The Maldives on Monday began its second round of COVID-19 vaccination.
The first round of inoculations commenced on February 1st, and the COVISHIELD vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India was used during the first round. The first round was concluded in Male' area on March 15.
The government is using China’s Sinopharm vaccine for the second round of inoculation. The Maldives Food and Drug Authority approved the vaccine on March 15. While the Sinopharm vaccine has not yet been approved by European regulators, several aspects were reviewed regarding the vaccine. This includes manufacturer information and other data from countries that have already granted approval for the vaccine. EU regulators are expected to approve the Sinopharm vaccine very soon.
1,597 people were vaccinated in the Greater Male’ Region on the first day of the second round of vaccination. The second dose of the two-dose vaccine will be administered a month from the date of administration of the initial dose. According to HEOC, 18,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine are currently available. The Chinese government has pledged to donate 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine although a date on which the vaccines will arrive in the Maldives is not known.
