The University Medical Center at Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) is pleased to announce the launch of seasonal flu and meningitis vaccination campaign for the year 1427H across all of the university’s colleges, departments and institutes in Makkah in tandem with the General Directorate of Health Affairs in Makkah.

Dr. Yassir bin Hassan Bahakeem, the director general of the University Medical Center, announced that the immunization will start on Sunday 4/11/1437H and runs through Thursday 29/11/1437H.

He said the vaccination teams will visit the different locations in coordination with the vaccination supervisors at the males and females sections.

Bahakeem said the vaccines will be available all day throughout the campaign duration at the University Medical Center main headquarters in Azizia and its branch at the Deanship of University Studies for Girls in Al Zaher to guarantee that everybody gets vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has decided that the immunizations be carried out as follows:

First: Seasonal flu vaccination

• The First Phase (before the hajj season) targets medical cadres, non-medical staff working in hajj, domestic pilgrims and those seeking to be immunized.
• The Second Phase (after the hajj season) targets those who missed the vaccination during the first phase in addition to those at risk of flu infection (children, pregnant women, elders, patients with chronic diseases like diabetes and asthma).
• The targeted people will be immunized irrespective of any vaccines previously administered to them because the composition of the new vaccine differs from previous ones.

Second: Meningitis vaccination targets all citizens and residents

• ACWY conjugate meningitis vaccine (Aramen) administered from 9-month infants to 65 year olds.
• The Meningococcal ACYW-135 Polysaccharide vaccine is administered to +65 year olds.
• Vaccination is administered to those who have not been immunized during the past three years.

Dr. Bahakeem underlined the importance of the seasonal flu and meningitis immunization before the hajj season.

He stressed the need to cooperate with and facilitate the work of the vaccination teams during their visits to the different locations to do their work the best they can.

Dr. Bahakeem valued, meanwhile, the support from and attention of Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) President Dr. Bakri bin M’atooq Assas as well as the continued follow-up of and directives from Vice President Dr. Yasser ibn Soliman Shushu to improve the treatment and preventive healthcare services offered by the University Medical Center to all students, affiliate students and those eligible to receive the Center’s services.

Dr. Bahakeem expressed hope that the immunization campaign would achieve its goals.