Covid-19: 1,951 vaccinations conducted in Maldives on Saturday
Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine has also been approved for emergency use in Maldives
The national Covid-19 vaccination programme at Treetop Hospital, Hulhumale'
1,951 residents across the Maldives received Covid-19 vaccinations nationwide on Saturday.
According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Saturday's vaccinations included 286 first doses and 1,665 second doses.
Of the 1,951 vaccinations, 1,665 correspond to persons who were administered their second vaccination shots, while 286 persons received first doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
Covid-19 vaccines were not administered across the capital region on Friday.
A total of 142,913 individuals have been administered their second shots nationwide by the end of Saturday with a total of 302,974 people having received first doses nationwide thus far.
Last week, Maldives approved the emergency use of Sputnik V Vaccine in its battle against Covid-19. Maldives is using the Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield vaccination, Sinopharm as well as Pfizer vaccines in its inoculation programme and the Russia-produced vaccine is the fourth addition to the list. At a press conference held on Sunday evening, Spokesperson for the President's Office Mabrook Azeez clarified that the Maldives had not requested Covid-19 vaccines from the state of Israel, at a time foreign media have reported that Israel plans to "donate" thousands of Moderna vaccine doses to a number of countries, including the Maldives.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih launched the country's national Covid-19 vaccination drive on February 1 with the Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield vaccinations produced by India’s Serum Institute. HPA began administering the second Covishield vaccination doses on April 3 and the second doses of Sinopharm are also being administered currently for those who have completed four weeks after receiving their first dose.
Healthcare authorities halted administering the India-sourced Covishield vaccinations at a time there have been reports that the Maldives is low on supply of Covishield vaccines. However, authorities have since revealed that they expect to receive a shipment of the Covishield vaccination soon, and that efforts are currently underway to procure further resources for the national Covid-19 vaccination drive.
