Over 346,000 persons receive both doses of Covid-19 vaccination

Over 346,000 persons have received both doses of vaccination under the government's "Covid-19 Dhifaau" inoculation drive.

By Sunday’s end, the total number of persons who have received first doses nationwide sat at 393,133, with the total number of persons who have received second doses sitting at 346,781.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 859 Covid-19 vaccination doses were administered to 508 Greater Malé residents and 351 atoll residents on Sunday.

Of these, 74 were first doses, administered to 49 Greater Malé residents and 25 persons residing in outlying atolls. Further, 459 capital region residents and 326 atoll residents received second doses totaling 785.

With this development, 46,352 persons are currently awaiting second doses of the Covid-19 vaccination, 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.

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.