title: Consensus Recommendation for India and Bangladesh for the Use of Pneumococcal Vaccine in Mass Gatherings with Special Reference to Hajj Pilgrims.
abstract: Respiratory tract infections are prevalent among Hajj pilgrims with pneumonia being a leading cause of hospitalization.Streptococcus pneumoniaeis a common pathogen isolated from patients with pneumonia and respiratory tract infections during Hajj. There is a significant burden of pneumococcal disease in India, which can be prevented. Guidelines for preventive measures and adult immunization have been published in India, but the implementation of the guidelines is low. Data from Bangladesh are available about significant mortality due to respiratory infections; however, literature regarding guidelines for adult immunization is limited. There is a need for extensive awareness programs across India and Bangladesh. Hence, there was a general consensus about the necessity for a rapid and urgent implementation of measures to prevent respiratory infections in pilgrims traveling to Hajj. About ten countries have developed recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination in Hajj pilgrims: France, the USA, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE (Dubai Health Authority), Singapore, Malaysia, Egypt, and Indonesia. At any given point whether it is Hajj or Umrah, more than a million people are present in the holy places of Mecca and Madina. Therefore, the preventive measures taken for Hajj apply for Umrah as well. This document puts forward the consensus recommendations by a group of twenty doctors following a closed-door discussion based on the scientific evidence available for India and Bangladesh regarding the prevention of respiratory tract infections in Hajj pilgrims.
authors.affiliation: Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Apollo Health City Campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: Dilip
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mathai
authors.affiliation: Directorate General of Health Services, Mohakhali, Bangladesh, India.
authors.forename: Abul Khair Mohammad
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Shamsuzzaman
authors.affiliation: Care Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: Ahrar Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Feroz
authors.affiliation: Prince Aly Khan Hospital, Mazagaon, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Amin R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Virani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: Ashfaq
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Central Research Laboratory, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ravi Kumar
authors.affiliation: Kalsekar Hospital, Thane, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.affiliation: CDC, Directorate General of Health Services, Dhaka, Bangladesh, India.
authors.forename: Khandaker Atm
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Forhad Hossain
authors.affiliation: Premier Hospital, Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marda
authors.affiliation: Princess Durru Shehvar Children and General Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wahab Zubair
authors.affiliation: New Life Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: Mohammed Mukarram
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Khadija National Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: Riyaz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Basha
authors.affiliation: Olive Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: Shaeq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mirza
authors.affiliation: Haj Committee of India, Haj House, CST, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Shafeeq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, St. Stephens Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Shamim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.affiliation: New Life Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: Syed Mustafa
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: HAQE Medical Center, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Zahirul
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Haque
keywords: Hajj; pneumococcal vaccination; pneumonia; prevention