Malé, Maldives – Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC) on Wednesday, informed that administration of Astrezeneka vaccine will commence in the Greater Malé area this Saturday.
Speaking at today HEOC press conference, Officer at the Immunisation Program Nashiya Abdul Gafoor said that the administration of Astrezeneka vaccines started in islands yesterday.
She added that the administration of this vaccine in the Greater Malé area will commence in 6 centres of Malé, Hulhumalé and Villimalé this Saturday. She noted that the vaccines will be administered under appointment regulations.
Chairperson of Immunisation Technical Advisory Group Dr Mohamed Faisal previously said that the AstraZeneca vaccine can be administered as a second dose to those who have not received the second dose of the Covishield vaccine after receiving the first dose.
In addition to this, Dr Faisal said that if the Maldives is able to obtain the AstraZeneca vaccine before the Covishield vaccine, the AstraZeneca vaccine will be used to complete the second dose for those who have received the first dose. HEOC previously stated that there are about 92,000 people who received the first dose of Covishield and are eligible for the second dose, however are unable to get it due to lack of vaccine doses in Maldives.
The AstraZeneca vaccine shipment bought by Maldives, was brought to the country last week. However, the exact number of doses in the shipment has not yet been revealed. The government previously informed that 500,000 doses of the vaccine are to be brought to Maldives this month. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Monday informed that they have brought enough vaccines to vaccine the entire eligible Maldivian population with two doses.
