Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Booked hol to Egypt - panicking as no vaccine! HELP!!!

84 replies

Fluffyflipflop · 05/07/2024 00:35

Apologies not AIBU but worried and need the traffic!

Yesterday, in a flurry of excitement due to a good deal, we booked a holiday to Egypt in 5 weeks time, with Tui. It’s to a 4+ star holiday village, all inclusive, we do not intend on leaving the complex.

Today it dawned on us about vaccines. Our GP practice can’t see us for a few weeks. There is no private vaccine clinic near us (not be within 40miles anyway) and it would cost us £240.

According to gov travel site Typhoid and Hep A are recommended. And 6 weeks in advance.

Now panicking because if we cancel we’ll lose 70% of the cost of the holiday. We can switch to another destination we think, but probably something not as good.

Im Googling like mad. The vaccines are suggested/recommended, not essential to travel.

What on earth do we do??!! We have a 9 year old daughter who has had all her usual childhood vaccines.

Have you been to Egypt? Did you get vaccinated? Am I worrying unduly? Argh!

OP posts:
Original poster
Fluffyflipflop · 05/07/2024 07:24

isthismylifenow · 05/07/2024 06:58

Travelled all over and the only vaccine I have ever needed was yellow fever as that is an entry requirement for some places (not Egypt).

But this thread has made me wonder if people book holidays, and then expect the NHS to fund their vaccinations for it? Only as OP mentioned going to her GP. Would the GP charge you for them?

Both my and my husbands GP practice offer free vaccines for hep A and typhoid. I’ve looked at other practices around our county and they all seem to. It’s just that we’d have to wait a couple of weeks rendering the vaccine useless. We’d be happy to pay though, not trying to scam the NHS. We both have worked for the NHS for 20 years.

OP posts:
BibbleandSqwauk · 05/07/2024 07:10

I was in a Tui 4* AI resort last year with my two kids And have previously done a Nile cruise. Absolutely no issue and no vaccines. Egypt's primary business is tourism, they look after you very well.

PortiasBiscuit · 05/07/2024 07:06

You’ll be fine in a resort OP.

thecrowshaveeyesbebe · 05/07/2024 07:03

Boots did vaccinations for my parents when they went to India earlier in the year so worth trying there. I have been to Egypt and didn’t have any vaccinations done before going

isthismylifenow · 05/07/2024 06:58

Travelled all over and the only vaccine I have ever needed was yellow fever as that is an entry requirement for some places (not Egypt).

But this thread has made me wonder if people book holidays, and then expect the NHS to fund their vaccinations for it? Only as OP mentioned going to her GP. Would the GP charge you for them?

Singersong · 05/07/2024 06:41

I've never had a single vaccination in my life and I have travelled to at least 20 countries.

TipsyKoala · 05/07/2024 06:38

Just be very careful about water and you’ll be fine. A far bigger risk is the heat. I’ve had heat stroke once in my life and it was in Egypt in August.

StrikesAtticFlat · 05/07/2024 02:09

I'm not in the UK but here they don't vaccinate against typhoid anymore for short-stay holidays as they deem the vaccine to not be that effective. However, as PP have said, practise good hygiene and avoid drinking the water etc.

Aussieland · 05/07/2024 02:01

I am a bit depressed by all the “I was fine” people. Yes most people will be fine but hep A is actually quite common. And I have seen a number of returned travellers with typhoid requiring admission to hospital.

You haven’t got much choice and will probably be fine but for anyone considering going overseas who does have the option PLEASE get vaccinated. If you are going to have the privilege of traveling overseas, do it responsibly!

JimNast · 05/07/2024 01:56

I didn't think they'd be tough and chewy, but I'm a vegetarian.
I got a lovely khayamiya and a camel seat though.

JimNast · 05/07/2024 01:48

It's diphtheria.

YourSpleenIsDamp · 05/07/2024 01:45

JimNast · 05/07/2024 01:23

Don't eat any street vendors whatever you do. I went to Egypt without any jabs and was fine.

Show quote history

Yeah, street vendors are a bit tough and chewy, best stick with the felafel

lemarr · 05/07/2024 01:38

Been to Egypt many times, swam in the Nile, eaten street food and food from local’s houses and have never once got a vaccine to go there and have never once been ill.

