The Ondo State Muslim Welfare Board on Wednesday commenced yellow fever and meningitis vaccination of 720 intending pilgrims for the 2025 hajj in the state.

The state Board Chairman, Dhikirulahi Chaddy-Adam, who spoke on the sidelines of the event, said the vaccination was to protect the intending pilgrims against any illness.

Mr Chaddy-Adam, who explained that the vaccination was compulsory for all intending pilgrims, said that anyone without it would not be allowed entry into Saudi Arabia by their officials.

He said, “As part of the guidelines for the hajj exercise, screening and vaccination is conducted simultaneously in the board today. The vaccination given to them today is to fight against yellow fever and meningitis. One part of the screening will enable us to know if those young intending pilgrim women are pregnant or not because any pregnant women will not be allowed to go. For those with terminal illness, we want to know the type, and for those with special drugs, we need to know because not all drugs are permitted in Saudi Arabia.’’

Mr Chaddy-Adam, therefore, called on the intending pilgrims to go along with their faith, belief and fear of Allah for a successful exercise.

(NAN)