Press Release

Free Vaccinations Available for Travelers to Saudi Arabia

Vaccine Initiative Meets Health Requirements for Afghanistan Travelers Entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Kabul, Afghanistan  | Sunday, November 01, 2009

Thousands of Afghan travelers to Saudi Arabia will have the opportunity to meet the vaccination requirements needed to enter the country thanks to a free vaccination initiative through the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health.  The funding for the free vaccines came through the support of the United States Government through the United States Agency for International Development and from UNICEF.

Concerned over an outbreak of seasonal influenza among the millions of travelers making their seasonal trip to the country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia government decided to require travelers to receive three vaccinations before entering their country to protect the millions of visitors from the disease and prevent its spread throughout the world when the travelers return to their home countries.  Along with the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine, travelers are also required to have Meningococcal and Oral Polio vaccinations.

On Sunday, Minister of Public Health, Dr. Said Mohammed Amin Fatimie, and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, launched the initiative at the Ministry of Public Health.  Health professionals from various clinics administered the vaccines to a number of Afghan travelers as part of the event.

“MoPH Afghanistan and pilgrims of Hajj are very thankful to the generous support of the US government and people in provision of 35,000 doses of seasonal influenza vaccine to Afghan Hajjis,” said Dr. Fatimie.  “This is another example of extraordinary friendship and partnership between the Afghan people and the United States.”

“This is an important initiative for the Afghan travelers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia making their seasonal journey,” said Ambassador Eikenberry. “The US Government is happy to be supporting vaccines to enable these travelers to meet the requirements of the Saudi Arabian government. On behalf of the people of the United States, I wish all the travelers a safe, healthy, and rewarding journey.”

In addition to the information on the travelers’ vaccinations, Minister Fatimie and Ambassador Eikenberry stressed the importance of immunizations and preventative vaccinations for all Afghan citizens, especially children.  During the past five years, the percentage of Afghan infants who have been immunized against the most important diseases of childhood (including measles, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus) has increased markedly.

Vaccinations for seasonal influenza are also important for all Afghans of any age, according to Ministry officials.  Seasonal influenza occurs every year usually in the winter) and can cause severe respiratory illness and even death, especially in the elderly and those with a chronic disease.