Saudi Arabia has made a COVID-19 booster injection required for pilgrims entering the country on a tourist visa to conduct Umrah and visit the two holy mosques who had their second dosage more than eight months ago.
“It is now required to get a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine if you haven’t had the second dose in eight months,” says a statement from Haramain Sharifain, a non-profit group that keeps people up to date on the two holy mosques. This means that people who haven’t had the second dose in eight months must now get a booster shot of the vaccine to be considered immune in Saudi Arabia and be able to pray in Masjid Al Haram, pray in Rawdah Al Shareefah, Ziyarah to the Prophet (PBUH), and visit the Prophet’s Mosque.
According to Haramain Sharifain, immune individuals aged 12 and older were permitted to attend the two holy mosques in Saudi Arabia and across the globe. Children under the age of 12, whether immune or not, were not permitted to access the two holy mosques or their courtyards at the time, the statement continued.
On February 8, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah declared that all Umrah pilgrims entering the Kingdom must present a negative PCR test conducted within 48 hours of arrival.
In a statement, the ministry stated that it applies to everyone, “regardless of their vaccination status, beginning next Wednesday.”