McSpoot · 05/07/2024 01:31

Neodymium · 05/07/2024 00:43

Sorry I just checked it’s diptheria and pertussis not typhoid.

I owe you an apology. I missed this correction in my rush to be a “know-it-all” 🤓

JimNast · 05/07/2024 01:23

Neodymium · 05/07/2024 00:41

Hep A can be spread through food, just make sure you don’t eat at any street vendors. You may have had typhoid injection. In Aust I’m pretty sure it’s given with tetanus. There is 3 injections in one.

Don't eat any street vendors whatever you do. I went to Egypt without any jabs and was fine.

CorvusPurpureus · 05/07/2024 01:17

I've lived in Egypt for 10 years now. You'll be reet.

Just don't drink the tap water outside of Cairo (actually, don't drink it here either, it tastes terrible - but is technically safe).

You don't need particular vaccines unless you're planning on risky activities (unprotected sex, drugs or animal handling).

General touristing will be absolutely fine.

lovelysunshine22 · 05/07/2024 01:12

Ive been to Egypt loads and never been vaccinated

Original poster
Fluffyflipflop · 05/07/2024 01:11

BritinDelco · 05/07/2024 01:05

I've been to Egypt and Turkey multiple times with no vaccines needed. Don't drink or brush your teeth with anything but bottled water and be wary of buffet food, especially in Egypt and you shouldn't have any problems

Each “I’ve never been vaccinated” response makes me feel more relaxed. Thank you.

However, buffet food might be difficult to avoid completely as it’s one’s of those massive all inclusive holiday villages.

All this worry about vaccines, if the last all inc holiday was anything to go by, my daughter will be exclusively eating chips and icecream and will return with severe malnutrition.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fluffyflipflop · 05/07/2024 01:07

Gogogo12345 · 05/07/2024 01:00

No vaccines and been in Eygpt. No issues Why are you panicking about it so much?

Because somebody said “oh Egypt, I hope you’ve had your vaccines!” And I was like… wait, what? VACCINES and the went straight to worst case scenario in my head and we all catch malaria.

As it turns out, Malaria is low risk.

(But I’ve had a good old worry about Typhoid and Hep A.)

I do feel very reassured by the responses here.

OP posts:
BritinDelco · 05/07/2024 01:05

I've been to Egypt and Turkey multiple times with no vaccines needed. Don't drink or brush your teeth with anything but bottled water and be wary of buffet food, especially in Egypt and you shouldn't have any problems

Original poster
Fluffyflipflop · 05/07/2024 01:03

I work in the NHS (as a clinician) so I have had loads of vaccines, but due to brain fog and panic I can’t remember which. I definitely have Hep B but I think I probably do have Hep A too. I also have a feeling I had typhoid vaccine when I was in my 20’s. But it’s not really me I care about.

My daughter will be drenched in chlorine 98% of the time, will that help?

OP posts:
Gogogo12345 · 05/07/2024 01:00

No vaccines and been in Eygpt. No issues Why are you panicking about it so much?

McSpoot · 05/07/2024 00:54

Neodymium · 05/07/2024 00:41

Hep A can be spread through food, just make sure you don’t eat at any street vendors. You may have had typhoid injection. In Aust I’m pretty sure it’s given with tetanus. There is 3 injections in one.

No, you're thinking of DTP which is diphtheria, pertussis (whopping cough), and tetanus.

However, assuming you have the HepB vaccine, you may have HepA as HepA and HepB are now often given in a single combined vaccine (though it takes multiple doses).

I've traveled to Cairo for work many times and have never been checked if my typhoid vaccine is up to date. Generally, only asked about that if I'm spending time in remote areas and/or places where there is poor sanitation (which you won't be).

Original poster
Fluffyflipflop · 05/07/2024 00:52

Lincoln24 · 05/07/2024 00:49

I just googled and Egypt had 11 million tourists last year and around 40000 cases of typhoid across the whole population. Those are very low odds, and moreover you are at lower risk as a tourist as you have good access to sanitation. Just practice good hygiene.

Thank you so much for doing this and the reassurance. Ok. I’m calming down a bit now

OP posts:
Original poster
Fluffyflipflop · 05/07/2024 00:51

countrygirl99 · 05/07/2024 00:49

Have you tried Superdrug?

Yes and whilst they have clinics within 40mins of us they are fully booked until August.

OP posts: