Under the government’s “Covid-19 Dhifaau” inoculation drive, 300 persons were vaccinated on Friday, including 94 first doses and 206 second doses.

According to latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), a total of 186,777 persons have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by Friday’s end, with the total number of persons who have received first doses sitting at 316,069.

There are two mobile teams and six vaccination centers in the capital and 193 vaccination centers spanning outlying atolls currently. Vaccination centers across the capital are closed on Fridays.

The incumbent administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih launched the “Covid-19 Dhifaau” inoculation drive on February 1.

A total of seven vaccinations are currently approved for emergency use in the Maldives. The most recent vaccine approved for emergency use in the Maldives is AstraZeneca, the seventh vaccine approved by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) on June 20. On June 6 Maldives approved Spain’s Moderna vaccine as well as the Janssen vaccine manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson. Earlier in May Maldives authorized Russia’s Sputnik V Vaccine in its battle against Covid-19 as the fourth vaccine approved for emergency use. Maldives is also using the Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield vaccination, Sinopharm as well as Pfizer vaccines in its inoculation programme.

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.