Health Ministry announces requirements for Hajj vaccinations

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) announced the health requirements for Hajj vaccinations for the 1446 AH (2025) season, reaffirming i...

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) announced the health requirements for Hajj vaccinations for the 1446 AH (2025) season, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of pilgrims to the Holy Mosque and visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque. These measures are designed to enable pilgrims to perform their rituals safely while minimising the risks of infectious diseases and their complications.

The MoPH clarified that the required vaccines for this year include the mandatory meningococcal (quadrivalent ACYW-135) vaccine for all pilgrims. The COVID-19 vaccine is compulsory for those at higher risk, such as pilgrims over 65 years of age, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic conditions including chronic heart or respiratory diseases, chronic kidney failure, hereditary blood disorders (such as sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia), congenital or acquired immunodeficiency (including those on immunosuppressive medications or with cancer), and chronic neurological diseases. The ministry also recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for all individuals aged 18 and above and advises all pilgrims to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine.

The vaccination or immunization against COVID-19 is demonstrated by the individual having received at least one of the following: a single dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024-2025 season, or the completion of the primary doses (two or more doses between 2021 and 2023), or recovery from a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection during 2024.

The ministry also recommends that all pilgrims receive the seasonal flu vaccine.Additional optional vaccines are available to protect the elderly and those most at risk of complications, such as the pneumococcal vaccine for individuals aged 65 and over, as well as those aged 18 to 64 with chronic diseases or risk factors, including diabetes, sickle cell anaemia, kidney failure, immunodeficiency, splenectomy, chronic respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, and smokers. The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine is also recommended for those aged 60 and above.

All Hajj vaccines are available at primary healthcare centres throughout the country. The ministry emphasised the importance of receiving the required vaccinations at least 10 days prior to travelling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.