Sanofi, in partnership with Andalusia Travel & Tours, organised an educational workshop to raise awareness of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD).
This bacterial infection spreads easily in crowded conditions, such as during Umrah.
The workshop was part of Sanofi’s “Cegah Dulu, Ready for Umrah” campaign. It featured popular Zayan FM host FBI (Faizal Bin Ismail), who shared personal insights from his own Umrah experience.
IMD is an ongoing public health concern, with multiple factors affecting the successful implementation of vaccination policies.
These include low vaccination rates in certain sectors and difficulties in monitoring for proof of vaccination among the vast number of pilgrims from all parts of the world.
These challenges, among others, contribute to gaps in coverage that allow disease clusters to occur.
“Invasive meningococcal disease is a threat to all pilgrims, especially the elderly and immunocompromised as they face a higher risk of serious complications.”
“However, despite the risk of death and a history of outbreaks among pilgrims, many remain unaware of this disease and how to protect themselves and others, including family members upon our return home, as studies reveal a high rate of infection amongst unvaccinated family members.”
This is why we do our part to spread awareness and emphasise the importance of the meningococcal vaccine”, said Dr Adilah Haludin, Resident Doctor at Klinik Andalusia Shah Alam.
According to Puan Hajah Ida Riswana Binti Idris, Director of Andalusia Travel & Tours Sdn. Bhd:
“At Andalusia Travel & Tours, we are mindful that safeguarding our own health and that of others around is a spiritual responsibility. As a trusted travel partner, we are committed to helping pilgrims have a meaningful experience, and we constantly seek opportunities to address important health concerns like IMD so that pilgrims are empowered with knowledge.”
As Hui Thian Chia, Head of Operations Vaccines at Sanofi MYSG, said:
“Each umrah season, thousands of Malaysian pilgrims embark on this spiritual journey, and, amidst the many preparations, the threat of invasive meningococcal disease is easily overlooked. At Sanofi, we firmly believe that education and empowerment is the foundation for health and wellbeing. With this in mind, our “Cegah Dulu, Ready for Umrah” campaign is part of our long-term vision to emphasise the value of preventive measures like vaccination.”
Pilgrims must follow the healthcare advisories issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which require them to provide proof of meningococcal vaccination at least 10 days before arrival.
People who received the vaccine more than five years ago must take it again.
All pilgrims preparing for Umrah should check official sources online and consult their travel providers to ensure they have met the vaccination and other requirements.
About IMD
IMD is caused by Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis), a highly infectious bacteria that spreads through respiratory droplets and saliva. Close contact with an infected person increases the risk of transmission, and the infection most commonly spreads to the bloodstream or the lining of the brain and spinal cord, known as meningitis.
Bloodstream infections may cause:
- fever
- chills
- fatigue
- diarrhoea
- rapid breathing and
- severe pain in the muscles, joints, chest or stomach area
- common symptoms of meningitis include headache, neck stiffness and sensitivity to light.
Both can worsen very quickly, which allows limited time for medical intervention. However, even with treatment, up to 15% of infected individuals die from the disease while 20% experience long-term health problems such as brain damage, deafness, kidney damage, loss of limb/s or problems related to the nervous system.