Dubai: Pilgrims to Makkah should carry a meningitis vaccination certificate from the health ministry which should be valid for more than 10 days, the Ministry announced yesterday.
A senior official also urged pilgrims with chronic diseases, pregnant women and the obese to get a flu vaccine to avoid complications.
Huge numbers of pilgrims are expected to go for umrah, or the smaller pilgrimage, to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and many sites will be overcrowded.
Dr Mahmoud Fikri, executive director for Health Policies, said these health procedures were set by the Saudi officials to safeguard pilgrims from infectious diseases.
Saudi officials have stated that all pilgrims must have a certificate of vaccination against meningitis and that it should be valid before their arrival in Saudi Arabia for a period not less than 10 days and not more than three years.
Dr Fikri said, "The [UAE] Ministry will provide one dose of quadruple vaccination for adults and children of two years for free at all primary health care centres." He said pilgrims will be provided with brochures on how to protect oneself against infectious diseases, their symptoms, transmission, complications and treatment.
Saudi Arabia has also banned pilgrims from bringing food products except canned food.
Meanwhile, Sharjah International Airport officials yesterday discussed with Haj organisers how to ensure the comfort of pilgrims. Ali Salem Al Midfa, Director of Sharjah Airport Authority, said that the meeting discussed final preparations.
