Haj aspirants asked to get jabs

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Haj Committee on Friday said that the intending pilgrims, who have applied for Haj 2021, should take the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine immediately so that they can be administered the second dose before undertaking the holy pilgrimage in June.
The development comes a day after the Haj Committee of India (HCI) said that no Indian Muslims shall be allowed to go for the annual Haj pilgrimage unless they have taken the two vaccine doses. The announcement was made following the latest directives from the Saudi Arabian Health Ministry and the Indian Consulate-General in Jeddah.
“In pursuance to circular issued by The Haj Committee of India, the intending pilgrims who have applied for Haj 2021 are advised to take first dose of vaccine on their own, so that at the time of departure during Mid-June the second dose of vaccine is taken accordingly,” an order issued by J&K Haj Committee read.
It said as per Health Ministry of Saudi Arabia, pilgrims visiting the Kingdom need to get two doses of vaccine before their departure to Saudi Arabia.
However, the order said that it is clarified that no official communication regarding Haj 2021 has been received yet from the Haj committee of India or Saudi government.
In 2020, the Haj pilgrimage was out of bounds for the Muslim as it came during the surging peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in late July, and this year, the world is witnessing a second and much deadlier Covid wave.