Saudi Arabia has made it compulsory to get the COVID-19 vaccine shots for hajj pilgrims for the Hajj this year.
The country’s health ministry stated this today that only individuals who have been immunized against the COVID-19 would be permitted to go to the Hajj this year.
Official statement read: “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).”
The Kingdom has taken strict actions to limit the spread of the coronavirus outburst in the country. Taking great measures, Saudi Arabia barred the entrance of overseas pilgrims for Hajj in 2020 and only permitted the people of different countries residing in the Kingdom to represent their states.
In the meantime, Pakistan hopes for the sum of pilgrims this year to be more than what it was in 2020 when only a restricted number of followers had been permitted to perform Hajj.
Hence regarding this, the country has now made the coronavirus immunization for all Pakistani Hajj pilgrims compulsory.
The change came on February 8, when Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, stated that only a limited number of Pakistanis would do Hajj this year due to the virus, and all of them will be given the coronavirus vaccine before boarding on the blessed passage.