Meningococcal meningitis vaccination
Vaccination against some types of meningococcal meningitis is usually recommended if you’re travelling to areas at risk and your planned activities put you at higher risk – for example, if you’re a long-term traveller who has close contact with the local population.
High-risk areas for meningococcal meningitis include parts of Africa and Saudi Arabia during the mass gatherings of Hajj or Umrah.
All travellers to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages are required to show proof of vaccination.
If travelling to a high-risk area, you should be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis with a MenACWY vaccine, also known as the quadrivalent meningococcal meningitis vaccine.
This is a single injection that should be given 2 to 3 weeks before you travel. Babies under a year old need 2 injections.
You should have the MenACWY vaccine before travelling to high-risk areas, even if you had the meningitis C vaccine as a child.
