Male’, Maldives – Health Protection Agency (HPA) has confirmed that the nation wide vaccination program against Covid-19 will commence on the 1st of February.
According to the announcement made by the Agency, the first rounds of vaccination will begin in Kulhudhuffushi City , which is up north, Male’ City, which is the capital of the country, and in Addu City down below in the South of the country.
The announcement further read that vaccine administration will be carried out in Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), Hulhumale’ Hospital, Villimale’ Hospital, ADK Hospital and at Tree Top Hospital in Male’ City, while Addu Equatorial Hospital (AEH) and Kulhdhuffushi Regional Hospital will also follow through with the same.
As per the priority list, the first rounds of vaccination will be administered to health care workers, followed by those who fall into the high risk category. So far it has been confirmed by ‘The Times of Addu’, that 20 health care workers will be receiving the first jab of the vaccination on the first day in Addu.
It is believed that those who receive the vaccination during this round will be receiving the Covishield vaccine, which is a product of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, made in collaboration with Oxford University. Currently Maldives has secured 100,000 doses of the vaccine, which was donated to Maldives by neighboring India.
With Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) having have approved the vaccine for emergency use in the country, 50,000 individuals will be receiving the vaccine in the Maldives initially, of which the first priority would be given to health care workers and high risk individuals.
While Maldives works on launching the vaccination program, so far more than 15,000 individuals have tested positive for the virus, out of which, 14,064 have recovered and 51 have unfortunately passed away, in the Maldives.
With daily numbers currently climbing, authorities and experts urge to maintain health and safety precautions, such as physical distancing, wearing masks and maintaining self hygiene, despite vaccination.
