Vaccinations for Sharm el Sheikh

There are no compulsory vaccinations required for visiting Sharm el Sheikh if you are travelling from the UK. However there are reccommended vaccinations that should be taken if you decide to visit Sharm el Sheikh which are listed below and we would advise that you consult also with your local GP before you depart. As with all hot countries it is also important to pay close attention to your personal hygiene and wellbeing, especially if you want to avoid the discomfort of coming down with "Egptian belly". We have put together some guidlines which we hope will help, some are simple but all are underlined with common sense.

Reccommended Vaccinations for Sharm el Sheikh

Malaria is not an issue unless you are likely to travel to the El Fayoum Oasis region which is approximately 70 km south west of Cairo. Interestingly you can not be vaccinated against malaria.

Your Health & Wellbeing

We really want you to enjoy your holiday in Sharm el Sheikh and so it is worth taking a bit of time to read through our simple guide to help reduce the possibility of becoming ill whilst on your holiday. Much of the following is common sense that often gets over looked while relaxing on holiday.

Hand Washing - make it a habit

A basic point of personal hygiene that is often overlooked in western countries is washing hands before eating. Bacteria can easily be picked up on your hands and one source in Sharm el Sheikh will be the money that you handle - as it has been in circulation for a long time and in hot conditions means that it is a great bacteria carrier. One of the best ways to overcome this is by using antibacterial wipes or gel that can be brought in handy pocket size packs in the UK.

Drink Water & lots of it !

Get into the habit of drinking water on a regular basis, even if you do not feel thirsty. If you do feel thirsty it means that you have left it too late. In the hot summer months try drinking at least twice the amount you would do normally at home. As it does get very hot you will not realise that you are constantly sweating as it evaporates straight away. Avoid drinking iced cold water as this can cause an upset tummy. Pharmacies in Sharm el Sheikh sell "oral rehydration salts" which can be mixed with water to rehydrate and are reccommended to be taken before bedtime if you have over indulged on the alcohol (they may even help reduce your hangover the next morning).

Know Your Ice Cubes

It is improtant to know which ice cubes have been made with filtered water and which ones have been made with local untreated water. The solid cubes of ice mean that they have been made with local water where the cubes that are hollow, ie with a hole running through the middle have been made with filtered water. Also ice cubes made with untreated water will often appear cloudy and cubes made from filtered water will appear clear. You can try this at home, simply boil water and allow it to cool before boiling again then once cooled place into ice cube trays and see the difference.

Food

It is important to watch what you eat in a hot country, you may be tempted to eat salads but unless you know they are fresh and clean then avoid them. Hot food must be served hot, if it is luke warm avoid it as this has allowed food to develop bacteria which often causes upset stomachs. Be careful with buffets as this is where people may have picked up food items and put them back again.

There are many pharmacies in Sharm el Sheikh who are helpful and knowledgable and often UK products are ineffective. Natural products can also aid an upset tummy, try the local peppermint tea or Citricidal (grape fruit seed extract) which is not only a antibacterial but also a antifungal and antimicrobial which will inactivate viruses, yeasts, fungi, parasites and worms as well as bacteria.