Doha,
Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has outlined the health
requirements and vaccination guidelines for the Hajj 1447H/2026 season, aimed
at protecting pilgrims and visitors to the Holy Sites.
For
this year, the ministry has mandated that all pilgrims receive the quadrivalent
meningococcal (ACYW-135) vaccine. Additionally, the COVID-19 vaccine is
mandatory for high-risk groups, including individuals over 65, pregnant women,
and those with chronic conditions such as heart or respiratory disease, kidney
failure, or hereditary blood disorders. The Ministry further recommends that
all individuals aged 18 and older receive the COVID-19 vaccine and advises all
pilgrims to obtain the seasonal influenza vaccine.
Optional
vaccinations are also available to protect the most vulnerable, including the
pneumococcal vaccine for those aged 65 and over or adults with specific risk
factors, and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for individuals aged
60 and older. All required vaccinations can be accessed at primary healthcare
centers throughout Qatar, but they must be administered at least 10 days before
traveling to Saudi Arabia to ensure proper immunity.
To ensure a safe journey, the MoPH encourages pilgrims with chronic illnesses to consult their doctors well in advance and secure a sufficient supply of medication for their trip. In collaboration with the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and the Qatar Red Crescent, the ministry has also published the Pilgrim's Health Guide. This resource, available on the MoPH website, provides essential preventive and educational guidelines for every stage of the pilgrimage. These efforts align with the National Health Strategy 2024–2030, which prioritizes proactive disease prevention to safeguard the health and well-being of the community.
