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Umrah and Hajj vaccinations: the meningitis ACWY certificate explained

ByZain Rajabali

If you’re going to Saudi Arabia for Umrah or Hajj, the vaccination question everyone asks is about the meningitis certificate. It’s a real entry requirement, the timing rules catch people out, and outbreaks linked to pilgrimage have been reported in recent years.

This guide covers what the certificate is, when to have the vaccine, how long it lasts, and the other vaccines and health advice worth thinking about. It uses UK guidance from NaTHNaC (the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre), GOV.UK and the NHS.

This is general information, not a personal travel plan. Whether a vaccine is right for you is decided at your appointment.

The short answer

  • Saudi Arabia asks pilgrims for proof of a meningitis ACWY vaccine. GOV.UK says you must have a valid certificate of vaccination against the ACWY strains of meningitis.
  • Have it at least 10 days before you arrive. A certificate for a vaccine given less than 10 days before arrival isn’t accepted.
  • It lasts 5 years if the certificate says “conjugate”. All the ACWY vaccines used in the UK are conjugate vaccines, and NaTHNaC says the older polysaccharide type is no longer available here. If the type isn’t written on the certificate, it’s only treated as valid for 3 years.
  • Children need it too. The requirement applies from 1 year of age.
  • The MenB and MenC vaccines given to babies don’t count. The certificate has to be for an ACWY vaccine.
  • We give the meningitis ACWY vaccine at all four MediPill branches for £64, as a single dose, and issue your certificate on the day.

What is the meningitis ACWY certificate?

Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and blood poisoning. It spreads through close contact, and GOV.UK warns that contagious diseases spread quickly during Hajj and Ramadan.

To reduce that risk, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia asks pilgrims to show proof of vaccination with a “quadrivalent” meningococcal vaccine. That means one vaccine that covers four groups of the bacteria: A, C, W and Y.

For Hajj, NaTHNaC says the requirement applies to all travellers arriving for Hajj or for seasonal work in Hajj zones, aged 1 year or older. For Umrah, Saudi Arabia required proof of the ACWY vaccine in 2025 for travellers arriving in Umrah areas. At the time of writing, NaTHNaC says the details for the current Umrah season are still awaited, so check the latest rules before you travel. Either way, NaTHNaC recommends the ACWY vaccine for all pilgrims to protect themselves.

Why it matters

The certificate isn’t just paperwork. NaTHNaC reported that the World Health Organization had recorded 17 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease linked to pilgrimage by April 2025. Eleven were in unvaccinated pilgrims who had performed Umrah. Saudi authorities estimated that only about half of international Umrah pilgrims had met the vaccination requirement in early 2025.

NaTHNaC also highlights a rise in group W meningococcal disease in England linked to pilgrimage. Group W is one of the four groups the ACWY vaccine covers.

When to have the vaccine

  • At least 10 days before you arrive in Saudi Arabia. A vaccine given closer to your arrival date than that won’t count for the certificate.
  • Not more than 5 years before. A conjugate vaccine given within the last 5 years still counts, as long as your certificate says it was a conjugate vaccine.
  • Ideally 4 to 6 weeks before you travel. NaTHNaC advises getting travel health advice at least four to six weeks before departure, which leaves time for any other vaccines.

If you had a meningitis ACWY vaccine before, bring your record to the appointment. The pharmacist will check whether it still counts for your dates. A record that doesn’t say the vaccine type is only treated as valid for 3 years.

Who can have it

Most people need a single injection, usually in the upper arm. At MediPill we can give the meningitis ACWY vaccine from 12 months of age, which covers everyone the Saudi requirement applies to.

The NHS offers the MenACWY vaccine to teenagers in school year 9, and to people under 25 who missed it, through their GP. Paying for it with us makes sense when you need it for travel and the timing matters, or you’re outside the NHS age groups.

Tell the pharmacist if you’re unwell with a high temperature on the day, as the NHS advises not having a vaccine then. Also mention any previous reaction to a vaccine, and any condition or treatment that affects your spleen or immune system.

Other vaccines to think about

The ACWY certificate is the only vaccine every UK pilgrim needs. NaTHNaC also lists these:

  • Routine UK vaccines. Make sure you’re up to date, including MMR and the diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster. We offer an MMR catch-up dose (£60) and the tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster (£50).
  • Flu. Saudi Arabia recommends the flu vaccine before travel. NHS flu jabs are limited to certain groups, so if you’re not eligible, our private flu jab is £25. If you’re going to Hajj next year, NaTHNaC suggests having it during the UK flu season.
  • COVID-19. Follow Saudi guidance if you’re 12 or over. NHS eligibility is limited, and our COVID-19 vaccine is £99.
  • Hepatitis B. NaTHNaC says to consider it. Our hepatitis B vaccine is £65 per dose.
  • Rabies. A rabies vaccine before travel can be considered, but you would still need urgent medical care after any animal bite, lick or scratch.
  • Polio and yellow fever certificates are only needed if you travel through a country with a polio or yellow fever risk. Flying direct from the UK, you don’t need them.

