Male’, Maldives — The Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) has announced that at present, they will only be administering the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine in special circumstances.
Health Protection Agency (HPA) previously announced that the second dose will only be administered eight weeks after the first dose which is in April 2021. However, the agency now clarifies that they are administering the second dose of the vaccine for those who are in an emergency situation or under special circumstances.
The statement from HEOC comes after the public has raised several complaints saying that some people are already receiving the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine.
To clear out any misinformation, HEOC has informed that they have been administering the second dose of Covid-19 to certain individuals in emergency situations . Along with this HEOC also noted that they are also administering the travelers who received the first dose and will not be able to return for the second dose within eight weeks due to traveling reasons.
The second dose will only be administered after all relevant documents are presented.
HEOC
HEOC Spokesperson, Dr. Nazla Rafeeg has informed that over 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 214,486.
Although Maldives is administering the Covishield vaccine mass produced by the Serum Institute of India, the country discontinued administering the first dose of the vaccine on March 15 due to preparations in progress to start inoculating for the second dose in April 2021.
Maldives us preparing to place an order for additional 300,000 doses of Covishield at present. 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.
Maldives has recently approved Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine and Pfizer vaccine for emergency use in the country.
