Are you traveling to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage, or arriving for seasonal work in Hajj areas, including the cities of Makkah, Medina, and Jeddah? The Saudi Ministry of Health requires and recommends proof of vaccination for three specific diseases: yellow fever, poliomyelitis (polio), and meningococcal meningitis. In addition to these, other routine and travel-related vaccines are generally recommended for travel to Saudi Arabia. Please see our page on vaccination requirements for Saudi Arabia for comprehensive travel health recommendations.
Meningococcal Meningitis:
- Required: Proof of meningococcal ACWY vaccination (administered at least 10 days, but no more than 5 years, prior to arrival, using a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine) is required for all travelers aged one year and older arriving for the purpose of Umrah or Hajj pilgrimage, or for seasonal work in Hajj/Umrah zones. The certificate must clearly state "conjugate" for the 5-year validity to apply; otherwise, it will only be considered valid for 3 years. Please note that you do not necessarily need the International Certificate of Vaccination card to show that you have received the meningococcal vaccine. A valid vaccination record from a travel clinic or a doctor’s office will suffice.
Choosing the Right Meningococcal Vaccine:
- Ensure that the meningococcal vaccine you receive from your doctor, or a travel clinic is for meningococcal ACWY-135, not meningococcal B.
Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine Administration and Side Effects:
- It is administered as a single intramuscular injection. The vaccine is generally well-tolerated, and side effects are usually mild. These may include mild pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site, mild fever, vomiting, abnormal crying, drowsiness, and poor appetite, which may last up to two to three days in a small percentage of individuals.
Poliomyelitis (Polio):
- Not applicable if traveling directly from Canada (see below).
- All travelers coming from or transiting through a country or area at risk of poliovirus, with a polio outbreak, or with circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus should visit a travel clinic at least four weeks prior to international travel to update their vaccination status. Since there is no risk of polio in Canada, there is no need for a booster polio vaccine if traveling directly from Canada or transiting only through non-polio countries.
- If traveling from Canada to another country before heading to Saudi Arabia, a healthcare professional at a travel clinic can assess your risk and ensure you are not traveling from a polio-risk country or area to Saudi Arabia.
Yellow Fever Vaccination:
- Similar to the polio vaccine, proof of yellow fever vaccination is only recommended if you are traveling from a yellow fever-risk country in Africa or South America to Saudi Arabia. Those traveling from Canada with a layover in Europe or the Middle East do not need to show proof of yellow fever vaccination.
Other Important Vaccinations:
Please note that, like most other destinations, it is important to be up-to-date on routine and other travel-related vaccines, such as tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), hepatitis A, and typhoid, before traveling to Saudi Arabia. Consult with a travel health specialist to determine which vaccines are appropriate for your specific itinerary and health status.
Consult with TravelVAX to discuss your vaccination needs based on your specific health status and travel plans. Their experienced healthcare professionals will provide tailored advice and ensure you receive the appropriate vaccines for a safe and healthy journey.
References:
Saudi Arabian Airlines. (n.d.). Health requirements. Saudia. Retrieved from https://www.saudia.com/pages/before-flying/travel-information/hajj-and-umrah/health-requirements
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, July 26). Saudi Arabia - Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. CDC Yellow Book 2024. Retrieved from https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/itineraries/saudi-arabia-hajj-and-umrah-pilgrimages
Author: Amir Mokhtari – A pharmacist specialized in travel medicine and travel health
( International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM), BPhm)
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