Number of persons awaiting second doses of Covid-19 vaccine drops to 52,834

The total number of persons awaiting second doses of Covid-19 vaccination has dropped to 52,834 by the end of Thursday.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 1,253 vaccination doses were administered under the government’s “Covid-19 Dhifaau” inoculation drive on Thursday.

Statistics reveal that 490 Greater Malé residents and 763 atoll residents received jabs.

Of these, 171 were first doses and 1,082 were second doses.

HPA revealed that the first doses were administered to 85 residents of the capital and 86 across atolls, whereas 405 Greater Malé residents and 677 atoll residents received second doses.

With this development, the total number of persons who have received first doses currently sits at 392,315, with 339,481 persons having completed both doses nationwide.

There are currently three mobile teams across six vaccination centers in the capital region, as well as 176 vaccination centers spanning outlying atolls.

The incumbent administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih launched the “Covid-19 Dhifaau” inoculation drive on February 1.

On Thursday the government announced that booster shots of the Covid-19 vaccination will be administered to immunocompromised persons, seniors and frontline workers from Sunday onwards. This decision stems from recommendations from the Maldives Technical Advisory Group on Immunization. Pfizer will be administered as booster doses to those who have passed six months since completing second dose of the vaccination.

HPA announced restrictions for unvaccinated persons from September 1 earlier, however, it has since been revealed that the implementation of the restrictions will be delayed, as the government is currently working on launching an adequate application through which unvaccinated persons may be tracked and monitored.

Restrictions that unvaccinated persons will be facing include 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.

Authorities continue to urge the public to receive their vaccination shots, in order to help curb complications from the virus.