Vaccination for Hajj to Start Next Week

Vaccination of hajj pilgrims against communicable diseases and infections, particularly respiratory, will begin from next week, said deputy of the Hajj Medical Center at Iran’s Red Crescent Society.

“Around 55,000 vaccines have been imported so far and double the number is expected to arrive within few days,” Seyyed-Ali Mar’ashi was quoted as saying by ILNA.

Iran’s medical team comprising 580 physicians will fly to Saudi Arabia on July 4 in preparation for the healthcare services to be provided to Iranian pilgrims. Medicines are currently being packed, and 400 different types of medicines will be made available, while syrups and serums will be purchased from Saudi Arabia, he added.

Outbreaks of infectious diseases that spread, in particular respiratory infections and influenza, are common amongst hajj congregations in Mecca. The hajj, which brings together 3 to 5 million pilgrims from around the world is one of the world’s biggest religious gatherings.

The hajj is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the most holy city of Muslims.

The pilgrimage takes place from the 8th to 12th (or in some cases 13th) of the Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar (corresponding to Aug.30-Sep.04, this year). In addition to the annual hajj, which is tied to specific date in the Islamic calendar, Muslims can also take the smaller pilgrimage called Umrah round the year.

Iran and Saudi Arabia don’t have diplomatic ties at present.

The January 2016 attacks on the Saudi Embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad, carried out by protesters infuriated by Riyadh’s execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, without due process, led to the complete severance of diplomatic ties between the two sides.

Iran had also decided to stop sending pilgrims to hajj over security concerns after two deadly incidents claimed the lives of more than 470 Iranian pilgrims during the 2015 rituals.

But Iranians will attend this year’s hajj after Saudi officials agreed to make the necessary arrangements for Iranians to participate, Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization announced in March.

The arrangements were finalized after a bilateral meeting in February, when an agreement was reached with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on sending 85,000 pilgrims to hajj this year.

Saudi Arabia’s official SPA news agency reported that the kingdom had completed all necessary arrangements for Iranian pilgrims to attend the pilgrimage.