The indispensable
- Medical information and preparation before departure are essential, especially for the elderly or those with multiple health conditions.
- Vaccination against meningococcus ACWY is mandatory for Hajj, and updating the vaccination schedule, as well as influenza, hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines, are strongly recommended.
- Prevention measures are based on hand and food hygiene, sufficient hydration, protection against heat and wearing a mask if there are respiratory symptoms around you.
- Insurance covering hospitalization and repatriation is essential.
- Strictly follow health guidelines and seek medical help promptly if you experience fever or respiratory symptoms.
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General preventive measures
In addition to the usual risks associated with the destination, there are risks related to crowds: security incidents, stampedes, trampling, increased transmission of infectious diseases, particularly via respiratory routes (flu, Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses, IIM, …).
The most frequently observed consequences during large gatherings are trauma, cardiac events, respiratory infections, heat-related illnesses, and gastrointestinal illnesses.
All large gatherings of several thousand people in France or abroad are affected [pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia, Hajj and Umrah, World Youth Day (WYD), Kumbh Melas, Grand Magal, outdoor festivals, etc.]. Large pilgrimages, in particular, can present risks due to:
- the very large number of participants, especially for the Hajj with several million pilgrims, which promotes overcrowding and confinement in a limited geographical space;
- of the advanced age and state of health of the pilgrims (multiple pathologies);
- climatic conditions, especially during periods of intense heat;
- constraints sometimes imposed by religious rituals, which can lead to extreme fatigue.
Increased vigilance must be exercised to:
- the most frequent infections encountered during these trips: ubiquitous or specific respiratory infections (flu, Covid-19, MERS-CoV for the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan);
- invasive meningococcal infections (IMI);
- gastroenteritis and enterocolitis;
- heat-related pathologies;
- trauma;
- exhaustion, decompensation of pre-existing chronic conditions (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.).
Travelers must be given information about these risks before their departure, as well as how to protect themselves from them:
- hand hygiene and food hygiene;
- proper hydration;
- wearing a surgical mask in the presence of people who are coughing;
- protection against heat and sun exposure;
- traumatic risks associated with engaging in unusual and risky activities.
Immunizations
Mandatory (and recommended) vaccinations
Vaccination against invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) with a quadrivalent vaccine (A, C, W, Y) is mandatory for obtaining a visa for the Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. It must be administered at least 10 days before departure and recorded on the International Certificate of Vaccination.
Other vaccinations are required for obtaining a visa for pilgrims in transit from countries where there is a risk of polio or yellow fever transmission. Health requirements and recommendations for obtaining visas are published annually by the WHO in a weekly epidemiological report: "Health requirements for travelers going to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca."
Recommended vaccinations:
Updating vaccinations from the vaccination schedule (including vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, pertussis and measles) as well as vaccinations against influenza (if the gathering takes place during a period of influenza virus circulation), against hepatitis A and against typhoid are recommended for all large gatherings.
Vaccination against pneumococcal infections is also recommended for people over 65 years of age, particularly in cases of morbidity.
For country requirements/specificities regarding entry into the territory in the context of Covid-19, it is necessary to consult the dedicated pages of the website of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Specific recommendations for the pilgrimage to Mecca
The pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) was restricted to people over 12 years old in 2025, but children of a younger age can make the “small” pilgrimage (Umrah).
To obtain information, register, book a package (airfare, local transport, accommodation, meals, entrance fees to holy sites), choose a guide, and obtain a visa, you must visit the online platform set up by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: https://www.hajj.nusuk.sa
It is advisable to take out an insurance policy covering the consequences of certain cancellations, or certain risks, including hospitalization and/or repatriation costs in the event of accident, illness or death.
Communicate to relatives remaining in France the details of round-trip flights, accommodation locations with their contact details, the names and contact details of accompanying persons, a copy of identity documents and visa.
Have a medical consultation before departure in order to:
- Assess whether the pilgrimage is compatible with the state of health, particularly for the elderly or those with a chronic illness;
- Obtain preventative advice for the pilgrimage, particularly regarding heat stress and respiratory or digestive diseases;
- Have a summary of the individual medical file to take away, and prescriptions for any desired medications;
- Get the recommended and mandatory vaccinations:
– Update of the French vaccination schedule including recommended vaccinations in case of chronic disease;
– Covid-19 (People aged 65 and over, pregnant women, and people over 12 years of age suffering from heart failure, kidney failure, respiratory failure, cancer, or a neurological disease must prove they received 2 or 3 doses of vaccines between 2021 and 2023, or a supplementary vaccine dose in 2024-2025, or have a certificate of recovery from a laboratory if they contracted Covid-19 in 2025.)
– Meningococcal infections: a certificate proving vaccination with an ACYW meningococcal vaccine at least 10 days prior is required for individuals aged one year and over. The validity of ACYW polysaccharide vaccines is 3 years, and that of conjugate vaccines is 5 years;
– Poliomyelitis: for people coming from a country where wild or vaccine-derived polioviruses circulate, it is mandatory to receive a bivalent oral vaccine or an inactivated injectable vaccine, four weeks to 12 months before their arrival;
– Yellow fever: people over 9 months old coming from a country endemic for yellow fever must prove they have been vaccinated more than 10 days before their arrival.
- Keep with you a copy of your passport and visa, plane tickets, the names and contact details of people to call in France if needed, the names and telephone numbers of Saudi guides, and the name and contact details of the trip organizer;
- Respect Saudi laws;
- Avoid close contact with people suffering from respiratory infections;
- Wash your hands often with soap or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
- Maintain good personal hygiene, and wear proper footwear during ritual walks;
- Avoid contact with animals, especially dromedaries, and do not consume dromedary meat or camel milk;
- Respect the food hygiene rules that apply to all travel;
- Consult a doctor quickly in case of high fever or breathing difficulties, while respecting measures to prevent respiratory transmission (social distancing, disposable tissues, mask, etc.)
