Covid-19: 7,377 vaccine shots administered on Monday

622 people received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine on Monday, with over 6,000 second doses administered the same day.

According to the latest Covid-19 vaccination updates publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), a total of 7,377 vaccine shots were given on Monday including 6,755 second doses.

Among the 622 first doses administered on Monday, 225 were in the greater Male' area while 397 were from outlying islands. Further, 3,556 people from the Male' region received their second vaccine shots on Monday, as well as 3,199 people from atolls.

With this, 242,370 people in the island nation have been fully vaccinated while those that received a first vaccine dose is at 319,378. Hence, there are 77,008 people that received the first jab, and are awaiting a second one.

The government launched its Covid-19 vaccination drive on February 1 this year, after receiving 100,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine from India. However, as the coronavirus situation in the neighboring nation worsened dramatically, it was later unable to provide a scheduled shipment. While each individual is to be given two shots of the Covishield vaccine, the second one is to be given eight to 12 weeks after the first one. The vaccines are not interchangeable.

Authorities resumed administering of Covishield vaccine earlier this month, after receiving a batch from "a well-wisher". With this, individuals receiving second doses have increased.

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, as mentioned earlier its arrival was delayed due to Covid-19 situation in India.