Male’, Maldives – Former President and current Speaker of the Parliament of Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed has also administered the Covid-19 vaccine along with the President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The first inoculation program of Maldives began minutes ago when President Solih inaugurated the launch of the nationwide Covid-19 vaccine program and became the fourth person to get the Covid-19 vaccine in Maldives.
The first person to be receive the vaccine in the country is Dr. Shiraany Abdul Rahman, a medical officer working at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), followed by a nurse of IGMH and a diabetic patient in Male’ city.
34 people are supposed to be vaccinated today including frontline workers and social care workers, individuals in the high-risk or the elderly category. In addition to these people, some of the top-government officials will also be receiving the Covid-19 vaccine today.
Vaccine administration is being carried out in Hulhumale’ Hospital, Villimale’ Hospital, ADK Hospital and at Tree Top Hospital in the capital Male’ City.
Along with the capital Male’ area, vaccination is also being carried out in Addu Equatorial Hospital (AEH) in the southern region and Kulhdhuffushi Regional Hospital in the Nothern region of the Maldives.
Maldives received its first Covid-19 vaccine shipment on 20 January 2021. The first shipment consisted of 100,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine which is expected to be administered to 50,000 individuals – health workers and front liners are given priority, followed by individuals above the age of 50.
After this, individuals between the age of 18-50 who fall in the high risk category will also be receiving the shot. Next in line to receive the shot would be teachers, police and tourism industry personnel.
The Covishield vaccine brought to Maldives consists of two separate doses of 0.5 ml each. The second dose should be administered four to six weeks after the first. A person who has had a severe allergic reaction to the first dose of the vaccine, should not be administered the second.
Covishield, unlike many other Covid-19 vaccines, does not have extremely cold storage requirements, which makes the jab ideal for a tropical island nation like the Maldives. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is more affordable and portable when compared to more expensive alternatives, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
