow fever in Egypt. You only need a certificate if you’re arriving from a country with a yellow fever risk.
  • Book 6 to 8 weeks before you travel if you can. Some vaccines need more than one dose. If you’re short of time, it’s still worth coming in.
  • Get them in Oxford: our Oxford travel clinic runs at all four MediPill branches. Book a travel consultation ahead with no extra fee, or walk in on the day (£25 same-day express fee).

Vaccines recommended for most travellers to Egypt

TravelHealthPro recommends these for most travellers:

Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated food and water, or close contact with someone who has it. TravelHealthPro recommends it for all previously unvaccinated travellers, because it’s well tolerated and gives long-lasting protection. £80 per dose with us, or free from your GP surgery.

Tetanus bacteria live in soil and manure and get in through wounds, burns and scratches. You should have completed the UK course. TravelHealthPro advises a booster if your last dose was more than 10 years ago and you’re going somewhere medical care may be limited. It’s given as a combined tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster: £50 with us, or free from your GP surgery.

All travellers should also be up to date with their routine UK vaccines, such as MMR. TravelHealthPro also notes that Egypt may ask some travellers for proof of polio vaccination, so bring your vaccination record if you have one.

Vaccines some travellers need

These depend on what you’ll be doing, where you’ll stay and for how long:

  • Typhoid (£55, or free from your GP) – spread through contaminated food and water. If you’ll have access to safe food and water, the risk is low. It’s worth considering if you’re visiting friends and relatives, staying longer or travelling often, or going where food hygiene may be poor.
  • Hepatitis B (£65 per dose, £195 for the course) – Egypt has an intermediate or high level of hepatitis B. Recommended if you might have unprotected sex, need medical or dental treatment, stay a long time, play contact sports, or come into contact with blood through your work.
  • Rabies (£90 per dose, £270 for the course) – rabies is a risk in Egypt, mostly from dog bites and scratches. The vaccine is recommended if you’ll be far from medical care, doing higher-risk activities like running or cycling, working with animals, or staying more than a month.

A holiday of a week or two at a resort, eating in hotels and restaurants, usually sits at the lower end of the risk. A long stay, backpacking or visiting family in rural areas sits higher. That’s exactly what the consultation is for.

Do I need malaria tablets for Egypt?

No. According to TravelHealthPro:

  • The World Health Organization declared Egypt malaria-free in 2024.
  • There’s no risk of malaria in Egypt.
  • Avoiding insect bites is still recommended.

If Egypt is one stop on a longer trip, the advice for your other countries may be different, so bring your full route to your consultation. If you do need tablets for somewhere else, a pharmacist can supply them. See our malaria tablets page.

Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Egypt?

There’s no yellow fever in Egypt, but it does have a certificate rule. You need proof of yellow fever vaccination if you’re over 9 months old and arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever, or if you’ve spent more than 12 hours in transit at an airport in one. Flying direct from the UK, you don’t need one.

If you’re combining Egypt with East Africa, for example, check this carefully. We give the yellow fever vaccine at all four branches: £85, with the certificate issued on the same day and valid for life.

Other health risks in Egypt

Food and water. Stomach bugs are common in travellers. Wash your hands, and take care with what you eat and drink. TravelHealthPro’s food and water hygiene advice is a good read before you go.

Mosquito and other insect bites. There’s a risk of dengue, which is spread by mosquitoes that bite mainly during the day. There’s also a risk of other insect and tick-borne infections in some areas, including Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, leishmaniasis, Rift Valley fever and West Nile virus. There are no vaccines for these, so the protection is avoiding bites, day and night: cover up, use insect repellent and follow TravelHealthPro’s insect and tick bite avoidance advice.

Fresh water. Schistosomiasis is a parasite that can get through your skin in fresh water, such as rivers, streams and lakes. TravelHealthPro advises against wading, swimming or bathing in fresh water. Swimming in the sea or a properly chlorinated pool isn’t a risk. If you think you’ve been exposed, get a health check when you’re home.

Animals. Avoid touching any animals, including stray dogs and cats. If you’re bitten, scratched or licked on broken skin, wash the wound thoroughly and get urgent local medical help the same day, even if it looks minor.

Altitude. TravelHealthPro lists Mount Sinai (2,285m) and Mount Catherine (2,629m) as places of interest. Altitude illness is a risk at 2,500m and above. Read TravelHealthPro’s altitude illness advice before you go.

