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Hajj and Umrah Vaccinations

Hajj Umrah Vaccination Requirements 2025

The Saudi Ministry of Health established vaccine requirements for pilgrims to obtain an Entry Visa for Hajj and to perform Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Health regulations and vaccination requirements were updated in 2024. On October 21, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the KSA announced a new effort to expand the Hajj health smart card initiative that summarizes critical health information, such as immunization status. In 2024, about 250,000 pilgrims from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Oman were issued Hajj health cards as part of the pilot collaboration between WHO and the KSA.

Hajj 1445 vaccinations include the following vaccines:

COVID-19: The Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia recognizes the World Health Organization's Listed COVID-19 vaccines.

Influenza: The Saudi Ministry of Health recommends vaccinating pilgrims against seasonal flu before arrival in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is particularly important for those at increased risk of severe influenza, including pregnant women, children under five years of age, the elderly, and individuals with underlying health conditions.

Meningococcal: Adults and children of nine months or older arriving for Umrah, Hajj, or seasonal work must submit a vaccination certificate against meningitis that they have received the (ACYW135) vaccine issued no more than three years and no less than ten days before arrival in Saudi Arabia. In April 2025, 11 cases of invasive meningococcal disease in the KSA were reported to the WHO.

Additional diseases underscore the need for rigorous surveillance and targeted vaccination strategies to mitigate the risk of transmission during the Hajj. Suggested vaccinations include:

Dengue and Zika Viruses: Aircraft, ships, and other means of transportation arriving in KSA from countries affected with the Zika virus and/or Dengue Fever. Valid certificate indicating that disinsection was applied per the methods recommended by WHO. They may be subjected to inspection as a condition of granting free pratique.

Polio:  All visitors from polio-endemic countries and re-established transmission countries should receive one oral polio vaccine (OPV) dose, regardless of age and vaccination status. Proof of vaccination at least six weeks before departure is required for visitors from polio-endemic and re-established transmission countries to apply for an entry visa for Saudi Arabia, and travelers will also receive one dose of OPV at border points on arrival in Saudi Arabia. In addition, irrespective of previous immunization history, all visitors under 15 years old arriving in Saudi Arabia will receive one dose of OPV at border points.

Yellow Fever: Following the International Health Regulations 2005, all travelers arriving from countries or areas at risk of yellow fever must present a valid International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis showing that the person was vaccinated with either FY-Vax or Stamaril vaccine at least ten days before arrival. In the absence of such a certificate, the individual will be placed under strict surveillance.

General Precautions: It is recommended that all pilgrims update their immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases. These usually include diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, and mumps. Pilgrims planning travel before or after Hajj or Umrah to malaria-risk areas in Asia, Africa, and Latin America should seek advice.

Vaccinations for Pilgrims Within the Kingdom

Primary healthcare centers located in the Kingdom offer vaccinations.

Travel Vaccinations Saudi Arabia

The U.S. Department of State confirms that those wishing to travel to Saudi Arabia to visit Medina or perform Hajj/Umrah should review the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine recommendations. If you travel to Saudi Arabia, ensure you are fully vaccinated before travel, says the CDC. The ECDC reported in 2023 that returning travelers from the Hajj should seek medical attention immediately if they experience symptoms suggestive of any infection.

4 min read
Reviewer: 
Robert Carlson, MD
Holly Lutmer PharmD
Last Reviewed: 
Saturday, April 12, 2025 - 04:55
Description: 
Hajj and Umrah pilgrims are required to be vaccinated before visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Travel: 
Saudi Arabia
0 min read

Since the start of 2021, France's Department of Reunion Island located east of Africa in the Indian Ocean has reported 1,292 dengue cases, confirmed by the European CDC on March 24, 2021.

The majority of dengue cases have been reported from the city of Le Port, with about 34,000 residents located at the northwest corner of Réunion.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that is common in warm, tropical climates. The competent vectors of dengue, Aedes aegypti, and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are found on La Réunion island.

Dengue disease is caused by any one of four closely related viruses (serotypes) that often lead to a wide spectrum of symptoms, including extremely mild cases requiring medical intervention, says the U.S. CDC.

Although rare, ophthalmologic manifestations (loss of vision) have been reported in some patients one week after the onset of the first symptoms of dengue in Reunion.

Reunion launched a public information campaign to reduce dengue outbreaks, encouraging residents to implement preventive measures, such as protecting themselves and their loved ones from mosquito bites, eliminating anything that may contain water around their home, and quickly consult a doctor in the event of symptoms.

