Saudi Arabia Adds Vaccination Requirements for 2025 Hajj & Umrah Pilgrims: Here are the Provisions!

The Saudi Arabian government has updated its vaccination requirements for the 2025 Hajj and Umrah. Starting February 1, 2025, pilgrims must receive meningitis and the polio vaccine before traveling to Saudi Arabia.

Regarding the new policy, the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) Jeddah informed that the Saudi Arabian government had issued the 2025 Hajj and Umrah requirements for travelers, both those who wish to perform the Umrah pilgrimage and those who visit the Grand Mosque and its surrounding areas, such as Mecca, Jeddah, Medina, and Thaif, throughout the year 1446 H/2025 AD.

"Every traveler from Indonesia is required to receive meningitis and poliomyelitis vaccines," said the official statement from the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah issued on Thursday (30/1).

The Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah added that the meningitis vaccine must be given at least 10 days before arrival in Saudi Arabia.

Proof of this vaccination will be recorded in the International Vaccine Yellow Book, or ICV (International Certificate of Vaccination), and is mandatory for the 2025 Hajj and Umrah.

For the IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine), pilgrims must receive at least one dose no later than four weeks before departure. If IPV is unavailable, a single dose of oral polio vaccine (OPV) can be used as an alternative.

Travelers are advised to get a dose (OPV) within the previous six months that has been administratively proven to have been given at least four weeks before arrival in Saudi Arabia.

Mandatory and recommended vaccine types

1. Meningitis vaccine

The meningitis vaccine protects against meningococcal diseases, which can cause brain inflammation and spinal cord. This meningitis can lead to permanent brain damage or death.

Due to the high incidence of meningitis in certain regions, Saudi Arabia requires all Hajj and Umrah pilgrims—as well as visitors from 17 sub-Saharan African countries—to be vaccinated. Close interactions with international travelers during the pilgrimage increase the risk of transmission.

This vaccine is mandatory for travelers ages one year and older. In Indonesia, there are two types of meningitis vaccines: conjugate and polysaccharide.

• The conjugate vaccine can be administered from nine months of age in two doses, spaced three months apart. Children aged nine months to two years require only one dose.

• The polysaccharide vaccine is available for individuals aged two years and older and requires just one dose.
   

2. Polio vaccine

Polio vaccines, particularly IPV, protect against poliovirus, which can cause paralysis and even death. Polio is transmitted through contaminated food and water, making vaccination essential for preventing outbreaks.

Polio is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Therefore, the polio vaccine is the most effective in preventing transmission and preventing the occurrence of this disease.

Additional recommended vaccines

While the meningitis and polio vaccines are mandatory, the following vaccinations are also recommended for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims:

1. COVID-19 vaccination (at least one booster according to Indonesian regulations).
2. Influenza vaccine.
3. Other vaccines for prevention (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); poliomyelitis; and chickenpox).

How to get vaccinated and the Yellow Book

If you plan to undertake the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage or travel to any of the 17 sub-Saharan African countries, ensure you meet the vaccination requirements.

GWS Medika Kalibata City and GWS Medika Green Pramuka Clinics provide meningitis and polio vaccines and issue the Yellow Book.

Don’t delay—protect yourself and ensure a smooth pilgrimage. Contact us today to schedule your vaccination!