Maldives is among 10 recipients of 11 million Covid-19 vaccine doses being donated by the government of Japan.

With the decision, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid thanked the government of Japan for including the island nation among the 10 recipients of the 11 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to be donated through the COVAX global vaccine sharing programme.

FM Shahid noted that this is a true testament to the close relationship Maldives and Japan have enjoyed over the years.

The foreign minister thanked the Japanese Foreign Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi as well as the government and people of Japan for their generosity.

On Tuesday, the Japanese foreign minister announced that they will be making more donations of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses to countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Pacific regions this ongoing week, through the UN-backed COVAX global vaccine sharing program.

Japan recently donated USD 800 million to the COVAX facility, in addition to the USD 200 million the country has already disbursed.