The World Health Organization recommends the Dengvaxia vaccine be given to persons with confirmed prior dengue virus infection. However, there may be at risk of developing severe dengue if they get dengue after being vaccinated.

Dengvaxia (CYD-TDV) is a live attenuated tetravalent chimeric vaccine made using recombinant DNA technology by replacing the PrM (pre-membrane) and E (envelope) structural genes of yellow fever attenuated 17D strain vaccine and is indicated for the prevention of dengue disease caused by dengue virus serotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Other dengue vaccines are conducting clinical trials.

To notify international travelers, the U.S. CDC issued a Level 1 Travel Alert on March 1, 2021, regarding dengue outbreaks in many parts of Africa and the Middle East (map).

Vaccine Treats: 
Dengue
Image: 
Live Blog Update Author: 
Karen McClorey Hackett
Reviewer: 
Danielle Reiter, RN
Location Tags: 
France
Vaccine: 
Dengvaxia Dengue Vaccine
0 min read

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) confirmed as of week #12; there have been 175,372 suspected and confirmed dengue cases and 32 associated deaths reported in the Americas region during 2021.

All four dengue virus serotypes (DENV 1, DENV 2, DENV 3, and DENV 4) are currently circulating in the region of the Americas, which increases the risk of severe dengue cases.

The five countries reporting the most dengue cases are Brazil (130,013), Nicaragua (9,207), Peru (7,953), Colombia (7,247), Paraguay (6,938).

To alert international travelers of their dengue risk, the U.S.CDC issued a Level 1 Travel Alert for many parts of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean on March 2, 2021.

Furthermore, the CDC recently confirmed five dengue cases in the continental USA, with the US Territory of Puerto Rico reporting 85 dengue cases during 2021.

Dengue is a disease caused by a virus spread through mosquito bites. Health effects from dengue include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle and joint pain, and minor bleeding.

Dengue can become severe within a few hours. Severe dengue is a medical emergency, usually requiring hospitalization. In severe cases, health effects can include hemorrhage, shock, organ failure, and death says the CDC.

The first approved dengue vaccine, known as Dengvaxia, is a recombinant yellow fever-17D–dengue virus, live, attenuated, tetravalent dengue vaccine, produced by Sanofi Pasteur, and was initially licensed for use in individuals aged from 9 to 45 years during 2016.

The U.S. FDA authorized the Dengvaxia vaccine for limited use in the USA on May 1, 2019, for people with laboratory-confirmed previous dengue infection and living in endemic areas.

There are several dengue vaccine candidates in various stages of a clinical study.

Vaccine Treats: 
Dengue
Image: 
Live Blog Update Author: 
Karen McClorey Hackett
Reviewer: 
Danielle Reiter, RN
Location Tags: 
South America
Vaccine: 
Dengvaxia Dengue Vaccine
0 min read

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative confirmed on March 31, 2021, Afghanistan and Senegal reported polio cases over the last week involving circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2).

And a map showing the latest number of polio cases in each affected country was updated.

Since the launch of the GPEI in 1988, it successfully decreased wild poliovirus cases by over 99%. 

Polio can be prevented with a vaccine. Since 2000, the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is most often given in the USA. It is administered by a shot in the arm or leg, depending on the person’s age, says the U.S. CDC.

The U.S. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Vaccine Recommendations is published on this webpage. Several U.S. FDA Authorized Polio Vaccines are listed on this Vax-Before-Travel webpage.

Vaccine Treats: 
Polio
Image: 
Live Blog Update Author: 
Staff Review
Reviewer: 
Danielle Reiter, RN
Location Tags: 
Middle East
Vaccine: 
IPOL Poliovirus Vaccine
0 min read

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Level 4: Very High Level of COVID-19 in Canada Alert, suggesting should avoid all travel to Canada.

Because of the current pandemic situation in Canada, even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants, stated this CDC Travel Alert published on April 2, 2021.

'If you must travel to Canada, get fully vaccinated before travel,' says the CDC.

If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel to Canada, get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before your trip.

Furthermore, every air passenger coming to the USA, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, must have a negative COVID-19 test result, no more than 3 days before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months before they board a flight to the USA.  

And after returning to the USA, travelers should get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after arrival.

If traveling by air, check if your airline requires any health information, test results, or other documents. Check with your destination's Office of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Health or the US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Country Information page for details about entry requirements and restrictions for arriving travelers.

