Malé, Maldives – Maldives will restart vaccination with the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine with the arrival of vaccine shipment according to Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC).
Today is the last day for receiving the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine with preparations in progress to start inoculating for the second dose in the upcoming days.
Right now we are preparing to start vaccinations for the second dose in April. We will vaccinate people who didn’t receive the first dose as we receive more vaccine.
Dr. Nazla Rafeeg, HEOC Spokesperson
Dr. Nazla noted that 46% of the eligible population has been vaccinated. The number of individuals who have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine is at 206,114 including yesterdays 7,908 people who got their first jab according to statistics provided by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
Maldives is currently administering the Covishield vaccine mass produced by the Serum Institute of India, under the license of Oxford-Astrazeneca.
Maldives has placed an order for additional 300,000 doses of Covishield. The country previously received 200,000 doses as donation from India.
Meanwhile, the government has signed an agreement with Astrazeneca Singapore Pte Ltd to buy 700,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine while 12,000 doses of Covishield have been received through the WHO COVAX facility. Maldives is expecting is yet to receive the Astrazeneca shipment and 5886 doses of Pfizer pledged by the COVAX facility.
China has also pledged 200,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine to the Maldives. At present, the Maldivian Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) is carrying out assessments on the vaccine. HEOC informs that the vaccine is on hold as MFDA has not yet given approval.