Staying well on the pilgrimage

  • Heat. NaTHNaC says daytime temperatures can top 30°C even in winter, and GOV.UK warns that summer temperatures may exceed 50°C. Drink plenty, avoid direct sun during rituals, and use sun cream of SPF 30 or higher. If you take medicines that affect dehydration, such as water tablets, ask your doctor whether they need adjusting.
  • Head shaving. Never be shaved with a blade that has been used before. NaTHNaC says this protects against hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. You can take your own disposable razor.
  • Hand hygiene. Wash your hands often, don’t share drinks or utensils, and keep away from people who are ill.
  • Camels and raw milk. To lower the risk of MERS, a respiratory infection, avoid contact with camels and don’t drink raw milk.
  • Your medicines. Take enough for the whole trip plus extra in case of delays, with copies of your prescriptions.
  • Periods. NaTHNaC advises talking to a healthcare provider well in advance if you want to delay your period. We offer a period delay consultation at all four of our branches.

If you have a long-term condition, talk to your doctor about whether the trip is suitable before you book.

Warning signs after you get home

Meningitis can come on suddenly. The NHS lists symptoms including a high temperature, a stiff neck, a severe headache, eye pain in bright light, confusion, being very sleepy or hard to wake, and a rash that doesn’t fade when you press a glass against it. On brown or black skin the rash can be harder to see, so check paler areas such as the palms, the soles of the feet and inside the eyelids.

Call 999 or go to A&E straight away if you think someone has meningitis. Don’t drive yourself. Say that you’ve recently been on Umrah or Hajj, as NaTHNaC says early treatment can be life-saving.

Getting the vaccine in Oxford and Banbury

  • Price. The meningitis ACWY vaccine is £64, a single dose, with your certificate issued on the day.
  • Where. All four MediPill branches.
  • How to book. Book online, or walk in or call your branch for a same-day appointment. Same-day travel appointments carry a £25 express fee.
  • What to bring. Photo ID, your travel dates, any previous vaccination records and a list of your medicines.

Read more about the meningitis ACWY vaccine or our travel clinic.

Common questions

Is the meningitis vaccine mandatory for Umrah? Saudi Arabia required proof of the meningitis ACWY vaccine for Umrah pilgrims in 2025, and GOV.UK says pilgrims must have a valid certificate. NaTHNaC is waiting for confirmation of the details for the current season, so check before you travel.

How long before Umrah should I have the vaccine? At least 10 days before you arrive in Saudi Arabia. Ideally book 4 to 6 weeks before you travel.

How long does the certificate last? 5 years, if your certificate shows a conjugate vaccine. Without the type written on it, it’s treated as valid for 3 years.

How much does the meningitis vaccine for Umrah cost? £64 at MediPill, for a single dose.

I had the MenACWY vaccine at school. Do I need another? Bring your record. If it doesn’t show a conjugate vaccine within the last 5 years, or the type isn’t stated, you’re likely to need another dose for your certificate.

Getting help in Oxford

You can have the meningitis ACWY vaccine at any of our four branches:

Not sure what you need for your trip? Get in touch and a pharmacist will come back to you.

Sources

  1. Hajj and Umrah – TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC). https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheets/hajj-and-umrah (last updated 26 June 2026; accessed 20 October 2026)
  2. Invasive meningococcal disease reported in Umrah pilgrims in 2025 – TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC). https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/news/invasive-meningococcal-disease-reported-in-umrah-pilgrims-in-2025 (last updated 18 August 2025; accessed 20 October 2026)
  3. Pilgrimage – Saudi Arabia travel advice – GOV.UK (FCDO). https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia/pilgrimage (accessed 20 October 2026)
  4. MenACWY vaccine – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/menacwy-vaccine/ (page last reviewed 28 February 2024; accessed 20 October 2026)
  5. Meningitis – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/ (page last reviewed 12 June 2026; accessed 20 October 2026)
  6. Travel vaccinations – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/travel-vaccinations/ (page last reviewed 30 April 2026; accessed 20 October 2026)
  7. Flu vaccine – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/flu-vaccine/ (page last reviewed 29 September 2026; accessed 20 October 2026)

Written by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist – GPhC #2219769
Medically reviewed by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist, Independent Prescriber – GPhC #2219769
Last reviewed: 20 October 2026 · Next review due: May 2027

This article is general health information and is not a substitute for a consultation. It does not diagnose your symptoms. Whether a medicine is suitable for you, and which, is decided when you speak to a pharmacist.

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