The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has resumed administering of Covishield vaccine after receiving a new batch on Saturday.

While authorities have not announced the date of vaccine arrival, a credible source confirmed this to RaajjeMV.

HPA on Sunday morning announced the resumption of administering Covishield doses from July 4 (today).

This is being done on appointment only basis for those requiring a second dose, with those vaccinated first given priority.

While the nationwide vaccination drive was launched back in February, HPA is contacting those that received their first dose during this month for appointments to get second dose.

HPA appealed to all to arrive on time for vaccination appointments given that once opened, a vaccine vial needs to be used fully within hours.

While 317,214 people have received a first vaccine dose, 125,773 are still awaiting their second dose. This means that a total of 191,441 people have been fully vaccinated in the Maldives.

Health authorities halted administering the Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield vaccination after running low on stock.

Maldives received its first batch of Covishied doses from neighboring India in late January with an additional 100,000 handed over during a visit by the country’s external affairs minister in February. The island nation was to receive an additional batch in June, however, there have been several challenges to procuring more vaccines as India’s coronavirus situation worsened dramatically.