A person making the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia (the Hajj) may be required to have or may benefit from a number of vaccinations. In addition, attention should be paid to other infectious and environmental risks associated with the trip.
Vaccinations:
(1) Neisseria meningitidis (required for all visitors)
(2) hepatitis A
(3) hepatitis B
(4) typhoid
(5) tetanus and diphtheria (Td)
(6) measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
(7) yellow fever (required if from or traveling through an endemic country)
(8) influenza
(9) pneumococcal
(10) polio
Other infectious disease precautions:
(1) Advice on food and water borne diseases.
(2) For men, not sharing a razor with others during the ritual shave.
(3) Malaria prophylaxis
Other health concerns:
(1) Prevention of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
(2) Avoidance of stampedes
(3) Avoidance of foot burns and sunburn.
(4) Carrying footwear in a bag at all times (since footwear must be removed before prayer it is easy to lose or switch footwear with someone else).
(5) Evaluation for general health status, since the trip may be too strenuous for the elderly or for a person with serious comorbid conditions.
(6) Availability of necessary medicines, especially insulin for diabetics, with instructions for proper storage in a hot environment.
(7) For women, delay in menstrual bleeding through daily progesterone or a combined contraceptive pill (a menstruating woman is considered impure and is not permitted to perform the Hajj).
(8) Advice about wearing contact lenses in a sandy and hot environment.
