Emergency Medicine: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Gathering Medicine: Is Pneumococcal Vaccination Useful to Prevent Pneumonia in Elderly Pilgrims to Mecca?

Chokri Hamouda and Habiba Naija

Introduction: The Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca is an annual mass gathering event with high risk of infectious diseases.
Method: In this short communication we try to check clinical evidence comforting pneumococcal vaccination to prevent pneumonia in elderly pilgrims to Mecca.
Results and Discussion: Current medical researches focused on microorganism portage and pathogens responsible of epidemic infectious diseases. In this context, and since the epidemic meningitides declared among Mecca pilgrims in 1987, vaccination procedures were developed. However recommendations for prevention of respiratory tract infection, mostly faired when Influenza H1N1 or Middle East Coronavirus are suspected, are still under health professional expectations.
Conclusion: Since many countries published clinical expert reports, we recommend an international clinical survey to provide evidence based practice of pneumococcal vaccination for elderly pilgrims to Mecca.