Meningitis ACWY Vaccine in Romford

Who needs the meningitis ACWY vaccine?

Meningococcal disease is rare, but it moves fast and can kill within hours. The ACWY vaccine covers four of the groups that cause it. Three groups of people need it:

• Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Proof of ACWY vaccination is a mandatory requirement of the Saudi visa — no certificate, no entry. See our Hajj & Umrah vaccinations page for the full picture.
• Travellers to the African meningitis belt — the band running from Senegal across to Ethiopia — particularly in the dry season from December to June, and especially on longer stays or where you'll be in close contact with the local population.
• Teenagers and students, including anyone heading to university or on a gap year, who missed the routine NHS dose.

Guidance follows NaTHNaC and the UKHSA Green Book.

The meningitis ACWY vaccine: course & schedule

One dose, and it protects for about five years. For Saudi entry it must be given at least 10 days before you arrive, and the conjugate vaccine used in the UK is accepted as valid for five years.

Your certificate

We record the vaccine name and type on a patient-held certificate showing your full name, dated and stamped by the pharmacist — which is exactly what the Saudi authorities ask for at visa application. This detail matters: if the vaccine type is not recorded, the certificate is only treated as valid for three years rather than five. We make sure it is on there.

It doesn't cover everything

ACWY does not protect against meningitis B, or against every other cause of meningitis and septicaemia. If you or a family member becomes unwell after travel — particularly with fever, a headache, a stiff neck or a rash — contact NHS 111 or your GP straight away and mention where you have been.

Same-day & last-minute appointments

Travelling soon? Same-day and last-minute appointments are available at our Romford and Dagenham clinics where clinically appropriate, and we issue the certificate the same visit. Just remember the 10-day rule for Saudi entry. Book online or call 01708 897617.

What it costs

See our booking page for current rates.

Getting your meningitis ACWY vaccine in Romford

Brooks Pharmacy runs its travel clinic at 12 Chase Cross Road, Romford RM5 3PR — at the top of Collier Row, about five minutes north of Romford Market on the A1112. There is free patient parking on the door, and buses along Collier Row Road stop close by. Our second clinic is at 281 Wood Lane, Dagenham RM8 3NH, just off the A124 towards Barking. Both clinics book through the same team on 01708 897617, and there is no GP referral to arrange.

We serve Romford, Dagenham and East London — including Collier Row, Gidea Park, Hornchurch, Upminster, Harold Wood, Rainham, Elm Park, Becontree, Chadwell Heath, Barking and Ilford. Both sites are registered NHS community pharmacies (GPhC premises 1031352 in Romford and 1031154 in Dagenham) — see the Romford and Dagenham NHS profiles.

This page is written and clinically reviewed by the pharmacist team at Brooks Pharmacy, led by Superintendent Pharmacist Gurvinder Singh Sembhi (GPhC 2030374) with Ali Nuhu (GPhC 2222371), following NaTHNaC TravelHealthPro and NHS Fit for Travel guidance.