The Maldives government has said it has discontinued efforts to purchase Russia's COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V.
The government had previously said it would order 200,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine, and that the agreement signing process was in progress. Maldives Food and Drg Authority (MFDA) has also approved the emergency use of the Sputnik V vaccine.
Spokesperson at the President's Office, Mohamed Mabrook Azeez said as the state has acquired enough vaccines to vaccinate the Maldives' entire eligible population, there is no longer a need to purchase more vaccines from Russia.
The government of the United States of America last week donated 128,700 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The state will commence administering the vaccines to children between the ages of 12 to 18 from next week. The Maldives has also received vaccines purchased from AstraZeneca Singapore.
