Saudi Arabia: COVID-19 jabs a must to enter Holy Mosques

Cairo: Workers at the Two Holy Mosques in Saudi Arabia are urged to get the vaccination against COVID-19, as the inoculation will be mandatory for them to have access to the two holy sites and related facilities, a senior official has said.

The restriction will come into effect as of the first of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, said President General for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Abdulrahaman Al Sudais.

Saudi Arabia has sped up efforts to vaccinate its citizens and foreign residents against the highly contagious ailment, with nearly 5 million doses of the vaccinates administered in the kingdom so far, according to a media update.

“It is important for all employees at the general presidency to get the vaccination to ensure their safety and that of worshippers and visitors,” Al Sudais added in media remarks. “This will also help eliminate the outbreak of COVID-19,” he added.

Al Sudais said that Saudi authorities have spared no effort in taking health precautions and providing vaccination for free.

Last month, a centre was set up in the holy city of Mecca for vaccinating employees of the General Presidency for Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques.

On December 17, Saudi Arabia began its largest vaccination campaign against COVID-19 after receiving batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

It has since set up more vaccination centres in different parts of the country.

Health authorities have encouraged the people to register for receiving the jabs via the smartphone app Sehaty.