Hajj and Umrah Vaccinations in Leicester

The Health Suite Leicester provides Hajj and Umrah vaccinations in Leicester, including the mandatory MenACWY meningitis vaccine and Saudi-compliant certificate required for entry into Saudi Arabia. We offer same-week appointments at our Thurnby clinic, family and group bookings for pilgrim parties, and a complete pre-travel medical service covering routine vaccines, period delay prescribing, fitness assessment, fit-to-travel letters and chronic disease optimisation.

Most travel clinics stop at the jab. We don’t. The reality of Hajj and Umrah — long days on foot, temperatures above 40°C, dense crowds, disrupted medication routines — means that for many pilgrims, particularly those over 60 or managing diabetes, heart disease or respiratory conditions, the vaccine is only the start of safe preparation. As a doctor-led private clinic in Leicester, we offer the full layer of care that makes the pilgrimage genuinely safer.

Mandatory vaccines for Hajj and Umrah

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health publishes annual entry requirements for pilgrims. The current core requirements applicable to travellers from the UK are:

Meningitis ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine — mandatory for Hajj and Umrah

All travellers aged one year and over travelling for Hajj or Umrah must hold a valid certificate of vaccination with a quadrivalent MenACWY meningitis vaccine. The vaccine must have been given at least 10 days before arrival and not more than 5 years before arrival for conjugate vaccines such as Nimenrix or (3 years for some older polysaccharide formulations). Proof of MenACWY vaccination is required as part of Hajj and Umrah health requirements and may be checked during visa processing and/or on arrival. MenACWY vaccination is required for both Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

We use a conjugate MenACWY vaccine (Nimenrix) which provides longer-lasting protection than the older polysaccharide alternative. The Saudi-compliant certificate we issue meets MoH and visa requirements and is accepted at the Jeddah and Madinah ports of entry.

COVID-19 vaccination — check current Hajj and Umrah rules before travel

COVID-19 vaccination requirements can change between Hajj seasons and may differ between Hajj, Umrah, visa categories and individual risk groups. Please bring your COVID-19 vaccination history to your appointment so we can check the latest Saudi requirements and advise whether proof is required for your journey. COVID-19 vaccination remains clinically advisable for many older pilgrims and those with long-term conditions, even where it is not a general entry requirement.

Polio vaccine — required for some travellers

Travellers arriving in Saudi Arabia from countries with active polio transmission (currently including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and several others) must show evidence of a polio vaccine dose (IPV or bOPV/nOPV2) given at least 4 weeks before arrival, with proof recorded on the International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card). UK residents who have recently travelled to or arrived from one of these countries should raise this at booking.

Yellow fever — only for transit from endemic countries

Yellow fever vaccination is not required for direct UK-to-Saudi travel. It is mandatory only for travellers aged over 9 months arriving from, or in transit through, a yellow fever endemic country (parts of sub-Saharan Africa and South America). If your itinerary involves transit through such a country, please tell us at booking.

Recommended vaccines for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims

Beyond mandatory requirements, the Saudi MoH and UK travel health guidance strongly recommend the following — particularly for Hajj, where the density of pilgrims and shared accommodation amplify respiratory and faecal-oral transmission risk:

• Seasonal influenza vaccine — actively recommended by the Saudi MoH for all pilgrims, particularly older travellers and those with chronic conditions.
• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) — global measles outbreaks continue; two documented doses provide lifelong protection. We can review your status from medical records.
• Hepatitis A vaccine — recommended for all travellers with food and water exposure risks.
• Typhoid vaccine — recommended for those staying in non-tourist accommodation, eating widely outside hotels, or with prolonged stays. ** The single-dose typhoid vaccine is valid for 3 years, and a booster will be needed if the risk continues**
• Tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster (Revaxis) — if your last booster was more than 10 years ago.
• Hepatitis B vaccine — for prolonged stays or for travellers with potential healthcare or intimate-care exposure.

Period delay tablets for Hajj and Umrah

Many women undertaking Hajj or Umrah ask about period delay tablets so that pilgrimage rites are not interrupted by menstruation. We prescribe norethisterone (the most commonly used UK-licensed option for short-term period delay) following a structured consultation. The consultation covers contraindication review — including smoking status, body mass index, blood pressure, any history of blood clots or thrombosis, and current medication — and clear instructions on when to start and stop the tablets so that the timing fits your pilgrimage.

Norethisterone is typically taken three times daily, starting 3 days before the expected period and continuing for the duration of pilgrimage. Effectiveness is generally good but not absolute, and we discuss alternatives where norethisterone is unsuitable. Norethisterone is not suitable for everyone and does not provide contraception.

Pre-travel medical services from The Health Suite

The vaccine is one part of safe pilgrimage. The rest is medical preparation, and this is where our nurse-led service genuinely differs from a pharmacy vaccination counter.

Pre-travel GP consultation

A 30-minute consultation with a GP covering your full travel itinerary, medical history, current medications, vaccine plan and personalised risk assessment. Includes hydration planning, heat illness recognition, and medication adjustments for the journey. You leave with a written summary you can refer to throughout your trip.

Fitness assessment for older pilgrims

For pilgrims aged 60 and over or those with cardiovascular, respiratory, renal or metabolic conditions, we offer a structured fitness assessment including 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), ECG and where appropriate a cardiology opinion. Hajj is physically demanding and the assessment is intended to identify and address risks before travel rather than discover them during the pilgrimage.

Medication review and travel prescriptions

Many medications need adjustment before a 2 to 4-week pilgrimage: insulin regimens in heat, diuretic dosing, anticoagulant management, asthma rescue planning. We review your full medication list and prescribe travel quantities with clear written instructions. Controlled drugs require additional documentation, which we provide. We also issue a personalised travel medical kit prescription, individualised to your conditions and itinerary.

Chronic disease optimisation

For pilgrims with poorly controlled diabetes, hypertension, asthma or COPD, we offer a structured 8 to 12-week pre-pilgrimage optimisation programme. The aim is not new diagnosis but stabilising existing conditions so that the pilgrimage itself is safer. This sits alongside, not in place of, your NHS GP’s care, and we routinely write to your registered practice to keep your full record consistent.

Fit-to-travel letters

Where required by airlines, insurers or Saudi authorities, we issue medically authored fit-totravel letters on Health Suite letterhead, signed by a GP.

Post-return health review

Respiratory illness after Hajj — sometimes called “Hajj flu” — is common. Rarely, more serious infections can occur, so pilgrims with fever, shortness of breath, persistent cough, severe diarrhoea or marked deterioration after return should seek medical advice promptly.

All prices are per dose unless otherwise stated. Consultation fees are itemised separately. Family and group bookings (for example, pilgrim parties travelling together) receive a discount on consultation fees and on the combined vaccine package.