The two-month vaccines in Egypt: what they are and what to expect after

The Ministry of Health and Population’s awareness report, as Al-Watan reported it on 21 June 2026, lists three vaccines at two months: the first dose of the pentavalent, a polio injection (Salk) and oral polio. WHO’s DTP sheet (May 2014) lists local reactions, fever, drowsiness and fussiness among the mild reactions; your child’s doctor decides what applies to your baby.

The Ministry’s own schedule page (19 September 2023) lists only two at this age and puts the polio injection at 4 months, while UNICEF Egypt’s table (file created 30 April 2024) lists three. Below: what each says, what WHO and the US CDC list as reactions, and one list of when to call the doctor. It gives no medicine or dose and does not say how your baby is doing.

In short:

• The Ministry’s 2023 schedule page lists the polio injection at 4 months; the Ministry’s report carried by Al-Watan on 21 June 2026 and UNICEF Egypt list it at 2.
• The Ministry says its routine vaccines are free at its health units and vaccination offices (Al-Watan, 21 June 2026).
• For a baby under 3 months, the NHS says to call its urgent advice service at a temperature of 38°C or higher (page last reviewed 3 January 2024); the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says to call the doctor immediately for 39 to 40°C or above at any time (updated 24 December 2025). The full list is below.

Last checked: 31 October 2026, on the pages listed under Sources. Schedules and guidance change, so confirm with the vaccination team or your child’s doctor.

What are the two-month vaccines in Egypt?

Source	Dated	What it lists at 2 months
Ministry’s awareness report, as Al-Watan reported it	21 June 2026	Pentavalent, first dose; polio injection (Salk); oral polio
UNICEF Egypt immunization table (PDF)	File created 30 April 2024	First dose of the polio injection, the pentavalent and oral polio
Ministry’s own schedule page (shown as pictures)	19 September 2023	Oral polio (first dose); pentavalent. The polio injection (Salk) appears at 4 months

Read on 31 October 2026. The Ministry’s page and UNICEF’s table both give the pentavalent as an injection in the thigh. Which list your unit follows is for the unit to say.

The rest of the schedule is in Egypt’s childhood vaccine schedule.

In Egypt: are the two-month vaccines free, and where are they given?

The Ministry says all its routine vaccines are available free at its health units and vaccination offices (Al-Watan, 21 June 2026). UNICEF Egypt’s page says they are provided free to Egyptians and non-Egyptians, according to the Ministry’s official statements, and that a child can be vaccinated at the nearest primary health unit, a hospital or a private paediatric clinic.

The same page adds that primary health units have set days for some vaccines, so ask about their schedule before you go. If a dose is due and your baby is ill, it says to go to the nearest primary health unit or a paediatrician, who will advise whether to postpone or go ahead, depending on how severe the illness is (both pages read 31 October 2026). We found no dated official price for private clinics, so none is given.

What can a baby feel after the two-month vaccines?

The Ministry’s page lists the pentavalent as covering diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B and, in its words, «الإنفلونزا البكتيرية» (bacterial influenza). The diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus (DTP) part is why WHO’s DTP sheet is the nearest WHO source. The DTP sheet separates whole-cell from acellular vaccines; the Ministry material we read does not say which Egypt uses, so the table shows both.

Reaction, by the third day after a first dose	Acellular vaccines	Whole-cell vaccine
Temperature 37.8 to 38.3°C	3.8%	24.3%
Temperature 38.4 to 38.9°C	0.3%	3.0%
Drowsiness	29.9%	43.5%
Moderate fussiness (prolonged crying, refused to play)	4.6%	16.8%
Loss of appetite	9.3%	19.5%
Redness at the injection site, 1 to 20 mm	12.2%	40.8%

One comparison of 13 acellular vaccines with one whole-cell vaccine (Decker et al., 1995), Table 1 of WHO’s DTP sheet (May 2014), read 31 October 2026. The acellular column is WHO’s “all DTaP tested” figure, and its “anorexia” row is shown here as loss of appetite. Egypt’s vaccines may differ; the vaccination team and your doctor govern.

For the polio injection, WHO’s polio sheet (May 2014) lists redness at the injection site (0.5% to 1%), hardening (“induration”, 3% to 11%) and tenderness (14% to 29%), and says that in most cases these resolve within two to three days.

Does the baby sleep a lot after the two-month vaccine?

Drowsiness is on WHO’s list: 29.9% of those given a first dose of the acellular vaccines and 43.5% of those given the whole-cell vaccine, counted by the third day (table above, WHO, May 2014). The CDC lists “feeling tired” after DTaP (24 July 2023). That says how often it is reported, not what to expect from your baby. The sources we read give no number of hours and no advice on waking a sleepy baby. The NHS does list a child with a high temperature who is drowsy and hard to wake among the signs for calling emergency services. Ask your doctor, and read the list below.

When should I call the doctor after the two-month vaccines?

