DDHK.ORG - The government of Saudi Arabia requires citizens Indonesia Covid-19 vaccine recipients from China, Sinovac or Sinopharm must receive a booster injection to be able to perform Umrah. This was conveyed by the Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah, Eko Hartono, as reported by CNN Indonesia, Monday, October 11, 2021.
"Until now, the Saudis still say that those who get a complete vaccine apart from the four vaccines (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna), must use a booster with one injection out of the four," said Eko.
That way, Eko said that if prospective Umrah pilgrims had just received two doses of Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines, they had to get another shot of vaccine for booster from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, J&J, or Moderna. "It's possible to have two Sinovacs, but it has to be a booster for one of the four vaccines. For those who have had two (vaccines) out of the four (vaccine brands) they don't have to have a booster," said Eko.
Must quarantine for 5 days
For those who come to Saudi Arabia and do not meet the vaccination requirements or are positive for Covid-19, they must undergo a 5-day quarantine at a hotel that has been appointed by the Saudi Government. This also applies to Umrah pilgrims from Indonesia.
"Hopefully there will be no need to go through a third country. God willing, after there is an agreement, the suspension (delay) will be lifted so that the congregation can go directly (to Saudi)," said Eko.
Previously, Indonesian pilgrims who wished to perform Umrah had to go through quarantine in a third country. However, for Umrah this time it is still being negotiated. [DDHKNews]
