Umrah pilgrims face problems in getting polio vaccine

LAHORE:The ordeal of intending Umrah pilgrims continues as they face difficulties in getting polio vaccine and its certificate to proceed on the holy journey.

The Saudi government had recently withdrawn its condition of a mandatory meningitis vaccine for visitors to Saudi Arabia. The vaccination against polio is mandatory for travellers to and from Pakistan, which along with Afghanistan remain the only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic.

The people have been standing in long queues for most of the day to get polio vaccine and its receipt as there was only one counter at Services Hospital Lahore to cater to the load of citizens. On the basis of the receipt, the citizens will be able to download their vaccination certificate from NADRA's National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) against a fee of Rs100. The intending travellers are required to get polio vaccination, at least, 10 days prior to their scheduled travel to the Kingdom. ‘Any undue delay in getting vaccination or its certification may result in canceling of our scheduled travel and accommodation bookings,’ the visitors standing in queues expressed their concern. The P&SHD failed to devise a plan or set up extra counters or designate more centres in the city for the convenience of Umrah pilgrims. The rush of people in long queues started creating problems for the other patients in the hospital. The Umrah pilgrims appealed to the highups to solve their problems. The government should start vaccination and certificate issuance service in other hospitals as well. The Secretary PSHD Nadia Saqib claimed that the issue would be resolved soon. She said, four to five more centers will be set up. The PSHD Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir said that more centres would be established, which will make it easier for Umrah pilgrims to obtain polio certificates.