Meningococcal Vaccine
Meningococcal Vaccine
Because there is no evidence of ongoing epidemics, CDC no longer recommends meningococcal vaccine for Saudi Arabia, Nepal, India, Mongolia, Kenya, Burundi, and Tanzania. We recognize that the most recent edition of Health Information for International Travel (1996-1997) still recommends meningococcal vaccine for those countries; the recent announcement in the Summary of Health Information for International Travel (the Blue sheet) is meant to supercede that edition and these new recommendations will be reflected in the next version of Health Information for International Travelers. That edition is scheduled for June 1999.
For the months of December through June, vaccination is still recommended for countries in the meningitis belt of Africa. While no longer a CDC recommendation, our understanding is that pilgrims and "Umra" performers are required to produce a certificate of vaccination against meningococcal meningitis issued not more than three years and not less than 10 days before arrival in Saudi Arabia, but we would recommend that people who plan to travel to Saudi Arabia during this period verify these requirements with the embassy.
Readers are Invited
Readers are invited to submit questions or comments on material seen in or relevant to Travel Medicine Advisor. Send your questions to: Robin Mason—Reader Questions, Travel Medicine Advisor, c/o American Health Consultants, P.O. Box 740059, Atlanta, GA 30374. Or, you can reach the editors and customer service personnel for Travel Medicine Advisor via the Internet by sending e-mail to [email protected]. You can also visit our home page at http://www.ahcpub.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Subscribe Now for Access
You have reached your article limit for the month. We hope you found our articles both enjoyable and insightful. For information on new subscriptions, product trials, alternative billing arrangements or group and site discounts please call 800-688-2421. We look forward to having you as a long-term member of the Relias Media community.