Whether you are preparing for Hajj or planning an Umrah trip, a little health planning goes a long way. Pilgrimage means long walks in the heat, huge crowds and busy shared spaces, all of which raise the risk of infections, dehydration and injuries. This Hajj and Umrah health guide explains which vaccines are required, which are recommended, and gives you a practical checklist to follow before, during and after your journey.

If you would like advice from a travel clinic in Manchester, our pharmacists at Oldfield Pharmacy in Altrincham can review your plans and your medical history and help you get everything in place well before you fly. Please remember that the health requirements are set by the Saudi Ministry of Health and change from year to year, so always check the latest rules before you book.

Hajj and Umrah Health at a Glance

• Required: proof of the meningococcal ACWY vaccine, given at least 10 days before you arrive in the Hajj and Umrah areas.
• Only if your route requires it: polio and yellow fever certificates (for example, if you travel via a country where these diseases are a risk).
• Recommended: seasonal flu vaccine, COVID-19 vaccination in line with current Saudi guidance, and being up to date with routine UK vaccines such as MMR and diphtheria, tetanus and polio.
• Worth discussing: hepatitis B vaccine (head shaving), rabies, and any other vaccine suited to your health and itinerary.
• Book early: seek advice four to six weeks before you travel, and sooner if you have long-term health conditions.

Why Health Planning Matters for Hajj and Umrah

Hajj takes place once a year in Makkah and is one of the largest gatherings of people in the world. Umrah is a shorter, non-compulsory pilgrimage that can be done at any time of year. Both involve large crowds, walking long distances and often very hot weather. Health experts describe these as mass gatherings, where respiratory infections, stomach bugs and heat-related illness spread or develop more easily. Good preparation protects you, and it protects the family and community you return home to.

Umrah Vaccine and Hajj Vaccine Requirements

People often ask, “what is the vaccine for Umrah?” The answer is that one vaccine is required for everyone, a few others are required only in particular situations, and several more are recommended. The sections below cover each one.

Meningococcal ACWY: the required Umrah and Hajj vaccine

Proof of vaccination with the quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY vaccine is part of the visa requirement for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. This is the key meningitis vaccine for Umrah and Hajj. In summary:

• It protects against meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y.
• It must be given at least 10 days before you arrive in the Hajj and Umrah areas, so book early rather than at the last minute.
• A conjugate ACWY vaccine is accepted if it was given within the last five years. A polysaccharide ACWY vaccine is accepted for three years, but it has not been available in the UK for over three years. If the vaccine type is not shown on your certificate, it is treated as valid for three years.
• TravelHealthPro reports that the requirement applies from the age of one year, but check the latest Saudi guidance if you are travelling with children.
• Your record should show your full name, the vaccine name and type and the date, and it should be issued and stamped by your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

UK health authorities also recommend the vaccine to protect you personally, not just to meet the visa rule. Outbreaks of meningococcal disease have followed previous Hajj and Umrah seasons, including cases in the UK in 2024 and 2025 that spread to family members after pilgrims returned home. Vaccination protects you and the people waiting for you at home.

The meningococcal vaccine for Umrah does not protect against every cause of meningitis, so you should still get urgent medical help if you feel unwell after you return. For appointment details, who can have the vaccine and what to expect, read our dedicated guide to the meningitis vaccine for Umrah and Hajj in Manchester.

Polio: only if your route requires it

Pilgrims arriving from countries where wild or vaccine-derived poliovirus is circulating need a certificate showing at least one dose of an oral or inactivated polio vaccine, given between four weeks and 12 months before entering Saudi Arabia. For UK pilgrims, this only applies if you travel via a country that is reporting polio, not if you fly directly from the UK. Country lists can change, so check before you travel. Routine diphtheria, tetanus and polio boosters should also be up to date. See our guide to tetanus vaccination for travellers.

