Candidates For Hajj From Mataram Are Reminded To Immediate Booster Vaccination

Illustration: registration counter for prospective pilgrims at the Ministry of Religion Office of Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara Province. (Photo: ANTARA/Nirkomala)

MATARAM - The Office of the Ministry of Religion of the City of Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara Province, reminded the 401 hajj candidates who will depart for the 2022 hajj season, that they have received the third dose of COVID-19 vaccination or booster.

Head of the Mataram City Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) HM Amin, said that this booster vaccination was a mandatory requirement for congregation departures to increase antibodies because the status of the COVID-19 pandemic had not been revoked.

"We have reminded the congregation who have not received booster vaccinations to immediately vaccinate so that they do not become an obstacle when they are about to leave," he said as quoted by Antara, Thursday, May 12.

For data on prospective hajj candidates who have not received booster vaccinations, they don't know yet, but it is hoped that all hajj candidates will have received booster vaccinations.

Amin further said that the stages of hajj departure are currently being carried out, in addition to ensuring that the congregation has received booster vaccinations, the Ministry of Religion is also verifying the administration and identity of the pilgrims.

For passport completeness, the principle is complete, there are only a few pilgrims who make adjustments between the names in the passport and the Integrated Hajj Information and Computerization System (Siskohat).

"Alhamdulillah, for the administrative problems so far there has not been a serious obstacle. God willing, everything will be finished before leaving," he said.

In addition, he said, hajj candidates who are in the stage of paying off the cost of organizing the pilgrimage (BPIH) until the deadline of May 20, 2022, with the amount of BPIH for the Lombok Embarkation of around Rp. 41 million. This number is up from the 2020 BPIH of around Rp. 38 million.

For those who have already withdrawn the payment fee, he said, all they need to do is confirm with their respective banks for payment and re-payment.

"Those who do not take repayment fees, just add what is lacking, in accordance with the 2022 BPIH," he said. Other preparations, Amin said, as many as 401 hajj candidates from Mataram City will receive free Hajj rituals guidance from the local Indonesian Hajj Brotherhood Association (IPHI). , for eight days, starting May 18, 2022.

"The guidance for Hajj rituals this time is different from previous years, which is only carried out in the mosque," he said.

Meanwhile, the guidance for this year's Hajj rituals, continued Amin, was carried out in several places as places of practice in places that would become the center of Hajj activities, such as wukuf in Arafah and mabit in Muzdalifah.

"Hopefully, the Hajj rituals that are carried out outside and inside the room can increase the understanding of the congregation when they are in the Holy Land," he said.

After the rituals from IPHI, Amin said, the Mataram Ministry of Religion will also carry out a similar activity six times, namely twice at the office and four at the sub-district KUA office.