Protect against polio this Hajj

Saudi Arabia has issued health requirements for travellers during the Hajj season

Late August marks the beginning of the Hajj season – the annual pilgrimage of Muslims to Mecca – bringing together people from all over the world. While a holy time of pilgrimage, this also presents health risks as people are coming together from many countries where they may have been exposed to different infectious diseases.

The Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia has issued health requirements and recommendations for entry into Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season, including requirements relating to polio vaccination. Regardless of age, all travellers from certain, specified countries must show proof of vaccination against polio within the last twelve months, and at least four weeks before departure. All travellers from these countries will also receive one dose of oral polio vaccine on arrival in Saudi Arabia.

These requirements apply to travellers from the following countries:

WHO African Region	Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan
WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region	Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen
WHO South-East Asian Region	Myanmar
WHO Western Pacific Region	Lao People’s Democratic Republic
WHO European Region	Ukraine