KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- Haj pilgrims aged 65 and above, as well as those identified as high-risk through health screenings, are reminded to get the COVID-19 vaccine free of charge at 247 selected health clinics nationwide from Feb 17.
Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) chief executive officer Syed Hamadah Syed Othman advised pilgrims to schedule an appointment through the MySejahtera application from Feb 14 or via TH’s official website.
“A day before the vaccination date, an appointment reminder will be sent via MySejahtera to ensure pilgrims do not miss their vaccination session,” he said.
Syed Hamadah said pilgrims who were not in the mandatory category but wanted additional protection could opt for voluntary vaccination after consulting a medical officer at designated health facilities.
“Pilgrims seeking extra protection are highly encouraged to take the pneumococcal vaccine, which can be administered together with the influenza vaccine, as pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of hospitalisation among them,” he said.
On Feb 15, the Ministry of Health announced that all prospective haj pilgrims were required to receive the meningococcal vaccine, while COVID-19 and influenza vaccines were mandatory for targeted groups.
COVID-19 is not just a common cold, as it can lead to serious complications, particularly among the elderly and those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, asthma, and chronic lung conditions.
The side effects of the vaccine are generally mild and temporary, including slight pain at the injection site, fatigue, or a mild fever, similar to those of other previously received vaccines.
However, those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, or chronic lung disease are at higher risk of severe COVID-19, which may require hospital treatment.
With the introduction of digital vaccination certificates, prospective pilgrims no longer need to bring physical vaccination books or cards when travelling to the Holy Land.
All vaccination certificates can be downloaded via the MySejahtera application and presented to the Saudi Arabian authorities when required.
According to Syed Hamadah, the digitalisation of health services demonstrated TH’s commitment to continuous improvements in assisting haj pilgrims.
-- BERNAMA