Yellow fever: only if your route requires it

A yellow fever certificate is needed if you arrive from, or travel via, a country with a risk of yellow fever. There is no yellow fever risk in the UK, so it does not apply if you fly directly from the UK. The certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination and then lasts for life. Our yellow fever vaccine guide explains more.

Recommended vaccines

• Seasonal flu: flu spreads easily in crowds, and Saudi Arabia recommends the flu vaccine for Hajj pilgrims. If you are not in an NHS eligible group, you may need to get it privately. Flu vaccine may not be available in late spring and summer, so pilgrims travelling then should ideally be vaccinated during the UK flu season.
• COVID-19: follow the current guidance from the Saudi Ministry of Health, because it can change. Only some people are eligible for NHS COVID-19 vaccination, and others may be able to get it privately.
• Routine vaccines: make sure you are up to date with MMR and diphtheria, tetanus and polio.
• Older pilgrims and people with long-term conditions: speak to your GP about whether any other vaccines, such as pneumococcal vaccine, are right for you.

Other vaccines to consider

• Hepatitis B: this virus spreads through blood. Head shaving is part of the Hajj rites for men, and licensed barbers in Saudi Arabia must use a new blade for each pilgrim, but unlicensed barbers may not. Consider the hepatitis B vaccine before travel, and take a disposable razor for personal use.
• Rabies: there is a risk of rabies in Saudi Arabia. Avoid contact with animals, and seek urgent medical help after any bite, lick or scratch. Vaccination before travel can be considered, but it does not remove the need for medical assessment after an exposure. See our rabies vaccine guide.
• Others: depending on your itinerary, food habits and medical history, other vaccines such as hepatitis A may be advised during your consultation.

Hajj and Umrah Health Checklist

Four to six weeks before you travel

• Book a travel health consultation at your travel clinic, or sooner if you have long-term conditions.
• Check the latest health requirements on the official Nusuk platform, and read the FCDO pilgrimage travel advice.
• Get your meningococcal ACWY vaccine, leaving well over 10 days before arrival.
• Update routine vaccines and arrange your flu vaccine and any other recommended vaccines.
• Talk to your GP if you have a long-term condition, are pregnant, or are unsure whether you are fit enough for the physical demands of pilgrimage.
• If you want to delay your period during Hajj, speak to a healthcare provider well in advance.
• Arrange travel health insurance that covers pilgrimage. Sharia-compliant policies are available.
• Practise walking regularly so you build up stamina.

Medicines and medical conditions

• Take enough medicine for the whole trip, plus extra in case of delays.
• Carry copies of your prescriptions and a letter or documents describing your conditions.
• Keep medicines in their original packaging in your hand luggage. See our guide to travelling with prescription medicines and TravelHealthPro’s medicines and travel advice.
• If you take medicines that affect hydration or how your body handles heat, such as diuretics, ask your doctor whether they need adjusting.

Saudi health authorities list some conditions that would restrict a pilgrim from performing Hajj rituals, so speak to your doctor if any of these apply to you:

• Advanced kidney failure needing dialysis
• Advanced heart failure
• Chronic lung disease needing oxygen
• Advanced cirrhosis with signs of liver failure
• Severe neurological or psychological conditions that affect thinking or cause severe disability
• Advanced age with dementia
• The last three months of pregnancy, or a high-risk pregnancy at any stage
• Active infectious disease that is a risk in crowds, such as open pulmonary tuberculosis
• Active cancer treated with chemotherapy or other treatment that affects the immune system

What to pack

• A first aid kit with plasters, pain relief, antiseptic and oral rehydration sachets
• Sunscreen (SPF 30 or above with four- or five-star UVA protection) and an umbrella for shade
• Comfortable, well broken-in footwear, plus a bag to carry your shoes during prayer
• Hand sanitiser, and a disposable razor for personal use
• Insect repellent
• Blankets or a sleeping bag in winter, because nights can be cold
• Your vaccination record and a copy of your travel insurance details

During your pilgrimage

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating and after using the toilet.
• Avoid sharing drinks and eating utensils.
• Drink plenty of clean water, preferably bottled or boiled and cooled.
• Avoid direct sun where you can, rest in the shade and reapply sunscreen every two to three hours.
• Avoid peak crowd times when possible.
• Keep away from animals, particularly camels, and avoid raw milk and unpeeled fruit and vegetables.
• Use a licensed barber with a new blade, or your own disposable razor.
• Look after your feet. Minor foot injuries are common, and hot sand can burn.
• Seek medical care quickly for fever, bloody diarrhoea or any other worrying symptom.

