The federal government has made vaccination a requirement for people travelling abroad and has opened an International Travellers Vaccination Centre, according to reports today.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal opened the new centre. He said that the facility will provide required vaccines to people before they travel abroad.
Are there vaccination counters at airports?
Health and NADRA counters will also be set up at airports. These counters will help check passengers’ vaccination records.
The minister asked people travelling to Pakistan or other countries to get the required vaccines. He also advised them to keep their vaccination records with them.
How do these rules apply to Hajj and Umrah travellers?
Mustafa Kamal said that people who are travelling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah must carry a valid certificate for the meningitis vaccine.
He further said that meeting vaccination requirements is important for both travellers and public health.
Digital vaccination certificates
The government will also introduce digital vaccination certificates for vaccines against diseases such as influenza, meningitis and polio.
The new digital system will make it easier to store and verify vaccination records.
Will health records be linked to CNIC?
The health minister also announced a plan to link citizens’ health records with their CNIC numbers.
He said this will help create a complete digital health record for Pakistani citizens.
Mustafa Kamal said that he hoped the digital vaccination and health record system would continue even if there was a change in the government.
Is vaccination mandatory for Hajj pilgrims?
Recently, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health spokesperson Abdulaziz Abdulbaqi announced that the meningococcal vaccine is now mandatory for all personnel participating in the 2026 Hajj season before beginning their duties.
The move comes under directives issued by the Supreme Hajj Committee to strengthen preventive measures and curb the spread of infectious diseases.