Meningitis vaccine not mandatory prior to Umrah

The Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation has announced meningitis vaccination before Umrah trips are no longer mandatory.

A statement the authority released on Thursday, February 6, 2025, read that the vaccination was no longer compulsory, which had been enforced in the authority's circular number 12/15597 issued in January this year.

In its circular, the authority demanded getting a meningitis vaccine 10 days prior to the Umrah trip.

Previously the authority made it compulsory to administer both meninigitis and polio vaccines before Umrah trips regardless of the nationality.

Although Saudi Arabian authorities have suspended meningitis vaccines, polio is still compulsory.

Meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the meninges, the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal meningitis is the bacterial form of meningitis caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.