After you return

• For 14 days, watch for fever, cough or increasing breathlessness. If you develop them, call your GP or NHS 111 and tell them you have been on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
• Seek urgent medical help for fever with severe headache, vomiting, a stiff neck or a rash, because meningitis and septicaemia can become serious quickly. Call 999 if you are very unwell.
• If you become ill in the weeks or months after your trip, especially with fever, flu-like symptoms, a rash or diarrhoea, get medical advice and mention your travel.
• Keep your vaccination record safe. Being vaccinated does not rule out illness, so always tell clinicians where you have been.

Staying Safe in the Heat

Daytime temperatures in Saudi Arabia can pass 30°C even in winter, and Hajj can fall in very hot months. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are real risks, particularly for older pilgrims. Drink fluids regularly rather than waiting until you are thirsty, cover up where the rituals allow, and take shade whenever you can. If possible for Hajj, arrive in Makkah a little early so your body can adjust to the heat. Wear good footwear because desert sand can become extremely hot.

Food, Water and Traveller’s Diarrhoea

Contaminated food and water are the usual cause of traveller’s diarrhoea, and dehydration is more dangerous in hot weather. Wash your hands, eat food that has been thoroughly cooked, wash and peel fruit and vegetables, and keep raw and cooked foods apart. Saudi authorities do not allow pilgrims to bring food into the country unless it is in properly canned or sealed containers. Pack oral rehydration sachets in your first aid kit, and see our advice on traveller’s diarrhoea.

Respiratory Infections and “Hajj Cough”

A viral chest infection known as “Hajj cough” affects many pilgrims. It can range from a nuisance to a serious illness that interferes with the rites. Good hand hygiene, avoiding shared drinks and utensils, and the flu vaccine all help to lower your risk. Stay at home if you are acutely unwell before you travel, and seek advice instead of going ahead.

A more serious respiratory virus, MERS-CoV, has been found in the Arabian Peninsula. UK guidance is to wash your hands, avoid camels where possible, avoid raw milk and camel products, and avoid unpeeled fruit and vegetables.

What About Malaria?

Malaria is not found in Makkah or Madinah, or in the cities of Jeddah, Riyadh and Ta’if. The risk is in the south-western provinces, so it only matters if you are extending your trip to those areas or travelling on to other countries. If so, read our guide to malaria tablets in Manchester and ask us about malaria prevention.

Travelling With Children or Older Relatives

Children and older people are at greater risk of dehydration and heat-related illness. Families should check each family member’s vaccines early, because schedules differ for children. See our guide to travel vaccinations for children and our travel health checklist for general preparation tips.

Hajj and Umrah Health Advice at Oldfield Pharmacy Travel Clinic

At Oldfield Pharmacy, our travel clinic supports pilgrims from Manchester and Altrincham. We can talk through the Umrah vaccine and Hajj vaccine requirements, check your vaccination history, advise on the other vaccines and health precautions that suit you, and explain what records you need to carry. Our range of travel vaccinations in Manchester also includes same day travel vaccines where suitable, although we always recommend planning ahead.

As your local pharmacy in Manchester, we can also help with repeat prescriptions and medicine advice before you go.

Planning your pilgrimage? Book your travel health consultation or call us on 0161 942 9701.

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Health requirements change, so check the latest TravelHealthPro Hajj and Umrah advice, the official Nusuk Hajj health guidelines and the FCDO pilgrimage advice before you travel.