Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Banjarmasin Health Office vaccinated hundreds of prospective Hajj pilgrims (JCH) against COVID-19 before departing this year.
"The target of prospective Hajj pilgrims to receive COVID-19 jabs today is 310 people," said Head of the Health Office Machli Riyadi during the vaccination at the Banjarmasin Office of Religious Affairs Ministry, Saturday.
The Hajj candidates who are scheduled to get vaccinated were those who have already registered in full payment of the Haj travel fee to be ready to go for Haj this year.
"Actually there are 588 prospective pilgrims who have registered as paid off, but some of them had taken COVID-19 jabs at puskesmas (community health centers)," he said.
Thus, said Machli Riyadi, the COVID-19 vaccination has to be completed in order all Banjarmasin Haj candidates are ready to depart this year if the Saudi Arabia government opens the Haj quota for Indonesia.
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"Hopefully this activity runs smoothly, the Banjarmasin Hajj prospectives will maintain their health," he said.
Machli Riyadi said that the vaccine used for the Haj candidates is still Sinovac from China. "According to the recommendation from the Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI), the Sinovac vaccine is halal," he said.
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