Over 64,000 people have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the Maldives.
According to the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC), 7,818 people received the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, increasing the total number of people who received the vaccine’s initial dose to 64,048. Out of these, 49,836 people received the vaccine in the Greater Male’ Area and the rest were administered in the atolls.
The Maldives is currently vaccinating those above the age of 35, and those above 18 years of age who are considered high-risk. Vaccination takes place every day of the week except Friday.
The Maldives began its COVID-19 vaccine drive on February 1st. The Maldives is using the COVISHIELD vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India under a special licensing issued by AstraZeneca. 100,000 doses of the vaccine were gifted to the Maldives by the Indian government.
100,000 doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine will also be donated to the Maldives by the Chinese government, although the vaccine has not yet been approved by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA). The government has signed an agreement with AstraZeneca Singapore to procure 700,000 more doses of the vaccine. The government expects to vaccinate the country’s entire population within six months.
