The Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) has stated that no agreements have been signed by the government to purchase Russia's Sputnik V vaccine.
The government previously announced that discussions are underway to purchase 200,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine and that an agreement will be signed soon. Speaking at a press conference held on May 26, Health Minister Ahmed Naseem said the order will be finalized within a couple of days, and that the doses will arrive in the Maldives within a month from signing the agreement.
When asked for an update regarding the purchase of the Sputnik V vaccine, HEOC's Spokesperson, Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq said no progress has been made since the initial discussions on the matter and said no agreements have been signed to date.
The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has approved the use of the Sputnik V vaccine in the Maldives. It is the fifth vaccine to be approved for emergency use, in addition to COVISHIElD, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Sinopharm vaccine.
Health Minister Ahmed Naseem
