MenACWY for Hajj and Umrah - the certificate the Saudi border will ask for

If you're heading to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah, the meningitis vaccine isn't optional. The Ministry of Health requires every adult and every child over the age of one to present a valid MenACWY certificate on arrival. The dose has to have been given within the previous three years, and at least ten clear days before you land.

Meningitis is a serious infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial meningitis is rarer than the viral form but considerably more dangerous - left untreated it can cause sepsis, lasting brain damage and, in the worst cases, death. The bacteria are spread through coughing, sneezing and close contact, often by people who aren't ill themselves but are carrying it in the back of their nose or throat.

Hajj and Umrah bring millions of people into close, sustained contact in a small geographic area. That's why the vaccine - and the certificate to prove you've had it - is mandatory.

• Wear a mask in tightly packed areas
• Don't share water bottles or eating utensils
• Wash hands properly and often
• Keep an eye on Covid-19 entry requirements separately - they change

Bring whatever vaccination history you have - even an old card or NHS app screenshot. It helps us confirm whether you're genuinely due, or whether a previous dose still covers you. The appointment itself is short, the certificate is issued the same day, and you walk out ready to fly.