Pakistani travellers heading to Saudi Arabia for Umrah or Hajj are no longer required to provide proof of Neisseria meningitis vaccination, as the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority has suspended the requirement.
Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued a new circular on Thursday for travellers from various countries.
According to Khaleej Times, the new directive has been sent to all airlines operating in Saudi Arabia’s airports, including private carriers, for compliance, reversing a previous circular issued last month mandating meningitis shots.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health had mandated the meningitis vaccine for all Umrah pilgrims, regardless of their visa type.
The vaccine had to be administered no more than three years and no less than ten days before arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, travelers now only required proof of polio vaccination, as mandated by the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority.
According to Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), this regulation applies to travelers from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, and other countries.
