Meningitis vaccination still required for Umrah Pilgrims – Sanitary and epidemiological committee

Despite reports suggesting otherwise, the requirement for meningitis vaccination for those going to perform Umrah has not been canceled. This was confirmed by Uzbekistan's Sanitary and Epidemiological Committee, as reported by the committee's press service.

Earlier, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia announced that vaccination against meningitis would no longer be required for Umrah pilgrims. However, the Sanitary and Epidemiological Committee denied these claims, clarifying that Saudi Arabia still requires a certificate confirming vaccination against meningitis for all pilgrims traveling for Umrah and Hajj from 2025 onwards.

“Recently, there have been rumors among the population and on social media that the meningitis vaccination requirement for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims has been canceled, allowing travel without the vaccine. The Sanitary and Epidemiological Committee informs that these reports are false and that Saudi Arabia has not officially canceled the requirement for pilgrims to present proof of vaccination against meningitis,” the report states.

It was also emphasized that to prevent the spread of infectious diseases from abroad and to maintain epidemiological stability in Uzbekistan, it is recommended that pilgrims be vaccinated against meningitis.

For context, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia recently prohibited children from accompanying pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj season to protect them from the risks associated with large crowds.