47,063 persons awaiting second doses of Covid-19 vaccination currently

47,063 persons are currently awaiting second doses of the Covid-19 vaccination, nationwide.

Under the government's "Covid-19 Dhifaau" inoculation drive, 93 first doses and 793 second doses totaling 886 were administered nationwide on Saturday.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 553 Greater Malé residents and 333 atoll residents were vaccinated.

As such, the first doses were administered to 76 residents of the capital and 17 residing in outlying atolls. 477 Greater Malé residents and 316 atoll residents received second doses on Saturday.

With this development, the total number of persons who have received first doses nationwide currently sits at 393,059, with the total number of persons who have received second doses currently sitting at 345,996.

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.

Recently the government announced that booster shots of the Covid-19 vaccination will be administered to immunocompromised persons, seniors and frontline workers. 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 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.