Over 135,000 booster shots administered against Covid-19

More than 135,000 persons have received booster shots against Covid-19.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 1,412 more persons were inoculated against Covid-19 on Wednesday including 373 Greater Malé Residents and 1,039 atoll residents.

14 first doses were administered to three Greater Malé residents and 11 atoll residents on Wednesday.

22 Greater Malé residents and 16 atoll residents received 38 second doses.

Further, 1,360 booster doses were received by 348 Greater Malé residents as well as 1,012 atoll residents.

This has pushed the total number of booster doses administered nationwide so far, to 135,379.

Under the government’s "Covid-19 Dhifaau" inoculation drive, a total of 371,170 persons have completed both doses of the vaccine whereas 398,243 persons have received first doses nationwide so far.

27,073 persons are currently awaiting second doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The incumbent administration launched the “Covid-19 Dhifaau” inoculation drive on 1 February 2021. Currently, there are nine vaccination centers in the capital region and 185 vaccination centers spanning outlying atolls.

HPA recently announced that the administration of booster doses has been opened for all individuals, without the need for a prior appointment.

Individuals will be required to bring their ID cards or an official document for identification purposes, wear loose clothing with easy access to shoulders, attend the vaccination center alone and have been well fed. They must also not be symptomatic or under quarantine.

For now, HPA is only administering Pfizer as booster doses.

The government earlier announced the decision to administer booster shots of the Covid-19 vaccination, to immunocompromised persons, seniors and frontline workers.

The decision to administer booster shots to frontliners and those at high-risk of complications from Covid-19 who have received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine, came following recommendations from the Maldives Technical Advisory Group on Immunization.

HPA revealed that the immunity provided by vaccination decreases over time and that a booster dose is required to boost immunity after six months, as it increased protection against infection and severe disease.

Authorities continue to urge the public to receive their vaccination shots, in order to help curb complications from the virus.