The total number of persons awaiting second doses of the Covid-19 vaccination nationwide has dropped further to 42,872.
By the end of Thursday, a total of 350,739 persons had completed both doses of the vaccine, under the government's "Covid-19 Dhifaau" inoculation drive, whereas the total number of persons who have received first doses nationwide currently sits at 393,611.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed that 1,421 vaccination doses were administered on Thursday, to 597 Greater Malé residents and 824 atoll residents.
Thursday’s vaccinations included 110 first doses and 1,311 second doses.
As such, first doses were administered to 72 persons residing in the capital region and 38 across atolls, with 525 Greater Malé residents and 786 atoll residents receiving second doses.
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.