Vaccine Treats: 
COVID-19
Image: 
Live Blog Update Author: 
Karen McClorey Hackett
Reviewer: 
Danielle Reiter, RN
Location Tags: 
Canada
0 min read

The U.S. CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) reported good news regarding the 2020-2021 flu season.

On April 2, 2021, the CDC's Key Updates for Week #12, ending March 27, 2021, stated 'seasonal influenza activity in the USA remains lower than usual for this time of year. This year is lower than rates for any flu season since routine data collection began in 2005.'

As an example, there has been (1) influenza-associated pediatric fatality reported to CDC this season. This data compares with the last flu season when 198 influenza-associated pediatric fatalities were confirmed.

Previously, on March 29, 2021, the WHO's Influenza Update #390 says 'Globally, despite continued or even increased testing for influenza in some countries, influenza activity remained at lower levels than expected for this time of the year.

In the Northern Hemisphere's temperate zone, influenza activity remained below baseline, though sporadic detections of influenza A and B viruses continued to be reported in some countries.

In the temperate zone of the Southern Hemisphere, influenza activity was reported at an inter-seasonal level.

And in the Caribbean and Central American countries, no influenza detections were reported.

The WHO says, 'The current influenza surveillance data should be interpreted with 'caution' as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has influenced to varying extents health-seeking behaviors around the world.'

Both the CDC and the WHO are already planning for the 2021-2020 flu season. These organizations have instructed the expected viruses flu shot producers can expect to confront. The detailed information is published on this webpage. 

Vaccine Treats: 
Influenza
Image: 
Live Blog Update Author: 
Staff Review
Reviewer: 
Danielle Reiter, RN
Location Tags: 
North America
0 min read

Measles is once again on the rise in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), reported the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on March 31, 2021. The recent upsurge has exceeded 13,000 measles cases since January 1st.

Previously, between 2018 and 2020, the worst measles epidemic ever recorded in DRC tore through the country. In just two years, more than 460,000 children contracted measles, and nearly 8,000 died from it.

Most of these fatalities were children under five years of age.

“Unfortunately, since the end of 2020, several provinces have started recording new increases in patients with measles, notably the North and South Ubangi provinces,” says Anthony Kergosien, coordinator of MSF’s emergency response team in the DRC. "We had to urgently send mobile response teams again to help stem the progression and save as many lives as possible."

"Since we arrived in Bosobolo in mid-February, we have been helping staff to care for their patients in eight health centers and in the general hospital to which complicated cases are referred," explains Faustin Igulu, who is leading the MSF project in Bosobolo.

“More than 1,200 patients have already been treated thanks to our support,” he adds. "The hospital’s capacity had been quickly overwhelmed, so we increased the number of beds where they could treat children, some of whom were in a very advanced stage of measles and associated malnutrition."

A nurse at the Bosobolo General Referral Hospital is providing care to a young patient with measles. North Ubangi, Democratic Republic of Congo, February 2021.

MSF also launched a vaccination campaign for 66,000 children in this isolated health zone, and the work is ongoing with a focus on those living in hard-to-reach areas of the DRC.

'Our teams also trained local health workers in disease surveillance to improve the early detection of new measles outbreaks. However, like many other health zones in DRC, the resources available to local health authorities fall far short of what is needed' says the MSF.

The DRC (Zaire) is located in central sub-Saharan Africa with a population of about 86 million.

Measles is a viral disease spread by coughing, sneezing, or direct contact with nasal or laryngeal secretions.

Children with the disease can face severe complications, as measles ‘erase’ their immune memory, putting their health and lives at risk for years to come.

This immunity reduction creates even greater risks from local, ongoing outbreaks of the Ebola virus, COVID-19, and Polio.

The U.S. CDC says, 'Be aware of current health issues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Learn how to protect yourself. Check the travel vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip.'

Médecins Sans Frontières translates to Doctors without Borders. MSF was founded in 1971 in Paris. Today, it is a worldwide movement of nearly 65,000 people.

Vaccine Treats: 
Measles
Image: 
Live Blog Update Author: 
Karen McClorey Hackett
Reviewer: 
Danielle Reiter, RN
Location Tags: 
Africa
Vaccine: 
M-M-R II Vaccine
0 min read

The World Health Organization (WHO) published its Influenza Update #390 on March 29, 2021, which stated 'despite continued or even increased testing for influenza in some countries, global influenza activity remained at lower levels than expected for this time of the year.'

Worldwide, 'influenza B detections accounted for most of the very low numbers of detections reported.'

