Even though at this time the meningitis vaccine is no longer a mandatory requirement for prospective Umrah pilgrims, we are still advising pilgrims to be careful by taking meningitis vaccination.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture is advising Umrah pilgrims to get the meningitis vaccine before leaving for Saudi Arabia despite a relaxation in the vaccination requirement.

"Even though at this time the meningitis vaccine is no longer a mandatory requirement for prospective Umrah pilgrims, we are still advising pilgrims to be careful by taking meningitis vaccination," the ministry's deputy for coordination of health quality improvement and population development, Agus Suprapto, informed in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The meningitis vaccine could provide optimal protection to those who have been vaccinated, including pilgrims who have comorbidities, he explained.

"Over the past 20 years, cases of meningitis and deaths in Indonesia have continued to decline. I think this is also an important part of the pilgrims' discipline who always receive meningitis vaccines," Suprapto said.

According to him, meningitis vaccination is also needed to prevent outbreaks from occurring.

"If there is an outbreak of encephalitis, it definitely requires great effort to control it; so, as an anticipatory step, it is recommended that the meningitis vaccine remain," he said.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has determined that the meningitis vaccine is no longer mandatory for Umrah pilgrims, but is still compulsory for Hajj pilgrims.

The decision is based on Circular Letter (SE) Number HK.02.02/C.I/9325/2022 concerning the implementation of meningitis vaccination for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, issued on November 11, 2022, and signed by the secretary general of the Ministry of Health, Kunta Wibawa Dasa Nugraha.

However, the Ministry of Health has welcomed Umrah pilgrims who still want to take the meningitis vaccine to protect their health.

The letter states that the vaccination can be obtained at health facilities providing international vaccination services.

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Translator: Wuryanti Puspitasari, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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