A remarkably high number of people were administered the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Saturday, as authorities began the final push of the vaccination drive launched in February.

3,331 people received their second shots on Saturday, which means that 268,244 are now fully vaccinated against coronavirus in the Maldives.

According to the latest vaccination updates by Health Protection Agency (HPA), a total of 946 first doses were also administered on Saturday.

With this development 322,710 received the first dose by Saturday's end; 54,466 persons are awaiting their second shots currently.

854 persons received the first dose in the Greater Male' Area, with 92 doses administered in atolls on Saturday. Likewise, 1,127 from the Greater Male’ Area were administered the second dose along with 2,204 in outlying atolls.

Saturday’s second dose administration figure is a significant surge from recent numbers, Health Emergency Operation's Centre (HEOC) had last week announced that they will be starting the final stage of the Covid-19 vaccination drive from Saturday.

The vaccines currently being administered in the Maldives are, Covishield, Sinopharm, AstraZeneca and Pfizer. Administration of the Covishield vaccination resumed on July 4 after months, after a temporarily halted due to insufficient supply.

Further, authorities recently began administration of Sinopharm second doses to those who have concluded three weeks since receiving the first jab at Senahiya Hospital.

While the government launched the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive on February 1, authorities recently revealed that they are now in the final stages of the campaign and aim to vaccinate 90 percent of the eligible population by the end of August.