The Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia has established a strong vaccination deadline for pilgrims prior to the coming Hajj season, requiring all recommended immunisations to be finished no less than 10 days before arrival.
The ministry emphasised that vaccination is the main protection in order to organise a safe pilgrimage, and help people develop sufficient immunity and avoid outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Since the crowd density is very high in the case of Hajj, preventive health measures are deemed necessary to safeguard the individuals and the entire population.
Health officials have highly recommended some of the most essential vaccinations, such as meningococcal disease (meningitis), COVID-19, and seasonal influenza vaccinations.
These vaccines have been critical in curbing the transmission of infections in what is one of the largest religious meetings in the world.
To simplify the process, pilgrims will be able to use the Sehhaty app to schedule vaccination appointments and help simplify the process.
The ministry also made it clear that vaccines can be applied together or separately, at the discretion of a healthcare specialist.
Officials stressed that all approved vaccines are highly safe and can be regarded as safe even in the case of pregnant women.
These measures are part of a larger initiative of strengthening preventive healthcare, reducing health risks and ensuring that Hajj experience is smooth and safe for all the participants.
Individually, the Interior Ministry of Saudi Arabia has given a stern warning to violators of Hajj rules.
The authorities ensured that tough measures would be carried out, such as imposing fines on violators of up to SAR 20,000.
In more difficult situations, the perpetrators might be prohibited from entering Saudi Arabia for a maximum of ten years.
The government once again insisted on upholding order, discipline, and safety during the pilgrimage.
Also read: Saudi Arabia restricts children under 15 from Hajj
