Vaccinations for The Hajj And Umrah Pilgrimage

Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimage

Are you planning on attending the Hajj pilgrimage anytime soon?

The Hajj and Umrah is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and it is the single largest mass-gathering of people in one place in the entire world, with nearly 3 million Muslims in attendance over the period.

What Vaccines will You Need for The Hajj?

Meningitis Acwy:

If you are planning on attending the pilgrimage, you will need to be vaccinated against Meningitis ACWY and be certified for proof of immunisation in order to claim the rights for a visa for Saudi Arabia. For more information, please refer to our medical staff at the Medical Express Clinic.

Polio:

All travellers must be vaccinated against polio. It is a combination of diphtheria and tetanus which protects you from a range of different diseases and infections and lasts up to 10 years. If you are travelling to one of the countries listed below, you will need to have had the vaccination done in the last 12 months and a certificate needs to be issued that you have had the immunisation.

Countries Included:

Yellow Fever:

Yellow fever vaccination and certificate will be required for pilgrims that are going to Saudi Arabia from areas that are known to be at a high risk of Yellow Fever.

Other Travel Vaccinations Required

Everyone that is planning on travelling should set up an appointment with a vaccination specialist to ensure that your health is not compromised while you are abroad.

Here are a few of the most popular travel vaccinations that you need to be aware of.

Hepatitis A : An absolute must for travellers visiting Saudi Arabia.

Hepatitis B : An extremely dangerous virus. We do recommend that you get vaccinated against it if you are travelling to Saudi Arabia as it is very easily transmitted. The vaccination process will take 3 weeks and 3 doses of injections for it to be fully effective.

Rabies : A widely spread virus that is mainly spread through infected animals like cats, dogs, monkeys and other. The vaccination process will take around 3 months and is highly recommended for travellers visiting Saudi Arabia as it is a high-risk zone.

Influenza : A rather seasonal illness that must be taken seriously as it can lead to death. It is easily transmittable in densely populated regions like the Hajj and Umrah

Food and Water:

You most likely are going to experience diarrhoea if you travel to Saudi Arabia. This is just how people are when they travel to a new place. Contaminated food and water are some of the reasons why that can happen. Knowing what to eat and what not to, is important for your health and well-being. We would recommend that you only stick to bottled water.

Heat:

Saudi Arabia is known to be one of the hottest countries in the world, with record high-temperatures, especially during the summer months. Being exposed to the sun and high temperatures will cause you to sweat which can result in extreme dehydration. This could lead to a potentially life-threating heatstroke which must be medically intervened immediately.

We will provide you with some safety information which will definitely help you out to avoid any heat-related dangers.

• Seek shelter between 1 AM and 4 PM. That is when the sun is at its peak.
• Use sun protection cream if you plan on being outside for a longer period of time.
• Wear loose and colourful outfit to reduce the effects of the sun.
• Be hydrated at all times and make sure you are well fed.
• Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages or anything containing sugar as this will only make your thirstier and speed up dehydration.

Mers or The Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome:

MERS is a virus that must be treated with utmost care as it can cause anything from a cold to a potentially deadly pneumonia. It is a highly infectious virus which spreads incredibly quickly. There currently are not known vaccinations against the MERS virus, therefore it is important for you to reduce the risk to a minimum by following the list below which was created by our medical experts here at our clinic.

• Wash your hands ALL the time. Hygiene will play a vital role.
• Use a tissue if you are about to sneeze or cough. Don't place your hands near your mouth.
• We would advise that you do not touch your eyes, mouth or nose, especially after you have been in physical contact with others.
• Avoid contact with any animals that are out there.
• Do not consume any dairy products, especially camel milk.

Avoiding Insect Bites:

It is important for you to avoid being bitten by insects that may carry illnesses, especially mosquitoes. Some of the diseases that you will be put at risk are Rift Valley fever, Dengue fever, Leishmaniosis and Chikungunya. Despite the low risk involved from contracting malaria during the pilgrimage, it is important for you to stay on the safe side; therefore we do recommend that you get vaccinated. For more medical concerns in regards to your travels, please refer to the information below.

For Appointments and Consultations: