Print Print
CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.

Immunizations - travel vaccinations - Management
When is meningitis (ACWY®) vaccination indicated for travellers?

  • Vaccination with the quadrivalent vaccine (ACWY®) is recommended for the following people travelling to areas of high-risk of group A meningococcal meningitis:
    • People staying for extended time periods, such as 1 month or more.
    • People engaging in high-risk holidays or work, such as backpacking or living in rural communities.
    • People attending the Hajj (Mecca) and Umrah pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia.
    • Seasonal working in the Hajj area.
    • Children or adults with asplenia or splenic dysfunction if travelling to a country with increased risk of serogroups A, W135 and Y disease.
  • Saudi Arabia now requires proof of vaccination with ACWY Vax® for visitors arriving for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, or for seasonal working in the Hajj areas.
  • Meningococcal C conjugate vaccine is part of the childhood immunization programme (see Immunizations - childhood for more information). This vaccine protects against group C disease only. Travellers should be immunised with the quadrivalent polysaccharide vaccine (ACWY®), even if they have previously received the Meningococcal conjugate vaccine.
Clarification / Additional information
  • The highest burden of meningococcal disease occurs in the 'African meningitis belt' (Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia) and Saudi Arabia. Outbreaks may also occur in countries not listed and recommendations may be subject to change.
  • Most epidemics occur during the winter-spring period in temperate areas, and during the dry season in tropical areas.
  • In the meningitis belt, the highest transmission period in West Africa is from November to May/June.
Basis for recommendation
  • These recommendations are based on expert opinion from the published medical literature [DH, 2006c; NaTHNaC, 2007; NaTHNaC, 2010b].
  • Meningococcal conjugate C vaccine (Men C) is now part of the childhood vaccination programme, however it does not provide protection against meningitis A, W, or Y.

© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement