President urges all to ‘go and get vaccine shots now’

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has called on all residents of Maldives to get their vaccination shots as soon as possible for the sake of the community.

Noting that the vaccines are the “pathway to resume the rhythm of normal life” to work, run businesses and spend time with family “after months of hardship from Covid-19”.

He urged all to go vaccine shots for own families and community.

President Solih last week announced that the government aims to fully vaccinate 90 percent of the eligible population of Maldives by August, free of charge, adding that they have received enough vaccine shots to do so.

At a press conference on July 28, Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) spokesperson Dr. Nazla Rafeeq said that authorities will be launching the last free vaccination campaign on July 31.

She stressed that the “biggest weapon” against Covid-19 is vaccination.

The incumbent administration launched the “Covid-19 Dhifaau” inoculation drive on February 1.

Spokesperson of the President’s Office, Mohamed Mabrook Azeez emphasized via Twitter that Maldives is “among the few countries that have been able to secure enough vaccines to immunize the entire eligible population”.

He added that “achieving a near normal requires a united effort” from the public; to vaccinate, to spread the message, and to convince everyone around us to do the same.

According to statistics publicized by HPA, as of the 28th of July, 321,594 people received a first dose and 263,067 people received both doses.