RIYADH — Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi, who is also the acting minister of media, said that the coronavirus vaccine is not mandatory in Saudi Arabia, while indicating that mutations of the virus and uncertainty surrounding the vaccines have led to the delay in the announcing the details of this year’s Hajj.

Al-Qasabi announced in a press conference on Sunday that 40% of the Kingdom’s population has been vaccinated so far.

“If we want to coexist, go to markets and return to schools and work, we should take the vaccine,” the minister said with around 15 million doses administered so far.

The minister announced that the continuous mutation of the virus and the delay of vaccines supply in many countries were factors that led to the delay in announcing how the Hajj season will be.

Al-Qasabi revealed that the Ministers of Health and Hajj would announce details about this year Hajj season soon.