Over 161,000 persons have received second doses of the Covid-19 vaccination across the Maldives by the end of Tuesday.

A total of 2,641 persons were administered Covid-19 vaccination doses over the past 24 hours.

According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), a total of 1,924 persons received second doses and 717 individuals were administered their first Covid-19 vaccine shots on Tuesday.

As such, 294 residents received first doses and 526 persons were administered their second vaccination doses from four mobile teams across 11 vaccination centers in the Greater Malé Region, whereas 423 persons received first doses and 1,398 individuals were administered their second Covid-19 vaccine doses from 240 vaccination centers across outlying atolls as well.

Since the government launched its “Covid-19 Dhifaau” vaccination drive on February 1, a total of 161,454 persons have received second doses whereas the number of persons to have first doses so far sits at 307,927.

Due to the strengthening of measures nationwide effective Wednesday, residents across the Greater Malé Region will be required to seek a police permit through the Maldives Police Service (MPS)’s permit portal before attending vaccination centers. HPA will be administering Sinopharm vaccination doses across the capital region from 9pm to 11pm at the National Art Gallery, Vilimalé Youth Center and Tree Top Hospital from Wednesday onwards.

HPA revealed that the highest number of positive cases were recorded between 18 – 49 years of age, of which 40 percent did not receive Covid-19 vaccinations. The public health authority stressed that more than half of all positive cases that are being reported since January 2021 are aged between 18 – 49.

On May 12 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 “Covid-19 Dhifaau” vaccination drive.

Speaking to press earlier, 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 inoculation drive on February 1 with the Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield vaccinations produced by India’s Serum Institute. After temporarily discontinuing the first round of vaccinations on March 15, the public health authorities resumed administering the first doses of vaccination on March 22 with the Sinopharm vaccination. 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 since receiving the first jab.

Healthcare authorities halted administering the India-sourced Covishield vaccinations at a time there have been reports that the Maldives is low on Covishield supply. However, authorities have since revealed that they expect to receive a shipment of the Covishield vaccination in the upcoming month, and that efforts are currently underway to procure supplies. Further, the first shipment of AstraZeneca vaccine doses procured through an agreement earlier, is also expected to be received in June.