Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) has said that 50 percent of eligible residents in the Maldives are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

HEOC Spokesperson Dr. Nazla Rafeeq revealed this at a press conference on Wednesday evening, describing it as 'a huge feat'.

As per the latest statistics published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 246,841 people in the island nation have been fully vaccinated while those that received a first vaccine dose is at 319,712; 334 first doses and 4,471 second shots were administered on Tuesday.

The current vaccines available in the market are targeted for adults. While each individual is to be given two shots of the vaccine, the second one is to be given eight to 12 weeks after the first one. The vaccines are not interchangeable.

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.

Hence, while the demand was high at the start of the drive, there was a shortage by the time people required their second jabs.

Authorities resumed administering of Covishield vaccine earlier this month, and with this, individuals receiving second doses have increased. While priority is being given to those requiring second shots, HPA on Wednesday said that appointments are now being given for those that received their first Covishield jab in May.

In addition to Covishield, Maldives is giving Sinopharm and Pfizer vaccine shots with the latter being administered under special circumstances.

Further, HEOC on Wednesday revealed that they will be halting the Covid-19 vaccination programme for the upcoming Eid-al-Adha holidays starting from July 17. A

The government aims to provide free vaccination for all people residents in the Maldives, regardless of their citizenship or legal status.