Table of contents:
- Get to know meningitis and important reasons for vaccines before visiting Saudi Arabia
- Meningitis vaccine for prospective pilgrims
- 1. The best time to receive the vaccine
- 2. Age limit that is mandatory for meningitis vaccine
- 3. The type of meningitis vaccine
- 4. Preventive measures other than vaccines
- 5. Take vitamin C
Meningitis vaccine is a mandatory preparation for congregations who will undergo the pilgrimage. In order to maintain body fitness during worship, one of the requirements that must be fulfilled is the meningitis vaccine.
Before that, find out about the meningitis vaccine and why you need to get it before the pilgrimage.
Get to know meningitis and important reasons for vaccines before visiting Saudi Arabia
There are four mandatory vaccines that you must get before leaving for the pilgrimage, one of which is meningitis. There are various pilgrims who participate in the pilgrimage in the holy land. They come from different countries where we don't know what their medical history is like. During worship, the possibility of disease transmission is greater, including meningitis.
Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the sub-Saharan Africa region is dubbed as meningitis belt. Because the spread of this disease is higher in the region.
Do not rule out the congregation who came from the African region. However, meningitis can come from any country. Therefore, the Saudi Arabian government has appealed to every congregation who will carry out the pilgrimage to get a meningitis vaccine.
Menigitis disease is mostly caused by bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, but can also be caused by viruses. This disease can affect children, adolescents, and adults.
Meningitis has almost flu-like initial symptoms and is accompanied by the following signs.
- fever
- headache
- stiff neck
- nausea and vomiting
- sensitive to light
- unable to concentrate
Meningitis can be caught through coughs, colds, and kissing. When meningitis bacteria are in the throat or nose of individuals, transmission will be easier in the environment of many people, such as in military barracks, dormitories, indoors, including during the pilgrimage.
Therefore, find out about the preparation of the meningitis vaccine for pilgrims who will carry out the pilgrimage.
Meningitis vaccine for prospective pilgrims
The transmission of meningitis and its effects is quick and easy. Therefore, the meningitis vaccine is mandatory for preparation before undergoing the pilgrimage.
Here are some things to note about the meningitis vaccine.
1. The best time to receive the vaccine
In addition to maintaining your health so that your body remains fit for the pilgrimage, don't forget to get the meningitis vaccine. The Saudi Arabian government has advised pilgrims who wish to worship in the holy land, they are required to have meningitis injections at least 10 days before the scheduled departure.
2. Age limit that is mandatory for meningitis vaccine
Hajj pilgrims and travelers aged 2 years and over are required to administer the meningitis vaccine. For parents aged 55 years and over, they are still allowed to receive the meningitis vaccine as a preventive measure.
3. The type of meningitis vaccine
Meningitis vaccines that can still be accepted for prospective pilgrims are:
- Meningococcal conjugate ACYW135 vaccine within the last 5 years
- ACYW 135 polysaccharide vaccine in the last 3 years
Don't forget to prepare a vaccine certification that clearly states the type of vaccine you have received. If the type of vaccine is not clearly stated, the certification is only valid for a period of 3 years.
4. Preventive measures other than vaccines
According to research in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, a preventive step that can be taken to complement the meningitis vaccine is antibiotic prophylaxis.
Antibiotic prophylaxis is a treatment that aims to prevent certain diseases or infections. Usually, this treatment is done to prevent infectious diseases for which there is no vaccine.
5. Take vitamin C
Even though you have received the meningitis vaccine as preparation for Hajj, you need to maintain your immune system by consuming vitamin C. According to research from the journal Nutrients, Vitamin C helps white blood cells fight infection, and protects the body from oxidative stress due to free radicals.
You can consume vitamin C from foods such as oranges, strawberries, kiwi, broccoli, peppers, kale, and spinach. In addition, you can supplement your daily vitamin C intake with certain supplement products. We recommend that you take supplements in an effervescent format (water soluble tablets).
Besides being effective at increasing endurance, at the same time this solution increases fluid intake in the body to avoid dehydration.
