341 atoll residents vaccinated against Covid-19 on Friday

341 residents of outlying atolls received vaccinations against the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic on Friday.

According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), a total of 224 atoll residents received second doses and 117 persons were administered their first Covid-19 vaccine shots on Friday.

Since the government launched its “Covid-19 Dhifaau” vaccination drive on February 1, a total of 164,013 persons have received second doses whereas the number of persons to have first doses so far sits at 309,022.

Due to the strengthening of measures nationwide effective May 26, 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 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. So far this year, 39 percent of people aged 20 – 29 have not been administered a single dose of Covid-19 vaccination in the Greater Malé Region. Authorities have stressed that 48 percent of people are observed to be reckless in adhering to the face mask mandate in public spaces, most of whom are aged between 20 – 29.

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.