301,857 persons complete both shots of Covid-19 vaccination by Sunday's end

301,857 persons nationwide have completed both doses of vaccination under the government’s “Covid-19 Dhifaau” inoculation drive by Sunday’s end.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 354 Greater Malé residents and 392 residents of outlying atolls received vaccine shots on Sunday.

These included 412 first doses and 334 second doses.

The over 400 first doses were given to 165 Greater Malé residents and 247 atoll residents, whereas second doses were administered to 189 persons residing in Malé and 145 residents of atolls.

With these developments, 301,857 persons across the Maldives has received both shots of the Covid-19 vaccine, with 383,089 persons having received a first dose.

81,232 persons are currently awaiting their second doses.

There are currently three mobile teams across six vaccination centers and 176 centers spanning outlying atolls.

The incumbent administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih launched the “Covid-19 Dhifaau” inoculation drive on February 1 of which HPA is currently in the final stages.

More residents across the Maldives have begun attending vaccination centers for their first jabs as authorities have set a deadline for the administration of first doses of AstraZeneca vaccine Maldives has received and is currently administering, on September 1, as the supply will expire in November. The country last week received 111,000 additional doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, donated by Japan.

The government's aim is to vaccinate 95 percent of those eligible through the free vaccination drive, by the beginning of September. Hence, there will be restrictions for unvaccinated persons from September 1.

HPA has also publicized a list of restrictions that unvaccinated persons will be facing, including a ban on domestic travel and disallowing tourists to check in to guesthouses if they are unvaccinated. Further, civil servants who have not been vaccinated yet will also be required to present negative PCR test results every 14 days from September 1.

While authorities recently launched a vaccination drive for children aged 12 to 17, 30,109 were given the first shot of the approved Pfizer vaccine for the age group by Thursday. This campaign is being conducted together with the education ministry, with awareness programmes held for parents as their consent is required for children's vaccination.