Vaccinations for Pilgrims Coming from Outside Saudi Arabia and their Importance
- Vaccination against Neisseria meningitis:
It
is an important and mandatory vaccination for pilgrims coming from
inside and outside the Kingdom, as it protects against a serious
bacterial infection that affects the brain and spinal cord and is
transmitted through droplets from the nose and mouth.
The period
since receiving the vaccine must not be less than 10 days, and not more
than 3 or 5 years depending on the type of vaccine.
2. Yellow fever vaccination:
Mandatory
vaccination for those coming from countries where the disease is
widespread, protects against yellow fever, which is a viral infection
transmitted by mosquitoes that can cause serious complications.
The period since receiving the vaccine must not be less than 10 days, and it gives lifelong immunity.
3. Polio vaccination:
Mandatory
vaccination for all those coming to the Kingdom from countries where
the disease is widespread (review of health requirements on the
Ministry’s website), and it protects against serious viral infections
that spread easily among people, infecting the spinal cord and causing
paralysis.
The period during which one must receive the vaccine
before coming to the Kingdom varies from at least the bivalent Oral
Polio Vaccine (bOPV) or the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) by a period
of not less than (4) weeks and not more than one year before coming to
the Kingdom.
4. Updated Covid-19 Vaccine:
It
protects against infection with the Coronavirus - 19 and its variants.
It also helps reduce the severity of symptoms and the severity of the
disease and reduce the rate of Admissions for infected persons.
It is recommended to complete immunization with vaccines approved in the Kingdom.
5. Vaccination against seasonal influenza:
It
protects against influenza infection, which can cause serious
complications, especially for those with chronic diseases and those
suffering from immunodeficiency.
It is recommended that the period since receiving the vaccine should not be less than 10 days, and not more than one year.
The
Ministry of Health recommends that those coming for Hajj update their
immunization against the targeted diseases with basic immunizations such
as diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, chickenpox, and
mumps.
- For more details about health requirements for those coming from outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, click here.