Meningitis ACWY vaccine in West Hampstead London Travel Clinic

Meningitis ACWY vaccine in West Hampstead, at a glance

Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious bacterial illness that can cause meningitis and septicaemia within hours of onset. The Meningitis ACWY vaccine covers four serogroups (A, C, W and Y) and is a single dose for healthy adults. The most common reason UK travellers need it is the Saudi Arabia entry requirement for Hajj and Umrah, where pilgrims must hold a valid ACWY certificate dated at least 10 days before arrival and not more than three years old. At Aqua Travel Clinic on Mill Lane in West Hampstead, NW6, we stock Nimenrix and Menveo and supply the dated record at the visit.

Who should consider the Meningitis ACWY vaccine

NaTHNaC and the UKHSA Green Book recommend ACWY vaccination for two main groups of travellers. The first is anyone travelling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah, or applying for a Saudi visit visa during the Hajj season. The second is travellers visiting the sub-Saharan African meningitis belt, especially during the dry season from December to June. This includes Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Niger and Burkina Faso, where outbreaks of serogroups A, C, W and X occur regularly. We will check your itinerary against current outbreak alerts during the consultation.

Schedule and doses

For most healthy adults and children aged one year and over, a single 0.5 mL intramuscular dose of Nimenrix or Menveo is sufficient. Protection develops within around 10 to 14 days, which is also the Saudi minimum interval before arrival. The certificate is valid for up to three years from the date of vaccination. The ACWY conjugate vaccine has largely replaced the older ACWY Vax polysaccharide formulation for travel use because it provides longer and more reliable protection.

Hajj, Umrah and meningitis belt itineraries

Pilgrims attending Hajj or Umrah usually also need a booster of Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio if their last dose was more than 10 years ago, may benefit from seasonal influenza vaccination ahead of crowded mass gatherings, and from Hepatitis A for food and water safety. Meningitis belt travel often pairs ACWY with Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Yellow Fever depending on the country.

Side effects and contraindications

The conjugate ACWY vaccines are inactivated and well tolerated. The most common side effects are a sore arm, headache or low-grade fever for one to two days. Serious reactions are very rare. The vaccine should not be given to anyone with a confirmed allergy to a previous dose or to a vaccine component. It can be given to pregnant women where the benefit outweighs the risk, and is recommended in pregnancy ahead of high-risk travel. The pharmacist will screen for all of this during the consultation.

Booking and pricing

Same-week appointments are available throughout the year, and we hold extra capacity ahead of Hajj and Umrah season. Specific prices and family bookings are on our booking page; there is no separate consultation fee. Aqua Travel Clinic operates from 59 Mill Lane, West Hampstead NW6 1NB, one minute from West Hampstead station. The clinic is run by Aqua Pharmacy (GPhC premises 1123406), owned by Naspram Pharma Limited, with all consultations supervised by Superintendent Pharmacist Sanjay Mukundkumar Patel (GPhC 2045157). Local catchments include Kilburn, Brondesbury, Cricklewood, Hendon and Willesden Green, where many of our Hajj and Umrah pilgrims come from.