Saudi Arabia has announced that any Muslim wanting to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca will first need to be provide proof that they’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19.
Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry has confirmed the decision in a statement on Tuesday. Speaking on this regard the Health Minister Tawfiq Al Rabiah also stated that compulsory vaccination would be required for all pilgrims.
The ministry did not specify whether this year’s Hajj would exclude pilgrims from outside the kingdom in order to prevent the spread of Covid. While last year’s rituals were limited to just 1,000 pilgrims who lived in Saudi Arabia.
So far, Saudi officials say there have been 377,700 cases of coronavirus and the kingdom has reported some 6,500 related fatalities. The kingdom began its vaccination program on December 17. The kingdom has approved the Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccine.
Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry has confirmed the decision in a statement on Tuesday. Speaking on this regard the Health Minister Tawfiq Al Rabiah also stated that compulsory vaccination would be required for all pilgrims.
The ministry did not specify whether this year’s Hajj would exclude pilgrims from outside the kingdom in order to prevent the spread of Covid. While last year’s rituals were limited to just 1,000 pilgrims who lived in Saudi Arabia.
So far, Saudi officials say there have been 377,700 cases of coronavirus and the kingdom has reported some 6,500 related fatalities. The kingdom began its vaccination program on December 17. The kingdom has approved the Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccine.
