The letter, signed by the ministry's Secretary General, Kunta Wibawa Dasa Nugraha, on July 11, has changed the meningitis vaccination status from "recommended" to "mandatory." The mandate is imposed on national health units handling vaccinations for people about to travel overseas.
"The circular from the Health Ministry is a follow-up to Circular Letter on Mandatory Vaccination for Travelers issued by Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry," the ministry's director of surveillance and health quarantine, Achmad Farchanny Tri Adryanto, noted in a statement received here on Thursday.
Citing a diplomatic note from that country's embassy dated May 20, Adryanto stated that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has updated the health requirements of pilgrims through “Umrah Health Requirements and Recommendations for Travelers to Saudi Arabia for Umrah—1445 H (2024).”
He noted that the document also outlines Saudi Arabia's measures to monitor the state's entryways to prevent diseases, including meningitis.
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Moreover, the document elaborates on preventive measures targeting people from countries often hit by the meningitis epidemic, countries at risk of the disease's epidemic, and countries with a Neisseria epidemic that are not receiving the meningitis vaccination.
He explained that Neisseria meningitidis is the bacteria that causes meningitis meningococcus. He added that African countries are often hit by and at risk of the epidemic, as per WHO's 2015 International Travel and Health.
Adryanto stated that Saudi Arabia's Transportation Ministry will strictly enforce mandatory vaccination starting in July 2024. He noted that Umrah pilgrims seeking entry will be checked for their vaccination status.
He expected pilgrims-to-be to get vaccinated and complete their relevant health requirements documentation immediately.
Related news: Ministry confirms resumption of meningitis vaccine distribution
Reporter: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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