What are the recommended and mandatory vaccinations for Egypt?
by Pilar Dujan | March 29, 2024
Who doesn’t dream of taking a trip to Egypt? The mysterious country of the pyramids has countless tourist attractions that you couldn’t find anywhere else. However, it’s also a country that poses certain risks to the traveler’s health.
Here you will learn everything you need to know about the vaccinations for Egypt, both mandatory and recommended. Also, some health-related travel tips for Egypt to help you stay safe.
What are the mandatory vaccinations for Egypt?
There are no mandatory vaccinations for Egypt unless you travel from a country endemic of Yellow Fever. If your flight departs from one of these countries, or if you visited one of them in the previous months, you will need to present your vaccination certificate at the border.
The endemic countries are located in the Americas and in Africa, and they are:
- In Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo and Uganda.
- In America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.
Recommended vaccinations for Egypt
According to the CDC, the recommended vaccinations for Egypt are:
- Chickenpox (Varicella)
- Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
- Flu (influenza)
- Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
- Polio. There’s a level 2 alert currently in place due to circulation of the poliovirus, so it’s paramount that you vaccinate against this disease before you travel to Egypt.
- Shingles
- Hepatitis A and B
- Rabies
- Typhoid
Other tips to protect your health besides the vaccinations for Egypt
Being on top of the vaccinations for Egypt will be a massive help, but that’s not all you have to take into account to be protected while you’re visiting Egypt.
Before you travel to Egypt, make sure you pack a strong insect repellent. Bug bites can carry dangerous diseases such as Dengue, Zika, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever and more. Carry the insect repellent with you at all times and reapply it consistently throughout the day.
Another possible source of health troubles is contaminated water. Don’t swim, bathe, wash or touch freshwater that could be infected to avoid the risk of contracting leptospirosis or schistosomiasis.
Lastly, beware of the Pharaoh’s curse (the name for stomach troubles for tourists in Egypt). Avoid street food, drinking beverages with ice and tap water to protect yourself.
Pilar Dujan
I’m originally from Argentina, now based in Spain. I’m a writer and Visagov’s Press Officer, which allows me to put my expertise in visa and travel-related matters to the test.
My two roles help me bring forth content that is comprehensive and helpful, always keeping in mind my goal of assisting tourists in putting together the holiday they dream of.
If you’d like to meet, you can find me on LinkedIn.
