FastHeal Clinic · Travel Clinic Woking
Meningitis ACWY Vaccine in Woking
The vaccine and certificate required for Hajj and Umrah. One dose, valid five years, certificate issued on the day.
3 Mercia WalkWoking
Surrey, GU21 6XS
About the service
Meningitis ACWY at FastHeal Woking
Saudi Arabia requires every pilgrim aged one and over to show proof of meningococcal ACWY vaccination before a Hajj or Umrah visa is issued. FastHeal Woking gives the vaccine and issues the certificate in a single appointment, and we see many pilgrims from across Surrey every year.
What Saudi Arabia requires
The certificate must show a quadrivalent (ACWY) meningococcal vaccine given at least 10 days before arrival and within the last five years for the conjugate vaccine used in the UK. It must name the vaccine and the date it was given. Older polysaccharide vaccines, still used in some countries, are only valid for three years and are no longer given in the UK.
Hajj falls in mid-May in 2027 and moves about 11 days earlier each year. Umrah can be performed at any time. Either way, book the vaccine at least two weeks before you travel so the 10-day window is comfortably met.
Why it matters beyond the paperwork
Meningococcal disease spreads through close contact in crowds, and the pilgrimage brings millions of people together from countries where the W strain in particular is common. Outbreaks linked to Hajj have happened before, and UK cases of meningococcal W were reported in returning pilgrims in 2025. The vaccine protects you and, since carriers can pass the bacteria on without being ill, protects the people you come home to.
The same vaccine is recommended for travel to the African meningitis belt, which stretches from Senegal to Ethiopia, during the dry season from December to June, and for anyone spending time in crowded settings there.
The vaccine
A single injection of conjugate MenACWY vaccine, covering the A, C, W and Y strains. Protection begins within 10 days and the certificate is valid for five years. It is suitable from one year of age; babies under one have a different schedule, so tell us if you are travelling with an infant.
Most people who went to school in the UK after 2015 had MenACWY around Year 9. If that was within the last five years and you have the record, it counts, and we can transfer it onto a certificate for you.
Side effects
A sore arm for a day or two, occasionally a mild headache or temperature.
Price
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| MenACWY vaccine and certificate | £45 |
Consultation free when booked with any vaccine.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the meningitis vaccine for Umrah?
Yes. Saudi Arabia requires MenACWY for Umrah as well as Hajj, for everyone aged one and over.
How long before travel do I need it?
At least 10 days before arrival is the legal requirement. Two weeks gives a margin.
Does the school MenACWY vaccine count?
If it was given within the last five years and you can show the record, yes. We can issue a certificate from it.
Is this the same as the MenB vaccine?
No. MenACWY covers four strains; MenB is a separate vaccine for group B. Students heading to university may want both, and we offer MenB on request.
What else do pilgrims need?
Saudi Arabia also asks pilgrims to be up to date with routine vaccines including diphtheria, tetanus, polio and MMR, and recommends seasonal flu. Hepatitis A and B are worth considering. We cover all of this in one consultation.
Visit our Woking clinic
Step inside our calm, modern clinic on Woking High Street and you'll find a friendly team ready to help. Our private consultation rooms and welcoming clinic environment mean you'll always feel comfortable and well looked after.
- Modern, welcoming clinic environment
- Private consultation rooms
- Friendly, qualified clinicians on hand
- Convenient Woking High Street location
Book your MenACWY vaccine
Bring your passport details for the certificate and any previous vaccination records.