the Council of British Haji's (Pilgrims) | the CBH | Practical Hajj and Umrah Advice Centre

official response to swine flu requirement to the article below

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Re: Clarification on Swine flu for British pilgrims sought
From: contact@hajinformation.com
Date: Sun, November 1, 2009 1:02 pm
To: "the Council of British Hajjis (Pilgrims)" <info@the-cbh.org.uk>
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Assalaamu Alaikum

Thank you for your email.

We have been advised by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj that
it is NOT mandatory for pilgrims to be vaccinated against swine
flu. This resolves the problem.
--

Best regards,
Haj Information Website

Hajj pilgrims may be told to take swine flu vaccine

Friday 30th October, 2009
Article published by the Independent.co.uk

British Muslims may be required to provide flu vaccination certificates if they want to participate in the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca at the end of November, Saudi Arabia has warned.

The pilgrimage, the largest and densest international gathering in the world, presents unique hazards for the spread of the swine flu virus. The H1N1 vaccine is the best method of limiting its transmission, said Ziad Memish, assistant deputy minister for preventative medicine in Saudi Arabia.

More than 2.5 million Muslim pilgrims from over 160 countries will descend on Saudi Arabia between 25 and 29 November, congregating in huge crowds where the flu virus can spread more easily, Dr Memish said.

Video: 'Flu vaccine is safe' says government

The Saudi government has asked Britain whether the vaccine will be available to Muslims two weeks prior to the Hajj. If so, British pilgrims may require proof of vaccination from British authorities in order to receive a visa.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said yesterday that there were an estimated 78,000 new cases of swine flu in England in the past week. This is up from 53,000 recorded the week before, but falls short of the 100,000 cases seen at the peak in July.

There are currently 751 people in hospital with the virus. The number of swine flu deaths in England now stands at 97, with seven in Wales, 25 in Scotland and eight in Northern Ireland.

Although the vaccine is being delivered to GP surgeries, it will only be available to high-risk groups by mid-December. People with heart disease, cancer, asthma and diabetes are first in line for the jabs, alongside pregnant women and frontline NHS staff. Saudi Arabia has asked whether the vaccine will also be available to Hajj pilgrims.

"We are hoping that the countries sending the pilgrims will comply with giving the vaccine. And we think that would probably be the best measure to prevent the spread of the disease outside the country," Dr Memish said.

In a policy report published in the journal Science, Dr Memish and his colleagues warned that the Hajj represents a "public health security challenge of extraordinary dimensions" because so many people from around the world will be gathering in large crowds.

"Hajj-related exportation of [the] H1N1 virus by returning pilgrims could potentially initiate waves of outbreaks worldwide and burden healthcare systems. No region can be considered free from risk. For example, pilgrims originating from North America (more than 15,000) and Europe (more than 45,000) pass through major airline hubs of the world on their journey, which increases the risk of international spread of the virus," the authors said.

Source: the Independent.co.uk

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/hajj-pilgrims-may-be-told-to-take-swine-flu-vaccine-1811722.html

CBH email to Professor Dr Ziad Memish

Friday 30th October, 2009

Assalamu alaikum

Dear Dr Ziad,

I am writing to you in connection with an article published today in the Independent in relation to the take up of swine flu vaccination prior to the Hajj and that the Saudi Government has asked the British to inoculate the pilgrims if the vaccine is available 2 weeks prior to travel - see link below.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/hajj-pilgrims-may-be-told-to-take-swine-flu-vaccine-1811722.html

The swine flu vaccination has now been made available since last week in the UK however, it is only for those who are in the 'at risk' category in terms of health and not for the general pilgrims. Dr Mohammed Jiva who works closely with us and is part of the British Hajj Delegation of medical doctors has written to the Chief Medical Officer - Sir Liam Donaldson to have the pilgrims put onto the at risk group so that they can take the vaccinations some 3 weeks ago, as yet we are awaiting a reply.

The problem we posses is as follows:

1) The current visa requirement for hajj stipulates the need for Meningitis and Seasonal Flu (swine flu is not globally and readily available) on the Saudi Embassy website and this is the only thing the British Hajjis has had to go on along with advice posted onto the Foreign Office's website www.fco.gov.uk/hajj .

2) Applications for Hajj visas has already commenced this week and many have submitted their passports to the Saudi embassy - a retrospective requirement for swine flu will be hard to administer and enforce

3) the first flights from the UK to Saudi left early this week.

4) If the requirement for swine flu jabs is enforced it maybe too late as visas may already have been issued before this message gets out to tour operators and pilgrims - will these people then be denied entry at Jeddah?

5) Furthermore there will be confusion as to the requirements of the jabs and more the availability to pilgrims causing undue stress and delays. As you can see, although the requirement for the swine flu jab in essence would safeguard and limit the risk of infection.

The practicalities involved and availability as we near the Hajj season maybe hard to enforce. I would be grateful if you could communicate any information you obtain from the UK so that we can then let the 25000 or so British pilgrims and tour operators know of the requirement.

I am happy to discuss any details and am available on the telephone numbers/email below. In anticipation of your reply.

Rashid
Director, the Council of British Hajjis

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