The University Medical Center at Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) announced the launch of the seasonal flu and meningitis vaccination campaign for the year 1440 A.H. across all of the university’s colleges, departments and institutes in Makkah. The campaign will be launched in cooperation with the Administration of Public Health, represented in the General Department of Infectious Diseases Control at the General Directorate of Health Affairs in Makkah Al-Mukarramah.

The Director General of the University Medical Center, Dr. Yassir bin Hassan Bahakim, announced that the immunization will start on Sunday 4 Dhul-Qi`dah 1440 A.H., and will last until Thursday 29 Dhul-Qi`dah 1440 A.H. It will be conducted through visits by the vaccine teams to the sites, in coordination with the vaccine campaign supervisors of the male and female sections. Vaccines will also be administered at the University Medical Center in Al-Aziziyyah and the branch of the Medical Center in the Deanship of the University Studies for Female Students in Al-Zahir throughout the day during the vaccine campaign to ensure all the following target groups are vaccinated:

First: Vaccine Campaign against Meningitis:

• Target Groups:

1. Students/University Staff.
2. All medical personnel.
3. All non-medical personnel working in Hajj affairs.

• The age groups from 9 months of age will be vaccinated with the Conjugate vaccine, especially those who have not received the vaccination during the previous five years.
• Those over the age of 55 years will be vaccinated with ACYW135, especially those who have not been vaccinated during the last three years. They will also be given the tetravalent (ACYW135) conjugate vaccine if the tetravalent (ACYW135) polysaccharide vaccine is unavailable.

Second: Vaccine Campaign against Seasonal Influenza:

• Target Groups: 

The same groups targeted in the meningitis campaign.

• Groups not included in the vaccination: those who are highly sensitive to egg, and those who have previously been highly sensitive to the seasonal influenza vaccine.
• All target groups will be vaccinated regardless of previous vaccines.
• The seasonal flu vaccine will be given to everyone from the age of 6 months.

In conclusion, Dr. Bahakim stressed the importance of giving vaccinations against seasonal influenza and meningitis to the target groups before the Hajj season. He pointed out the need to cooperate and facilitate the task of the vaccination campaign teams during their visit to the sites in order for them to be able to perform their role in the required manner. 

At the same time, he expressed his appreciation for the great support and attention given to the University Medical Center by His Excellency Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, the UQU President, and the continuous guidance and follow-up of the Vice President of the University, Dr. Yasser bin Sulaiman Shosho, for the activities and events of the Medical Center, which have contributed to promoting the treatment and preventive services provided to all students and employees of the university and their families, as well as those eligible for treatment at the center. 

He also thanked the participants in the campaign within the university, and prayed to Allah for the campaign to succeed and achieve its goals.