As the Hajj season approaches in 2024, pilgrims are diligently preparing themselves for the upcoming pilgrimage. To be able to partake in this sacred journey, fulfilling certain health-related requirements is imperative for every pilgrim.
Keep reading to know what these requirements are and how you can become eligible for Hajj in 2024.
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Hajj 2024 vaccination requirements
According to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, pilgrims must receive their vaccinations at least 10 days before the start of the Hajj season in order to be eligible to perform the Hajj rituals. It is mandatory for pilgrims to complete all required vaccinations before a Hajj permit can be issued.
Yellow fever vaccine
Vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory for attending Hajj 2024 pilgrimage.
According to the International Health Regulations 2005, pilgrims arriving from countries or areas at risk of yellow fever must present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate showing that the person was vaccinated at least ten days and ten years before arrival border.
In the case of the absence of such a certificate, the pilgrim will be placed under strict surveillance for six days from the date of vaccination or the last date of potential exposure to infection, whichever is earlier.
Here’s the list of the yellow fever risk countries:
Americas:
- Guyana
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Surinam
- Ecuador
- Argentina
- Venezuela
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Trinidad and Tobago
- French Guiana
Africa:
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Sudan
- Gambia
- Togo
- Uganda
- Angola
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Congo
- Côte d’Ivoire
- DR Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- South Sudan
Meningococcal Meningitis vaccine
Vaccination against Meningococcal Meningitis is mandatory for the Hajj 2024 pilgrimage. Hajj pilgrims need to submit a vaccination certificate against meningitis with the quadrivalent (ACYW135) vaccine issued no more than three years and no less than ten days before arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Polio vaccine
All pilgrims from polio-endemic countries and re-established transmission countries need proof of polio vaccination at least six weeks before departure to apply for an entry visa for Saudi Arabia. They must have received one dose of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), regardless of their age and vaccination status.
In addition, pilgrims from such countries under the age of 15 will also receive one dose of OPV at border points on arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Below is the list of polio-endemic countries:
- Afghanistan
- Mozambique
- Pakistan
- Madagascar
- Mozambique
- Malawi
- DR Congo
- Yemen
- Congo
Flu shot
The Saudi Ministry of Health recommends that international pilgrims be vaccinated against seasonal influenza before arrival in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly those at increased risk of severe influenza diseases.
These include travelers arriving in Hajj areas for Hajj, seasonal work or other purposes particularly pregnant women, children under 5 years, the elderly, individuals with chronic medical conditions (such as chronic cardiac, pulmonary, renal, metabolic, neurodevelopmental, liver, or hematologic diseases) and individuals with immunosuppressive conditions (such as HIV/AIDS, receiving chemotherapy or steroids, or malignancy).
