HPA accidentally administers 1 person with 2 different Covid-19 vaccines

Covid-19 vaccination | Photo: One

Malé, Maldives – Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC) has said that a Maldivian has been administered with two different brands of Covid-19 vaccines due to an error on their part.

HEOC informs that the Maldivian male was administered Chinese made Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine as the first dose and by mistake administered with Indian mass manufactured Covishield as the second dose.

The issue came to attention of the masses when a vaccine card was circulated on social media with details of a Maldivian man named Abdul Matin Moosa was recorded to have received two different Covid-19 vaccines at the Velana Airport Covid-19 vaccination center.

While this is the first such incident to occur in the Maldives, the issue is being discussed with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the man in question is under monitoring.

Such an incident has occurred and we will organize our processes such that an incident like this will never happen again.

Ahmed Naseer, HPA Director

Naseer said that according to the research available regarding two doses being of different Covid-19 vaccines, there has been no adverse effects recorded. He added that although the two doses were of different vaccines, the individual will receive full benefit of the two doses as per current research.

According to protocol practiced, the 2 doses of Covid-19 vaccine must be of the same brand and product. HEOC said that they will work to adhere to maintain this protocol.

The Maldives has vaccinated 285,562 individuals with 56,817 having received two complete doses.