No fewer than 2,500 intending pilgrims from 16 local government areas of Kwara have started taking COVID-19 vaccination for the 2021 Hajj to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
It will be recalled that the Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board commenced the exercise in Ilorin on Friday.
The Chairman of the Board, Dr Sambo Sambaki, said the intending pilgrims were expected to observe the COVID-19 measures from home to ensure the safety of all.
He further said that the vaccine was being administered by the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency to the intending pilgrims.
According to him, the process was being done to ensure that the COVID-19 protocols were observed by all stakeholders.
He presented a vaccination certificate to one of the intending pilgrims and described the exercise as one that would be successful.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Ahmed explained, the exercise was in compliance with the directive of the Saudi Arabia authority.
Ahmed stressed that the vaccination would be in two categories, stating that the 2,500 intending pilgrims would take the second dose after six weeks of the current one.
He added, the pilgrims would also take regular immunisation against Yellow fever and other diseases after the COVlD-19 vaccination ended.
