1,348 vaccination doses were administered under the government’s “Covid-19 Dhifaau” inoculation drive, on Saturday.
According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Saturday’s vaccinations included 164 first doses and 1,184 second doses, given to 655 Greater Malé residents and 693 atoll residents.
As such, the first doses were administered to 99 residents of the capital and 65 across atolls, whereas 556 Greater Malé residents and 628 atoll residents received second doses.
The total number of persons awaiting second doses of Covid-19 vaccination has dropped to 51,760 with this development.
Further the total number of persons who have received first doses currently sits at 392,490, with 340,730 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.
