Protect Congregants From Breathing Infections: AMPHURI Socializes Pneumonia Vaccination

Based on the demographics of pilgrims, about 64 percent of the total pilgrims have risk factors and health problems that can affect their ability to carry out the pilgrimage. (Twitter/@HaramainInfo)

JAKARTA - Every year, more than two million Muslims from all over the world perform the pilgrimage in the Holy Land, although this year's Hajj season Saudi Arabia recorded only 1.3 million pilgrims. In the 1445 H/2024 M Hajj season, about 241,000 of them came from Indonesia. Meanwhile for Umrah, in the same year, Indonesia sent more than 1.5 million pilgrims.

"Perhaps, people who come to Saudi have different conditions, ranging from age, health, vulnerability to disease, and cleanliness. This is very likely to have an impact on the health of the congregation," said the General Chairperson of the AMPHURI DPP, Firman M. Nur, in Jakarta, Wednesday, April 30.

According to Firman, Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest number of pilgrims and Umrah in the world every year. In addition, the long waiting period for Hajj has made the majority of pilgrims over 41 years old. No wonder the congregation from Indonesia, especially those aged 51'70, has a high health risk.

"Based on the demographics of the pilgrims, about 64 percent of the total pilgrims have risk factors and health problems that can affect their ability to carry out the pilgrimage," he said. Firman also explained that as many as 65 percent of male pilgrims and 63 percent of female congregations have a high risk.

He acknowledged that the implementation of the pilgrimage and Umrah involved large crowds and extreme temperature changes, which could increase the risk of respiratory tract infection.

In 2024, the Indonesian Ministry of Health's Hajj Health Center recorded pneumonia as the most disease suffered by Indonesian pilgrims during treatment at the Indonesian Hajj Health Clinic (KKHI) and hospitals in Saudi Arabia in the 2023 Hajj season, with a total of 1,248 cases.

Firman explained that pneumonia is one of the main causes of global morbidity and mortality, especially in vulnerable groups such as the elderly and individuals with certain health conditions. In the context of international travel such as Hajj and Umrah, the risk of pneumonia increases due to exposure to extreme environments and interactions in large crowds.

So far, although pneumonia vaccination has been available, awareness of the importance of prevention through vaccination is still low, especially among special and Umrah pilgrims (PIHK/PPIU). Therefore, AMPHURI together with Pfizer Indonesia are actively socializing the importance of preventing pneumonia through vaccination.

"Alhamdulillah, today AMPHURI, supported by Pfizer Indonesia, held a health dialogue forum, a member meeting with health experts regarding the importance of pneumonia vaccination for pilgrims and Umrah," said Firman.

The dialogue forum entitled Love Lungs for Hajj and Umrahmu: Prevent Pneumonia Through Vaccination is a form of real contribution from AMPHURI and Pfizer in protecting and strengthening the immunity of people who want to perform worship in the Holy Land.

Firman added that the dialogue forum which was held in a hybrid manner and centered at the Manhattan Hotel, Jakarta presented three expert speakers. They are:

In his presentation, dr. Enny Nuryanti said that the hot weather in Saudi Arabia, which reaches a temperature of 3943 degrees Celsius, can trigger various diseases, especially respiratory diseases.

Pneumonia is the most disease suffered by Indonesian pilgrims while being treated at KKHI and Saudi Arabian hospitals. Pneumonia usually starts from Upper Respiratory Channel Infections (ARI) which can be triggered by hot weather. In addition, most congregants cannot avoid crowds during worship, so they are easily infected with ISPA, "explained dr. Enny.

He appealed to the congregation to continue wearing masks during worship or activities, especially the elderly who have more vulnerable body conditions.

Enny also recommends that pilgrims maintain their immune system by consuming vitamins, nutritious food, getting enough rest, and drinking lots of water and oralites to protect body fluids.

Meanwhile, the Head of the AMPHURI Health Division, Dr. dr. Endy M. Astiwara, emphasized that data from Puskeshaji shows pneumonia as the most common cause of congregational visits to hospitals during the pilgrimage.

Therefore, dr. Endy suggested vaccination as the best step to protect oneself from pneumonia pneumokokus. This vaccine protects against some of the more than 90 types of pneumococusing bacteria.

"By vaccinating pneumonia before performing the pilgrimage or Umrah, we can reduce the risk of contracting this disease, especially with age," said dr. Endy.

He also mentioned that vaccination can prevent antibiotic resistance, reduce the risk of infection due to comorbidities, and reduce the possibility of hospitalization due to pneumonia.

As the last speaker, Prof. Dr. dr. Iris Rengganis, Sp.PD-KAI, reminded the importance of pneumonia vaccination for prospective pilgrims and Umrah. This vaccination can provide the immunity needed during worship in the Holy Land.

"Giving a pneumonia vaccine can provide immunity and reduce the potential for infection with harmful pneumokokus bacteria during worship," he said.

"Only with vaccination, we can reduce the risk of transmission to 2.1 to 2.2 times more effective," he added.

Prof. Iris also ensured that this pneumonia vaccine had been proven efficacy and was declared safe by BPOM for use by prospective pilgrims.