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

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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!

I’ve been to Egypt twice, once for a Nile cruise and once for a resort holiday. We never got vaccinated. It’s not mandatory.

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.

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

Have you checked all the chemists? They often do private vaccines.

I’ve been to Egypt a lot, never had a vaccine and have never been ill.

Dont drink tap water, no ice. You’ll be fine.

I had private vaccinations but that was years ago and I was staying with a friend in Cairo. Before resorts existed in Egypt.

I’ll ring around all our local chemists tomorrow but we’re out in the sticks and they’re all small and pretty basic. I shall try though!

We've looked at switching the holiday to Turkey but the same blinking vaccines recommended there which surprised me!

Have you tried Superdrug?

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.

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

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

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).

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

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?

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

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.

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.

Ive been to Egypt loads and never been vaccinated

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.

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

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

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.

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

It's diphtheria.

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.