The Hajj 2017 pilgrimage is expected to run from August 30th - September 4th. A reminder for all planning to attend (or for Umrah) that it is a Saudi visa requirement to have a valid certificate of vaccination against Meningitis ACWY. There are 2 types of vaccine; the conjugate vaccine is effective after 10 days and lasts 8 years and the polysaccharide vaccine also effective from 10 days but only lasts 3 years. Both are single dose vaccines. Unvaccinated pilgrims or those whose vaccine has expired will, therefore, need to get a vaccine before the middle of August.