ABU DHABI // Health officials are urging pilgrims attending Umrah during Ramadan to be vaccinated against infectious diseases.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention also recommended they follow its recommendations to remain free of disease during their time in Saudi Arabia.
Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, director of public health and research for the Health Authority Abu Dhabi, said that Umrah would expose pilgrims to contact with others and that could lead to the spread of diseases.
She urged all travellers to take the necessary vaccinations at least two weeks before their Umrah pilgrimage.
A working group has been set up by Haad and Dubai Health Authority to monitor the health of pilgrims.
The World Health Organisation has recommended that pilgrims get vaccinations against meningitis. Doctors and health experts in the UAE advised that Umrah pilgrims are vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal disease.
Dr Al Rand said pneumococcal disease was particularly infectious as it “poses a threat for people carrying the disease in their nasal passages, potentially exposing others to the risk of developing the disease through close contact via respiratory droplets that are sneezed or coughed and which can lead to other complications”.
Vaccination, he said, was the most effective countermeasure against those diseases.
Dr Nahid Youssef, director of preventive medicine division for Dubai Health Authority, reminded pilgrims of the importance of consulting their doctors before they travelled to make sure that their health was in a stable condition.
She also reminded people with chronic conditions to carry sufficient doses of their medication with them during their pilgrimage.
Haj and Umrah vaccines are available at 52 primary health care centres and nine preventive medicine centres across the UAE.
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