Vaccinations required for Everest Base Camp

A little while ago I wrote about the travel insurance I got in preparation for my upcoming trip to EBC, this post highlights the vaccinations required for Everest Base Camp.

As always, its advisable to make an appointment with your GP / Nurse Specialist when the potential need for vaccinations is required to discuss the options, which is exactly what I have done.

Referring to the NaTHNaC Website, it’s advisable to have the following vaccinations:

• DIPHTHERIA, TUBERCULOSIS, POLIO & TETANUS – Most UK citizens will have had these as part of the routine vaccinations when younger, but always wise to double-check.
• HEPATITIS A – Not routinely given to UK citizens – A vaccine is recommended if you plan to travel to remote areas where food / hygiene standards are poor.
• TYPHOID – Not routinely given to UK citizens – A vaccine is recommended if you plan to travel to remote areas where food / hygiene standards are poor.

Vaccinations available but not necessarily required:

• RABIES – Not routinely given to UK citizens – Very low risk – Avoid contact with wild or domestic animals.
• JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS – Not routinely given to UK citizens – transmitted by from animals (mainly pigs or birds) via the bit of an infected culex mosquito – short-term visitors and those at higher altitude are at very low risk – is advisable to long-term travellers.
• HEPATITIS B – Not routinely given to UK citizens (unless you’re a health professional normally) – this is very dependent on the activity you are doing.  Avoid contact with blood or bodily fluids. Where contact is unavoidable, appropriate protective precautions should be taken. – very low risk for this activity.
• CHOLERA – Not routinely given to UK citizens – A vaccine is recommended if you plan to travel to remote areas where food / hygiene standards are poor – very low risk.

There is little or no risk from contracting Malaria (in places higher than 1500m inc. Kathmandu) or Yellow Fever in this particular region (if travelling from a country which does have Yellow Fever, you will require vaccination and certificate of proof).

These vaccinations are all advisable and it’s up to you whether you have them before you go.  It’s also worth noting that a lot of these vaccinations come with a charge.

Looking at my previous vaccination history from when I did Kilimanjaro, I only need to get a  Hepatitis A booster as all my others are up to date and this can be done around 2 weeks before I go.

I will also be taking a prescription of antibiotics and Diamox… (as well as paracetamol, ibuprofen etc).

So to summarise, the vaccinations that are generally recommended for trekking to Everest Base Camp are: Polio, typhoid, tetanus, and hepatitis A….But always check with your GP/Nurse and the tour company you’re going with (if they’re able to advise).