Thursday’s vaccinations saw more second doses administered nationwide.

Latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), revealed that 789 persons were vaccinated on Thursday, including 371 in the Greater Malé Region and 418 across outlying atolls.

Thursday’s vaccinations include 148 first doses and 641 second doses.

70 Greater Malé residents and 78 atoll residents received first doses, whereas 301 Greater Malé residents and 340 atoll residents received second shots.

There are two mobile teams and six vaccination centers across the Maldives capital currently, with 193 centers stationed across outlying atolls.

Since the incumbent administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih launched the “Covid-19 Dhifaau” inoculation drive on February 1, a total of 181,759 persons have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, with the total number of persons who have received first doses sitting at 314,903.

A total of six vaccinations are currently approved for emergency use in the Maldives. The most recent vaccines approved for emergency use in the Maldives are Spain’s Moderna vaccine as well as the Janssen vaccine manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson. Earlier in May Maldives approved the emergency use of Sputnik V Vaccine in its battle against Covid-19. Maldives is also 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.

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 soon, 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 this ongoing month.

Shedding light on the topic during a press briefing when questioned by media regarding the matter, Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem had revealed that shipments of the 700,000 AstraZeneca doses are expected to arrive within three months, with the first batch of 200,000 doses set to arrive in late June.