The WHO says the 'current influenza surveillance data should be interpreted with caution as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has influenced to varying extents health-seeking behaviors, as well as testing priorities and capacities in Member States.'

In the Northern Hemisphere's temperate zone, which includes Canada, Mexico, and the USA, influenza activity remained below the baseline. However, sporadic detections of influenza A and B viruses continued to be reported in some countries.

Furthermore, in the Caribbean and Central American countries, no influenza detections were reported last week.

In the Southern Hemisphere's temperate zone, such as Brazil, influenza activity was reported at an inter-seasonal level since this flu season is just starting.

For the remainder of the 2020-2021 flu season, the U.S. CDC recommends using any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine as an option for vaccination this season. These include injectable flu vaccines, live attenuated influenza vaccines, or nasal spray.

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu shot every season, with rare exceptions. Vaccination is essential for people at high risk of serious complications from influenza, says the CDC.

Vaccine Treats: 
Influenza
Image: 
Live Blog Update Author: 
Karen McClorey Hackett
Reviewer: 
Danielle Reiter, RN
0 min read

Maryland-based Altimmune, Inc. announced clinical trial data today on its NasoShield intranasal anthrax vaccine candidate. The Phase 1b trial evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of one and two-dose regimens of NasoShield in (42) healthy volunteers.

In contrast to the currently licensed vaccine that requires three injected doses of vaccine over one month for protection, NasoShield is being developed as a single-dose, intranasal anthrax vaccine.

The clinical data from the Phase 1b trial showed that Serum binding antibody responses to the protective antigen of Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium and causative agent of anthrax, was significantly greater than in the placebo arm; Antibody responses blocking anthrax toxin were blunted compared to protective antigen-antibody responses and were low compared to prior studies conducted with BioThrax®, the only approved anthrax vaccine.  

Notably, as with Altimmune’s other intranasally administered replication-deficient adenovirus vaccines, nasal mucosal IgA responses specific for protective antigen were observed in up to 80% of subjects post-vaccination.

The NasoShield product characteristics may also provide for greatly improved logistics in distribution and administration, allowing it to be used more effectively than the currently approved vaccine in the event of an anthrax incident, stated the company's press release.

Altimmune is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing intranasal vaccines, immune-modulating therapies, and treatments for liver disease. 

Vaccine Treats: 
Anthrax
Live Blog Update Author: 
Staff Review
Reviewer: 
Danielle Reiter, RN
Location Tags: 
Gaithersburg
0 min read

The Canadian Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel (CATMAT) Interim Canadian Recommendations for using a fractional dose of yellow fever vaccine during a vaccine shortage was updated on March 9, 2021.

The previous fractional dosage recommendation has been rescinded and is no longer valid as the shortage of the Yellow Fever vaccine has been lifted, says the CARMAT.

The CATMAT now 'recommends that anyone who received a fractional dose of Yellow Fever vaccine while the shortage was in effect should now get a regular dose of the vaccine if traveling to an area where yellow fever vaccination is recommended or required.'

This recommendation is important since yellow fever immunization is required to enter certain countries in Africa and South America regardless of the traveler's country of origin. Other countries require the vaccination of travelers if the traveler has passed through endemic areas.

As an example, the U.S. CDC publishes a map of Brazil's yellow fever endemic areas.

Yellow fever is a disease caused by a virus that is spread through mosquito bites. Symptoms take 3–6 days to develop and include fever, chills, headache, backache, and muscle aches. About 15% of people who get yellow fever develop serious illnesses that can lead to bleeding, shock, organ failure, and sometimes death, says the CDC.

Fractional Vaccine Dosage Background: In 2016, there were calls for the use of a fractional dose of yellow fever vaccine to address a global yellow fever vaccine shortage, a measure that would allow for immunization of a greater number of people during the vaccine shortage.

On June 17, 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement that the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization found that using a fifth of a standard vaccine dose (0.1ml instead of 0.5ml) would protect against yellow fever for at least 12 months. However, the WHO stated that a fractional dose of the yellow fever vaccine would not qualify for a yellow fever certificate under the International Health Regulations.

Canada's Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel provides the Public Health Agency of Canada with ongoing and timely medical, scientific, and public health advice relating to tropical infectious disease and health risks associated with international travel.

Vaccine Treats: 
Yellow Fever
Image: 
Live Blog Update Author: 
Karen McClorey Hackett
Reviewer: 
Danielle Reiter, RN
Location Tags: 
Canada
Vaccine: 
Stamaril Yellow Fever Vaccine