We found no Ministry page that lists this (searched 31 October 2026), so the list comes from the NHS, UKHSA, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO, in texts written for other countries and their vaccine schedules. Your doctor and the vaccination team govern.

• A baby under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or higher, or who seems to have a high temperature: the NHS lists this under its urgent advice heading and says to call its urgent advice service (page last reviewed 3 January 2024; it defines a high temperature as 38°C or more).
• A temperature of 39 to 40°C or above, at any time: UKHSA says to call the doctor immediately (updated 24 December 2025; it defines a fever as over 38°C). The line sits in the leaflet’s section on the MMRV vaccine, and the leaflet covers babies and children up to 5 years.
• A fit (a seizure): UKHSA says to seek urgent medical advice, in the same section; its page links fits to fever.
• Signs of a severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness or weakness): the CDC says to call emergency services and get the person to the nearest hospital, and that it can start after you leave the clinic (CDC, 24 July 2023).
• Non-stop crying for 3 hours or more, or a fever over 105°F (about 40.6°C): the CDC lists these among the reactions that happen much less often after DTaP, and says to call your health care provider about other signs that concern you (CDC, 24 July 2023).
• A sudden limp, pale or blue episode with reduced responsiveness: WHO’s DTP sheet (May 2014) describes a “hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode” as the sudden onset of limpness and reduced responsiveness with pallor or cyanosis (a blue colour); it gives no advice on what to do.
• A baby with a high temperature who is drowsy and hard to wake, is not responding as usual or is not interested in feeding: the NHS lists these among the signs for which it says to call emergency services now. Its list also includes a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it, blue, grey, paler than usual or blotchy skin or blue, grey or paler lips or tongue, difficulty breathing and a first fit (NHS, page last reviewed 3 January 2024).
• Any worry: UKHSA says that if you are worried about your child, trust your instincts and speak to your doctor; if the surgery (clinic) is closed and you cannot contact your doctor, go to the nearest hospital with an emergency department.

Whether to give anything for a fever, and what, is for your doctor: this page gives no medicine or dose. If you think it is an emergency, go to the nearest emergency department or call emergency services now.

Where Medigize stands

Medigize is a navigation tool. It is not part of the Ministry, and it does not give vaccines, book vaccination visits or keep vaccination cards. We are building a record that moves with the patient, shared only with their consent. If you would like to follow that work, you can register your interest.

Frequently asked questions

What vaccines does a two-month-old get in Egypt?

The Ministry’s report (Al-Watan, 21 June 2026) and UNICEF Egypt list the first dose of the pentavalent, a polio injection (Salk) and oral polio; the Ministry’s own 2023 page puts the injection at 4 months.

Are the two-month vaccines free in Egypt?

The Ministry says its routine vaccines are free at its health units and vaccination offices (Al-Watan, 21 June 2026), and UNICEF Egypt says they are free for Egyptians and non-Egyptians, according to the Ministry’s statements.

Does a baby sleep a lot after the two-month vaccine?

WHO’s DTP sheet (May 2014) lists drowsiness among the mild reactions: 29.9% to 43.5% after a first dose in its table. The NHS lists a child with a high temperature who is drowsy and hard to wake among the signs for calling emergency services. How your baby is doing is for your doctor.

When should I call the doctor after the two-month vaccines?

See the list above: the NHS says to call its urgent advice service for a baby under 3 months at 38°C or higher, and UKHSA (24 December 2025) says to call the doctor immediately for 39 to 40°C or above at any time. If you think it is an emergency, go to the nearest emergency department or call emergency services now.

Medigize is a non-diagnostic navigation tool. This is general information, not medical advice. In an emergency, call an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency department.

Sources

1. Al-Watan: an infant vaccination guide, and the Ministry warns against delaying children’s vaccines (21 June 2026, in Arabic), read 31 October 2026
2. Ministry of Health and Population: children’s vaccination schedule (page dated 19 September 2023, schedule shown as pictures, in Arabic), read 31 October 2026
3. UNICEF Egypt: childhood immunization schedule table (PDF, file created 30 April 2024, in Arabic), read 31 October 2026
4. UNICEF Egypt: vaccinations, routine vaccination questions (undated page, in Arabic), read 31 October 2026
5. WHO: Information sheet, observed rate of vaccine reactions, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus vaccines (sheet dated May 2014; WHO’s listing shows 13 May 2020), read 31 October 2026
6. WHO: Information sheet, observed rate of vaccine reactions, polio vaccines (sheet dated May 2014; WHO’s listing shows 13 May 2014), read 31 October 2026
7. WHO: Reaction rates information sheets (listing page; it says the sheets are primarily designed for national public health officials and immunization programme managers), read 31 October 2026
8. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA): What to expect after vaccinations, updated 24 December 2025, read 31 October 2026
9. NHS: High temperature (fever) in children (page last reviewed 3 January 2024, next review due 3 January 2027), read 31 October 2026
10. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Vaccine Information Statement, Your Child’s First Vaccines (interim), 24 July 2023, read 31 October 2026