Prior to performing Hajj or Umrah, pilgrims are required to undergo meningococcal meningitis vaccination. To find out the reasons behind the importance of doing this, let's take a look at this article.
Pilgrims of Hajj and Umrah are required to undergo meningococcal meningitis vaccination before heading to the holy land. This vaccination is carried out at a designated place, such as a puskesmas, hospital, or port health office.
Many worshipers are still questioning the importance of this vaccination. Not a few also think that the meningococcal meningitis vaccination is only done to get an International Vaccination Certificate (International Certificate of Vaccination/ICV) as a condition for making a visa, and can be done at any time.
Recognizing Meningococcal Meningitis
Meningococcal meningitis is meningitis due to bacterial infection Neisseria meningitidis. These bacteria generally cause ARI, but if it enters the bloodstream and is carried to the brain, it can cause meningitis.
Bacteria N. meningitidis transmitted through splashes of saliva, for example when an infected person sneezes or coughs, which is then inhaled by other people. The spread is more risky among people who gather in close proximity, such as in Hajj or Umrah pilgrims.
After contracting meningococcal meningitis, patients may develop symptoms within 2-10 days. Some of the symptoms are:
- High fever
- Stiff neck
- Dizziness and headache
- Red rash on the skin
- Easy to feel dazzled
- Nauseous vomit
- Seizures
- Confusion or loss of consciousness (coma)
If not treated immediately, meningococcal meningitis is at risk of causing serious complications, such as brain damage, blindness, deafness, sepsis, and even death.
The Importance of Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccination
This vaccination needs to be done because meningococcal meningitis is very dangerous. When performing the pilgrimage, pilgrims from all over the world (more than 180 countries) will gather in the holy land. This causes the risk of being exposed to bacteria during worship is very high, especially if you go without vaccination.
Vaccination is one of the efforts to protect the health of the Hajj as stated in the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Number 62 of 2016 concerning the implementation of Hajj health.
This provision is a follow-up to the Diplomatic Memorandum of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Jakarta No. 211/94/71/577 dated June 1, 2006. That every newcomer to Saudi Arabia, including Hajj/Umrah pilgrims and workers, is required to receive quadrivalent meningitis vaccination. (ACYW135). That means, the Saudi Arabian embassy will only issue a travel visa to the country if an ICV card is obtained after the pilgrims have vaccinated.
Meningococcal meningitis vaccination is given no later than 14 days or about 2-3 weeks before departure. Based on research, immunity to meningococcal infection can be formed in about a month after vaccination. Once again, for those of you who intend to go to the holy land of Mecca, please visit a doctor at the health center or designated hospital, to undergo this vaccination.
Written by:
dr. Meristika Yuliana Dewi
