KARACHI: Pakistani travellers heading to Saudi Arabia for Umrah or Hajj are not required to offer proof of Neisseria meningitis vaccination, because the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority has suspended the requirement, ARY Information reported.
Saudi Basic Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued a brand new round on Thursday for travellers from numerous international locations.
In line with Khaleej Occasions, the brand new directive has been despatched to all airways working in Saudi Arabia’s airports, together with non-public carriers, for compliance, reversing a earlier round issued final month mandating meningitis photographs.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Well being had mandated the meningitis vaccine for all Umrah pilgrims, no matter their visa sort.
The vaccine needed to be administered not more than three years and a minimum of ten days earlier than arrival in Saudi Arabia.
In the meantime, vacationers now solely required proof of polio vaccination, as mandated by the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority.
In line with Saudi Basic Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), this regulation applies to vacationers from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, and different international locations.
Vacationers should receive a polio vaccination certificates or an inactivated poliovirus vaccine certificates not less than 4 weeks previous to their arrival in Saudi Arabia.
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Nevertheless, these in transit who full their journey inside 12 hours and stay inside the transit space can be exempt from this requirement.
Airways have been instructed to totally confirm the vaccination certificates of vacationers arriving from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Mozambique. Failure to adjust to these rules will end in authorized motion and extreme penalties towards these accountable.