The Saudi health authorities have urged all Muslims wishing to perform the Umrah or minor pilgrimage during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan to get the meningitis vaccine at least 10 days before travelling to Mecca. The Saudi Ministry of Health said the preventive measure aims to enhance pilgrims’ immunity against infections that may be transmitted in crowded places.  The ministry added that the vaccine provides protection for five years, thereby bolstering personal and collective protection, and helping maintain public health during the Umrah season. People who received the vaccine in the past five years do not need to be revaccinated, according to the ministry. It advised worshippers to observe other preventive measures such as washing hands regularly and wearing a face mask in crowded places. Ramadan traditionally marks the peak season of the Umrah in the Grand Mosque, Islam’s most sacred place in the Saudi city of Mecca, amid stepped-up preparations from authorities in the country to cope with the expected influx of worshippers. The current season of Umrah, which can be undertaken around the year, began in late June after the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The main rituals of the Umrah are encircling the Holy Kaaba […]