Your usual medicines. The FCDO warns that some prescribed and over-the-counter medicines may be controlled in Egypt, and you may need permission from Egypt’s Ministry of Health before you arrive. If you take prescription medicine, carry a letter from your GP saying what it’s for, how much you’re carrying, and that it’s for your personal use. Check with the Egyptian Consulate General in the UK if you’re unsure.

Healthcare. The number for an ambulance in Egypt is 123. The FCDO says some hotel doctors have overcharged, so make sure you have travel insurance that covers medical treatment and getting you home.

Who needs extra advice before vaccination

Some vaccines are not suitable for everyone. Tell the pharmacist if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, have a weakened immune system, have a long-term condition, or have had a serious allergic reaction to a vaccine before. Bring a list of any medicines you take. If you’re unwell with a high temperature on the day, the NHS advises waiting until you feel better.

When to get medical help

  • Bitten or scratched by an animal – clean the wound and get urgent medical help locally, the same day.
  • Bloody diarrhoea, diarrhoea lasting more than 7 days, or vomiting for more than 2 days – get medical advice, wherever you are (in the UK, call 111).
  • Unwell after you get home – speak to your GP or call 111, and say where you’ve travelled.
  • Severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or confusion – call 999 or go to A&E.

How far ahead should I book?

The NHS and TravelHealthPro both advise seeing a travel health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks before you travel, and the FCDO suggests checking vaccine advice at least 8 weeks ahead. Our guide to how long travel vaccines last explains how far ahead each vaccine needs, and how long it protects you for.

What’s free on the NHS, and what you pay for

The NHS says hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera and polio (as part of the tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster) are free from your GP surgery after a risk assessment. Hepatitis B, rabies and yellow fever aren’t routinely available on the NHS, so you pay for them wherever you go.

Prices at MediPill:

  • Travel consultation: £10
  • Hepatitis A: £80 per dose
  • Tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster: £50
  • Typhoid: £55
  • Hepatitis B: £65 per dose (£195 for the course)
  • Rabies: £90 per dose (£270 for the course)
  • Yellow fever: £85, certificate issued the same day

Common questions

Do I legally need any vaccines to enter Egypt? Flying direct from the UK, no. A yellow fever certificate is only required if you’re arriving from a country with a yellow fever risk, and some travellers may be asked for proof of polio vaccination. The recommended vaccines are about protecting your health, not entry rules.

Do I need malaria tablets for Egypt? No. TravelHealthPro says there’s no risk of malaria in Egypt. Avoiding insect bites is still sensible.

What if I’m travelling in less than 2 weeks? Come in anyway. Several vaccines can still be given, and some have faster schedules.

Where can I check the latest advice? Outbreaks and advice change, so check the TravelHealthPro page for Egypt and the FCDO’s Egypt health advice before you travel.

Travel vaccinations in Oxford

All four MediPill branches run a full travel clinic, and all four are registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres. Book a £10 consultation, or walk in same day (£25 express fee):

See every vaccine and price on our Oxford travel clinic, or book a travel health consultation.

More destination guides

Sources

  1. Egypt – TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC). https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries/egypt (no page-level update date shown; latest dated item: news update 30 March 2026; accessed 24 September 2026)
  2. Health – Egypt travel advice – GOV.UK (FCDO). https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt/health (updated 4 August 2026; accessed 24 September 2026)
  3. Travel vaccinations – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/travel-vaccinations/ (page last reviewed 30 April 2026; accessed 24 September 2026)
  4. Altitude illness – TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC). https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheets/altitude-illness (last updated 9 February 2023; accessed 24 September 2026)
  5. Insect and tick bite avoidance – TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC). https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheets/insect-and-tick-bite-avoidance (last updated 13 August 2026; accessed 24 September 2026)
  6. Food and water hygiene – TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC). https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheets/food-and-water-hygiene (last updated 23 October 2025; accessed 24 September 2026)
  7. Diarrhoea and vomiting – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/ (page last reviewed 21 December 2023; accessed 24 September 2026)

Written by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist – GPhC #2219769
Medically reviewed by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist, Independent Prescriber – GPhC #2219769
Last reviewed: 24 September 2026 · Next review due: April 2027

This article is general health information based on UK travel health guidance and is not a substitute for a travel consultation. It does not recommend any specific vaccine or medicine for you. What you need is decided at an individual assessment with a pharmacist.

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