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COVID-19 vaccination is a ‘must’ for 2021 Hajj

COVID-19 vaccination is a ‘must’ for 2021 Hajj! People who don’t comply with the rule will not be allowed to perform Hajj.

Saudi Arabia’s health ministry in a statement said that only those people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed to attend the Hajj this year.

“The COVID-19 vaccine is mandatory for those willing to come to the Hajj and will be one of the main conditions (for receiving a permit to come),” Saudi newspaper Okaz reported citing a circular signed by the health minister.

The decision is said to be taken to ensure Hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective.

Saudi Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq al-Rabiah also said that the government must be prepared to “secure the manpower required to operate the health facilities in Mecca and Medina”.

“These facilities will be stationed at entry points for pilgrims”, he said, in addition to a formation of a vaccination committee for pilgrims within Saudi Arabia.

It was reported earlier that as part of new guidelines in wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Hajjis are required to administer the COVID-19 dose before their departure to Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims going for Hajj from all over the world are to be vaccinated against coronavirus in their own countries, as per the sources.

Hajj, the fifth and final pillar of Islam is attended by millions of Muslim pilgrims from around the world, however, amid a global pandemic annual ritual was badly affected.

Read More: Scaled-down Hajj concludes with the final ritual in Makkah

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that takes pride in its guardianship of Islam’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina had to dramatically reduce the number of pilgrims in 2020.

KSA allowed attending Hajj to about 1,000 Saudi citizens and residents of the kingdom, in order to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Muslims from abroad were barred from attending the annual ritual for the first time in modern times.

Saman Siddiqui

I am a freelance journalist, holding a Master’s Degree in Mass Communication and an MS in Peace and Conflict Studies, associated with the electronic media industry since 2006 in various capacities. Here at OyeYeah, I cover a range of genres, from journalism to fiction to fashion, including reviews, and fact findings. 

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