Covid-19: Wednesday sees 2,228 vaccinations conducted nationwide
304,394 persons have received first doses nationwide thus far
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih receiving his second Covishield vaccine dose
2,228 residents across the Maldives received Covid-19 vaccinations nationwide on Tuesday.
According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Tuesday's vaccinations included 475 first doses and 1,753 second doses.
Of this, 248 persons received first doses and 344 persons were administered their second vaccination shots from 11 vaccination centers and four mobile teams across the Greater Malé Region. Further, 227 atoll residents received first doses and 1,409 residents across outlying atolls received second vaccine doses from 240 vaccination centers on Tuesday as well.
A total of 149,435 individuals have been administered their second shots nationwide by the end of Tuesday, with a total of 304,394 people having received first doses of Covid-19 vaccines 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.
Health authorities have stated that they are now seeking international aid in order to manage the Maldives' Covid-19 crisis, with Spokesperson Mabrook maintaining that the situation remains under control despite all efforts being made to secure further aid from other countries.
Foreign aid as been a cornerstone of the Maldives' Covid-19 response since the start of the pandemic. 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.
Dr. Nazla Mustafa of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) revealed during Wednesday night's HEOC press conference that 64 percent of all Covid-19 fatalities reported in the ongoing month of May correspond to persons that had not received a single dose of Covid-19 vaccines.
39 people have died in the Maldives in May due to Covid-19, with an additional death having been reported on Thursday with the passing of a 36-year-old Nepali man admitted at Laamu Covid Management Facility.
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.
