Dosage and schedule of meningitis quadrivalent (ACWY) vaccination.
a) Children 3 months to 2 years: · First dose 0.5ml · Second dose 0.5ml 3 months after the first dose
b) Children over 2 years of age and adults: · Single dose of 0.5ml confers protection for upto 3 years
Guidance on best practice for the administration of all vaccines is contained in the "Green Book" (full title: Immunisation against infectious diseases). :
Chapter 22 covers meningitis vaccination. On the subject of breast feeding it states:
"Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Meningococcal vaccines may be given to pregnant women when clinically indicated. There is no evidence of risk from vaccinating pregnant women or those who are breast-feeding with inactivated virus or bacterial vaccines or toxoids (Granoff et al., 2004)."
In summary, the official position is that breast feeding is not a valid reason, in itself, for not vaccinating.
Every year over 25,000 British pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj and over 100,000 travel to perform Umrah (Lesser Hajj). Unfortunately there
is accumulated evidence that
British Hujjaj experience significant
difficulties and problems due
to ignorance, lack of awareness of
pre-travel Health & Safety precautions
and understanding of the
needs of good preparation of the
journey to perform Hajj & Umrah
in safe and best possible manner.
The tragic accidents that took place
during Hajj in recent years, where a
substantial number of Hajj pilgrims
lost their lives including over 12
British Hajj pilgrims due to stampede
and road accident and over 20
tragic deaths due to meningitis outbreak
amongst returnee British Hajj
pilgrims caused a great amount of
grief and distress to the community
in UK. They were all shocked and
extremely saddened by these heartbreaking
human disasters.
Lord Ahmed from Rotherham is being administrated with a meningitis vaccination by Dr. Syed Raza Hussain from A.B.H. Over looked by Lord Phil Hunt (Minister) and A.B.H executive members.
Feeling the pain of these
tragedies and realising the importance
of proper preparation for
Hajj, there was a desperate need to
make appropriate arrangements to
promote Health & Safety awareness
to prevent any future loss of
human life amongst British Hajj
pilgrims. The Association of
British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK
(A.B.H) the only Hajj specific
organisation and a National charity
was formed in 1998 by professionals,
senior doctors, religious scholars,
and people from all walks of
life to research and develop a positive
plan to address these issues.
Some of the objectives of this
organisation are:
To organise high profile publicity
campaigns involving regional
and national media to promote
awareness.
To organise seminars, conferences and other educational training
programmes.
To influence and work with the
concerned authorities to co-ordinate
their efforts for the welfare of
the British pilgrims.
To explore the effective and
practical ways to minimise hardship
and problems witnessed by the
effected Hujjaj.
To produce and distribute
leaflets, booklets, posters and
audio-visual materials, consisting
of appropriate information on
Health & Safety related issues.
Ever since its foundation in
1998, A.B.H has made many
achievements including setting up a
British Hajj delegation by the
Foreign Office to provide healthcare,
welfare and support services,
such as bereavement, lost pilgrims,
loss of luggage, passport, flight
tickets and money etc. for British
Hujjaj in Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
The first ever British Hajj delegation,
headed by Lord Ahmed of
Rotherham, went to Saudi Arabia
to help British pilgrims in Makkah
during the Hajj period in 2000. This
delegation has dedicated services to
the British Hajj pilgrims on annual
basis each year since 2000.
“After a decade of continuous hard work and efforts towards the welfare and wellbeing of Hajj/Umrah Pilgrims, The Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK, has emerged as an internationally renowned and leading Hajj specific organisation. It has been receiving an overwhelming support from Press and Media of every continent of the world including Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and China etc. The world media is giving extremely good coverage to our humanitarian efforts to help and protect Pilgrims from hardship and difficulties and to prevent loss of innocent human lives.”
If you have been a victim of exploitation or have any complain, then please do not suffer in silence. You must lodge your complaint to your local Trading Standards or Police Authority. You can get help from your Local Councillors or MP or you may contact us for further assistance
