JEDDAH: Two million meningitis vaccines have been distributed among health centers in 20 governorates and provinces across the Kingdom for domestic Haj pilgrims.

It is mandatory for all pilgrims to be vaccinated against meningitis and for those coming from abroad to be vaccinated against meningitis as well as other contagious diseases, Deputy Health Minister for Public Health Abdulaziz bin Saeed was quoted by local media on Sunday.

Keeping this in mind, the Health Ministry is prepared for vaccination of the pilgrims as the Haj season is fast approaching, he said.

The deputy minister said that those coming for seasonal work are also required to carry with them a certificate of meningitis vaccination, which should be taken at least 10 days before entering the Kingdom and that the vaccination certificate shouldn’t be more than three years old.

He said the Health Ministry will give all those coming by air and sea a preventive vaccine beside the meningitis vaccine to ensure that all incoming pilgrims and visitors are healthy.

The deputy minister said the ministry is monitoring the infectious situation in other countries in coordination with the World Health Organization.

Izdihar Abdulsalam Al-Madani, director of health centers in Jeddah, was quoted by the media as saying that 86 centers have been set up for the meningitis vaccine in Jeddah close to ports. The Haj permit is linked to the vaccine for domestic as well as foreign pilgrims.

She said health centers in Rabigh on Al-Jahfa Miqat and Allaith centers in Yalamlam Miqat are ready to receive pilgrims and offer health services, in addition to providing information on health problems that might be encountered by pilgrims and how to deal with them.

Al-Madani said health centers across the Kingdom start work before the Haj season by activating the preventive roles such as meningitis and flu vaccinations to the elderly and pregnant women and issue certificates to pilgrims for Haj permits.

“The health centers also provide therapeutic services for patients suffering from chronic diseases. Eight sectors in the districts of Briman, Al-Salam, Al-Balad, Prince Abdulmajeed, Rabigh, Allaith and Addum have been allocated to provide service,” she added.