Phuket Hajj pilgrims line up for free vaccines

PHUKET: More than 200 Muslims planning to make the Hajj this year took advantage of free vaccinations at the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization Hospital on Saturday.

“The Provincial Hospital has partnered with the Phuket Public Health Office to offer free meningococcal meningitis and influenza vaccines to people in Phuket and nearby provinces who plan to travel to Mecca for the Hajj,” said Hospital Director Anan Lohapattanabamrung.

“We also gave free checkups and advised on how to protect against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [MERS],” he added (story here).

MERS was first identified in Saudi Arabia, and the overwhelming number of deaths from the syndrome – 38 out of 44 – have occurred there, making public health officials keen to ensure that pilgrims are educated about the disease.

“We are also working with the Public Health Ministry to make sure all Phuket hospitals are ready to educate and take care of Hajj pilgrims. They will be looking out for signs of the disease to ensure that no dangerous infection is spread in our country,” Dr Anan stated.

— Auntika Sivasen