498 vaccination shots were administered under the government's "Covid-19 Dhifaau" inoculation drive on Saturday.

Through its latest figures, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed that Saturday’s vaccine shots were given to 136 Greater Malé residents and 362 atoll residents.

68 first doses and 430 second doses were administered.

First doses were administered to 21 persons residing in the capital region and 47 across atolls, with 115 Greater Malé residents and 315 atoll residents receiving second doses.

By Saturday’s end, a total of 351,169 persons had completed both doses of the vaccine, whereas the total number of persons who have received first doses nationwide currently sits at 393,679.

With this development, the total number of persons awaiting second doses of the Covid-19 vaccination nationwide has dropped further to 42,510.

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.