UP govt asks Centre to provide meningitis vaccines for Haj

Uttar Pradesh government today asked the Centre to immediately provide meningococcal meningitis vaccines, which has been made mandatory for Haj pilgrimage by the Saudi Arab government.
In a letter written to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and External Affairs Minister Salman Khursid, state minority welfare and Haj minister Mohammad Azam Khan has requested to provide the vaccine without any delay to facilitate Haj pilgrims.
"Saudi Arab government has made the vaccination compulsory for all those coming to Haj," he said adding, "Centre has only given 50 per cent of the vaccines to the state while Haj is going to start from September 9."

"We are facing administrative problems due to lack of vaccine," Khan said in his letter.