Haj pilgrims need to get meningococcal, flu and Covid-19 jabs before leaving for Mecca
Pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia for the haj pilgrimage are also recommended to ensure they are up to date with other nationally recommended vaccinations. PHOTO: REUTERS
Haj pilgrims need to get meningococcal, flu and Covid-19 jabs before leaving for Mecca
SINGAPORE - Singapore pilgrims making the haj pilgrimage to Mecca need to get meningococcal, influenza and Covid-19 vaccinations before leaving for Saudi Arabia.
The Health Ministry and Communicable Diseases Agency, in a joint statement on May 9, said pilgrims must show proof of getting a single shot of the updated Covid-19 vaccine for the 2024-2025 season or completing a primary vaccination series or laboratory-confirmed recovery from an infection in 2024.
The updated advisory was issued after consulting the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore or Muis, it added.
Pilgrims must also get the meningococcal vaccine - which protects against illnesses like meningitis, septicaemia or pneumonia - at least 10 days before departure, and the influenza jab not more than 12 months before travelling.
Pilgrims must also provide proof of vaccination, the statement added.
'This is to safeguard the health of haj pilgrims throughout their journey, and better protect them from infections while overseas,' it said.
Haj pilgrims were informed of the new requirements earlier, so that they would have time to arrange for the shots before the haj season starts in early June.
Haj pilgrims also need to ensure they are up-to-date with other nationally recommended vaccinations listed in national immunisation schedules.
The statement said: 'For example, elderly and medically vulnerable pilgrims should take the pneumococcal vaccine prior to their trip. Pilgrims should also be aware of the health situation and entry requirements in Saudi Arabia.'
Those intending to travel to Saudi Arabia for the umrah - a minor pilgrimage - should adopt the same recommendations for better protection.
Prospective pilgrims need to consult their healthcare provider for a travel health risk assessment, four to six weeks before travel, before purchasing a haj package from Muis-appointed travel agents.
This includes advice on required or recommended vaccinations and preventive medications.
The statement said: 'Pilgrims are advised to coordinate with their preferred healthcare provider on obtaining the necessary vaccinations, checking the vaccine availability at clinics, and receiving any other recommended preventive medications.'
Pilgrims should also carry physical vaccination certificates and digital vaccination records via the HealthHub app for border checks in Saudi Arabia.
In January, Singapore and Saudi Arabia struck a deal to allow 900 slots for Singaporeans to perform the haj pilgrimage in 2025.
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
S'pore's Covid-19 wave eases as weekly cases and hospitalisations dip
The latest data shows the number of hospitalisations has decreased to about 118 cases daily. PHOTO: ST FILE SINGAPORE - Singapore's recent Covid-19 wave is easing, with the number of cases dipping to about 15,300 weekly, said Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung. The latest data, which Mr Ong called 'encouraging', also shows the number of hospitalisations has decreased to about 118 cases daily. In his Facebook post on June 14, he added that when the wave first picked up in late April, the Republic saw the estimated weekly infections spike to about 26,400 cases. Healthcare institutions in Singapore also faced increased patient load, with daily Covid-19 hospitalisations reaching around 174 cases. 'The good news is that ICU cases remained consistently low throughout this wave, staying at just about two to three cases daily,' Mr Ong said. 'This shows how our healthcare system has built up stronger resilience in managing Covid-19.' Amid signs that the wave is slowing down, he said that wastewater surveillance readings have also declined, referring to the quick and accurate barometer to detect diseases. In his post, Mr Ong reminded the public that similar to seasonal influenzas, such Covid-19 waves can still put pressure on Singapore's healthcare system. He added that Singaporeans must continue to prepare for new pandemics or future waves. 'We will keep monitoring the situation closely, particularly the emergence of new variants, and update the public accordingly,' he said. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Israeli fire kills 35 people in Gaza, many at aid site, medics say
FILE PHOTO: Military vehicles manoeuvre in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo CAIRO - Israeli fire and airstrikes killed at least 35 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, most of them near an aid distribution site operated by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, local health authorities said. Medics at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa Hospitals in central Gaza areas, where most of the casualties were moved to, said at least 15 people were killed as they tried to approach the GHF aid distribution site near the Netzarim corridor. The rest were killed in separate attacks across the enclave, they added. There has been no immediate comment by the Israeli military or the GHF on Saturday's incidents. The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May, overseeing a new model of aid distribution which the United Nations says is neither impartial nor neutral. The Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Saturday that at least 274 people have so far been killed, and more than 2,000 wounded, near aid distribution sites since the GHF began operations in Gaza. Hamas, which denies Israeli charges that it steals aid, accused Israel of "employing hunger as a weapon of war and turning aid distribution sites into traps of mass deaths of innocent civilians." Later on Saturday, health officials at Shifa Hospital in Gaza said Israeli fire killed at least 12 Palestinians, who gathered to wait for aid trucks along the coastal road north of the strip, taking Saturday's death toll to at least 35. The Israeli military ordered residents of Khan Younis and the nearby towns of Abassan and Bani Suhaila in the southern Gaza Strip to leave their homes and head west towards the so-called humanitarian zone, saying it would forcefully work against "terror organisations" in the area. The war in Gaza erupted 20 months ago after Hamas-led militants raided Israel and took 251 hostages and killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, on October 7, 2023, Israel's single deadliest day. Israel's military campaign since has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to health authorities in Gaza, and flattened much of the densely populated strip, which is home to more than two million people. Most of the population is displaced, and malnutrition is widespread. Despite efforts by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to restore a ceasefire in Gaza, neither Israel nor Hamas has shown willingness to back down on core demands, with each side blaming the other for the failure to reach a deal. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Israeli fire kills 23 people in Gaza, many at aid site, medics say
FILE PHOTO: Military vehicles manoeuvre in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo CAIRO - Israeli fire and airstrikes killed at least 23 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, most of them near an aid distribution site operated by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, local health authorities said. Medics at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa Hospitals in central Gaza areas, where most of the casualties were moved to, said at least 15 people were killed as they tried to approach the GHF aid distribution site near the Netzarim corridor. The rest were killed in separate attacks across the enclave, they added. There has been no immediate comment by the Israeli military or the GHF on Saturday's incidents. The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May, overseeing a new model of aid distribution which the United Nations says is neither impartial nor neutral. The Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Saturday at least 274 people have so far been killed, and more than 2,000 wounded, near aid distribution sites since the GHF began operations in Gaza. Later on Saturday, the Israeli military ordered residents of Khan Younis and the nearby towns of Abassan and Bani Suhaila in the southern Gaza Strip to leave their homes and head west towards the so-called humanitarian zone area, saying it would forcefully work against "terror organizations" in the area. The war in Gaza erupted 20 months ago after Hamas-led militants raided Israel and took 251 hostages and killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, on October 7, 2023, Israel's single deadliest day. Israel's military campaign since has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to health authorities in Gaza, and flattened much of the densely populated strip, which is home to more than two million people. Most of the population is displaced, and malnutrition is widespread. Despite efforts by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to restore a ceasefire in Gaza, neither Israel nor Hamas has shown willingness to back down on core demands, with each side blaming the other for the failure to reach a deal. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
