Sanofi Pasteur Korea said Monday it administered three types of vaccines to South Korea’s national soccer team ahead of the 2018 Russia World Cup to protect them against five types of infectious diseases.

Around 40 members, including 23 soccer players, coaches and staffs, were vaccinated against meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.

The French pharmaceutical firm worked with the medical committee under the Korea Football Association (KFA) in cooperation with Yonsei University Severance Hospital to protect players from possible outbreaks that commonly occur at mass gatherings.

During the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, the number of patients with meningococcal meningitis quadrupled compared to previous years. Meningococcal meningitis cases ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics also tripled from 2016.

■ Related : KCDC prepares for possible disease outbreaks at 2018 Winter Olympics

According to the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention, national squads and visitors from all over the world are recommended to get vaccines against certain infectious diseases such as meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.

“Special attention should be paid to the prevention and management of infectious diseases in overseas mass gathering events such as the World Cup or the Olympic Games,” said Dr. Lee Sung-joo, a team doctor in charge of the National Soccer Team and member of a medical committee under the KFA. “The vaccination would help to protect the National Soccer Team and to keep their best conditions.”

“Sanofi Pasteur, as a leading vaccine company, continues to raise the awareness of prevention against infectious diseases in particular mass gathering events such as the World Cup,” Baptiste de Clarens, general manager of Sanofi Pasteur in Korea said. “Wish Korea’s National Soccer Team rings the bell of victory with the best health condition in Russia.”