Vaccines for travel and Hajj pilgrims
Information about meningitis for travellers and pilgrims
In brief:
- The ACW135Y quadrivalent vaccine is a compulsory visa requirement for all Hajj pilgrims. Without it, you will not be allowed to enter Saudia Arabia for Hajj.
- On entering Saudi Arabia for the purpose of Hajj, Umrah, or for seasonal work in Hajj areas, everyone must present a certificate of vaccination with ACW135Y, issued at least 10 days, but not more than 3 years before arrival.
- Your travel agent or doctor will be able to tell you where you can get vaccinated.
- The vaccine lasts for about 3-5 years. It is 80-90% effective in adults. It is less effective in under-5s.
- ACW135Y vaccine is not effective against all forms of the disease: there is still no vaccine against B-strain meningitis and septicaemia, for example.
- ACW135Y vaccine cannot stop you carrying the bacteria in your nose and throat.
- Protection is not 100%, so it is important to know the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia so that you can get medical help quickly if a case occurs.
- This information is available in a number of languages.
What precautions can travellers take against meningitis and septicaemia?
Pilgrims on Hajj or Umrah, are required to get the quadrivalent ACW135Y meningococcal vaccination in order to enter Saudi Arabia. The vaccine is also a requirement for seasonal workers in Hajj areas. It protects against meningitis and septicaemia caused by 4 different strains of meningococcal bacteria: A, C, W135 and Y.
In 2000 there were outbreaks of W135 meningitis and septicaemia among Hajj pilgrims and, world-wide, many cases of W135 disease occurred after pilgrims returned to their own countries. Although disease due to W135 has decreased since quadrivalent vaccination became compulsory for pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, cases due to all strains of the bacteria continue to occur, so there is still a need for protection.
Pilgrims to the Hajj can get the quadrivalent vaccine from their doctor or travel clinic. On arrival in Saudi Arabia they will need to present a certificate of vaccination issued at least 10 days, but not more than 3 years before they get there.
Immunity lasts for about 3 - 5 years. The vaccine provides 80 - 90% protection to adults but it is generally less effective in young children. It is effective against A-strain in children aged 3 months or older, but protection against W135-strain in children under 2 years is limited. The current UK recommendation states that two doses of meningococcal ACWY vaccine should be given to children aged 6 months to two years, with an interval of 3 months between the two doses.
Millions of doses of quadrivalent vaccine have been given around the world. Although no medicine is 100% safe, the chance of a severe reaction from this vaccine is very small. The vaccine is not 'live' and cannot cause even a very mild form of the disease.
The Foundation provides information about quadrivalent vaccine and the Hajj in Arabic, Bengali (Sylheti), Gujarati, Punjabi, Somali, Turkish and Urdu. Call our Freefone 24 hour helpline 080 8800 3344 (UK residents) or 1800 41 33 44 (Irish residents), or click here for more information.
Quadrivalent ACW135Y is also recommended for travel to certain countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly for travellers living or working with local people or visiting during an outbreak. An up-to-date list of countries with potential risk can be obtained from the National Travel Health Network and Centre.
Children in the UK and Ireland who get the quadrivalent vaccine still need to be immunised against C-strain meningitis and septicaemia in the routine immunisation programme for babies. There is no vaccine against B-strain meningitis and septicaemia in the UK or Ireland.
Since no vaccine can prevent all strains, it is important to know the symptoms to look out for so that cases of meningitis and septicaemia are recognised early and treated promptly. Information on symptoms, level of risk and meningitis vaccines is available in 18 different languages in written format and 15 different languages in audio format through the Foundation’s website or 24 hour helpline. An interpreter service in 120 languages is also available through the helpline.
Can you catch meningitis and septicaemia from other travellers on the same aeroplane, ship, bus, or train or in the same hotel or resort?
Getting meningitis and septicaemia from this sort of contact is unlikely. While at least 10% of the people you meet every day carry meningococcal bacteria in the back of their nose and throat, usually, this causes no harm. It is never possible to be completely certain that bacteria will not be transmitted, but the risk in these settings not generally any higher than in every day situations where contact with other people is neither intimate nor prolonged.
Can you catch meningitis and septicaemia from recycled air in air-conditioning systems?
Meningococcal bacteria are very fragile and can only live outside the body for a few moments. It is therefore not an airborne disease, and cannot linger in the air or on objects.
For more information about other aspects of pilgrimages, visit the Association of British Hujjaj's website.
Page last updated 01.02.07