Vaccination schedule

Several meningococcal vaccines have been registered in Hong Kong. A protective antibody response usually occurs within 10 days of vaccination.

Recommendations

The following persons may consider receiving meningococcal vaccination:

• Travellers to the sub-Saharan Africa during the dry season according to the risk of exposure and local epidemic situations; and
• Travellers to areas that are known to experience epidemic meningococcal disease as announced by authorities.

Travellers should seek professional advice from doctors for vaccination in view of the individual's age and health condition, and details of the journey such as place, duration and nature.

Special note for people planning to travel for pilgrimage

Travellers aged over 2 years visiting Saudi Arabia for Hajj, Umrah or for seasonal work in Hajj zones should bring along certificate of vaccination with the quadrivalent (serogroups A,C,Y & W135) meninogococcal vaccine administered not less than 10 days before arrival in Saudi Arabia. Further information is available at the website of the Ministry of Health of the Saudi Arabia (https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Pages/Default.aspx).

Adverse reactions

Commonly reported adverse reactions include local injection site reactions (e.g. pain, redness, swelling), headache, fatigue, myalgia and fever.

Contraindications

It should not be administered to people who have history of severe allergic reactions to the vaccine or its components.