Health Protection Agency (HPA) has said that appointments will not be required for administration of AstraZeneca vaccine in capital Male', starting Monday.

HPA said all vaccine centers administering AstraZeneca vaccine in Greater Malé Area -including Social center, Islamic center, Art gallery and Vilimale’ hospital- will be open for walk-in vaccination from Monday.

However, it added that "people with pre-booked appointments will be given priority".

Authorities, who are currently on the final stages of the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination campaign, started issuing appointments for AstraZeneca vaccine on July 29 for both first and second doses.

Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) recently announced that the doses of AstraZeneca vaccine Maldives has received and is currently administering, will expire in November. Hence, they are to conclude administering first doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by September 1, so that the second dose can be administered before the expire after the requisite duration.

With the decision to resume walk-in vaccination of AstraZeneca, HPA said that its portal used to make appointments will now be closed.

HPA recently announced restrictions to unvaccinated people, to be implemented from September 1, as part of their efforts to encourage vaccination and curb further spread of the virus.