The Health Protection Agency’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has stated that a handful of people who received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine have tested positive for the virus.
Speaking at a press conference held Wednesday night, TAG team member, Dr. Nazla Musthafa said the first dose of a two-dose vaccine is not enough to protect the person from the virus, and that the vaccine’s effectiveness would reach 60 percent after two weeks of administering the first dose. The percentage would increase to 70 percent two weeks after the second jab is received, said Nazla.
Noting that some people who received the first dose of the vaccine in the Maldives have tested positive, Dr. Nazla said their positive result came five days from the date of receiving the first jab. Stressing on the scenario, she emphasized on the importance of continuing to take precautionary measures even after receiving the vaccine. Nazla said it takes time for the vaccine to work effectively, and is therefore important to receive the vaccine early.
While the Maldives began its national COVID-19 vaccine drive on February 1st, the Health Emergency Operation Centre has revised the gap between administering the two doses of the vaccine from four weeks to eight weeks. The change was brought as per the World Health Organization (WHO)’s recommendations and recent research. The effectiveness of the vaccine increases if the second dose is given at an eight week interval instead of four, said HEOC.
Dr. Nazla noted that recommendations regarding COVID-19 change from time to time based on new findings. All COVID-19 related decisions made by the Maldives is based on WHO guidelines and the newest research, she added.
