Indonesia to Vaccinate 57,000 Elderly Pilgrims: Health Ministry

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia's Ministry of Health had begun the vaccination program  for senior citizens who plan to attend the annual haj pilgrimage while waiting for the Saudi Arabian Government's decision regarding this year's haj.

Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health Oscar Primadi said 465 elderly pilgrims had been vaccinated against Covid-19 at the Wijaya Mukti Stadium, West Java, on Friday, March 19. He said the candidates for haj pilgrims were among those who received the Covid-19 jab. 

"Currently, there are more than 57,000 elderly candidates for haj pilgrims who are ready to get vaccinated. If there is an announcement to leave for Haj in 2021, they are ready to go," said Oscar on Saturday, March 20.

Meanwhile, regarding this year's haj quota, the head of the Haj Health Centre at the Health Ministry Eka Jusup Singka said that Indonesia was still waiting for the announcement by the Saudi government.  

Also read: Indonesia’s Ministry of Health Gives Tips On the Covid-19 Vaccine  

"In the meantime, we are doing some preparations such as the Covid-19 vaccination and health protocols implementation. This must be the commitment of all parties, "said Eka.

Eka went on to say that all countries that have prospective pilgrims are still waiting for the announcement by the Saudi Arabia government. 

"However, the Indonesian Ministry of Health has prepared the necessary things from health checks to vaccinations," he said.

The government has set its target of providing vaccines to 38,513,446 citizens in the second phase of the mass vaccination program, which will be completed in May. 

(Writer: Haryanti Puspa Sari | Editor: Icha Rastika)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/03/22/09442061/kemenkes-57000-lansia-calon-jemaah-haji-disiapkan-ikut-vaksinasi-covid-19.