The Saudi health minister said Saturday that the kingdom will not ban anyone considered high risk for swine flu from performing the hajj pilgrimage this year.

Speaking at the launch of a swine flu vaccine campaign, Saudi Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabeeah said it was the responsibility of individual countries to enforce recommendations that children, the elderly and pregnant women skip the pilgrimage, which starts November 25.

Rabeeah said that only two cases of swine flu had been reported so far among the half million pilgrims who have already arrived in the kingdom.

The minister said there were no indications fewer people will be attending this year's pilgrimage because of swine flu concerns.