Since February 2025 every Umrah pilgrim aged one year and above needs a meningococcal certificate, not just Hajj pilgrims. The rules around that certificate are specific, and getting them slightly wrong costs people two years of validity or a refused boarding.
| Vaccine | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Meningococcal ACWY | Mandatory | The only vaccine universally mandatory for pilgrims travelling from India, for both Hajj and Umrah, from age one year. |
| COVID-19 | Conditional | Applies to higher-risk groups only: age 65 and above, pregnancy, and chronic conditions. Several forms of proof are accepted. |
| Polio | Not required from India | India is not on any of the Saudi polio country lists. Note separately that the Government of India does require oral polio vaccine for its own Haj Committee pilgrims before departure. |
| Yellow fever | Not required from India | Applies only to arrivals from listed African and South American countries. Relevant only if you are transiting or have recently lived in one. |
| Brand | What is in it | Per dose |
|---|---|---|
| Menactra Sanofi | ACWY conjugate, diphtheria toxoid carrier. Licensed 9 months to 55 years Also a conjugate, also a five-year certificate. We use this when Menveo is short. | ₹5,700 |
| Menveo Our choice GSK | ACWY conjugate, CRM197 carrier. Licensed 2 months to 55 years Conjugate, so the certificate is valid five years. This is what we hold, because it costs less for the same result. | ₹4,432 |
| Quadri Meningo Bio-Med | Plain polysaccharide ACWY Polysaccharide, so the certificate is valid three years rather than five. Cheaper up front, more expensive if you travel again. | On enquiry |
Both conjugate products are equally acceptable to Saudi authorities and both give a five-year certificate. We hold Menveo because it costs less for the same result, and use Menactra when Menveo is in short supply. We recommend either conjugate over the plain polysaccharide vaccine, because for a modest extra cost the certificate covers five years rather than three, which matters if you expect to perform Umrah again.
None of these is required to board. All of them are supported by Saudi Ministry of Health, United States CDC or United Kingdom travel-health guidance for pilgrims, and each links to its own page with the full brand list.
| Vaccine | Why it is suggested | Per dose |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal influenza 1 dose | Saudi Arabia recommends it for all pilgrims. Respiratory illness is the dominant documented health problem at Hajj. | ₹2,688 |
| Typhoid 1 dose | Recommended in travel-medicine guidance for the region. One dose, long duration. | ₹2,353 |
| Hepatitis A 1 dose | Recommended in travel-medicine guidance. A single-dose option exists, which suits a traveller on a deadline. | ₹2,320 |
| Hepatitis B 3 doses | UK travel-health guidance flags the head-shaving ritual specifically, because of shared or unsterile razors. The vaccine costs less than a cup of tea per dose, so there is no good reason to skip it. | ₹75 |
| Pneumococcal disease 1 dose | Recommended for pilgrims aged 65 and above, or younger with a chronic condition. | ₹5,555 |
| Rabies 2 doses | Worth considering for longer stays, given animal contact. | ₹325 |
Six to eight weeks before departure. That clears the ten-day rule comfortably and leaves room for a multi-dose course if you need one. A conjugate meningococcal dose taken now also covers Umrah trips for the next five years, so it is rarely wasted.
Guidance this page reflects. Saudi Ministry of Health health requirements for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, 1447H; Guidelines for Haj, Haj Committee of India; United States CDC Yellow Book chapter on the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages; United Kingdom National Travel Health Network and Centre factsheet on Hajj and Umrah. Requirements are updated annually, usually in the autumn. Last reviewed 12 August 2026. Confirm current requirements with your tour operator or the Saudi authorities before you travel.
Vaccines are prescription medicines. Suitability, timing and contraindications are determined by a doctor after individual assessment. This page is general information about a clinical service and is not a prescription, a recommendation to purchase any product, or a substitute for consultation.
Product names and prices are listed so you know what you are being given and what it costs. They are for identification only and do not constitute a recommendation of any manufacturer. Prices shown are the manufacturer's maximum retail price per dose as at 12 August 2026; manufacturers and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority revise these from time to time, and your actual cost is confirmed before anything is administered.
Bring your travel dates. We will work backwards from them, tell you what is mandatory and what is optional, and give you a certificate that states the type.
Walk in any day we are open and a primary care physician will see you, go through what you need and give you a written schedule. If you would rather fix a time beforehand, call reception.