1,321 more persons have been inoculated against Covid-19.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 348 Greater Malé residents and 973 atoll residents received vaccine doses on Sunday.

As such, Sunday saw 13 first doses administered to four Greater Malé residents and nine atoll residents.

24 Greater Malé residents and 13 atoll residents received 37 second doses.

Further, 1,271 booster doses were received by 320 Greater Malé residents as well as 951 atoll residents on Sunday.

This has pushed the total number of booster doses administered nationwide so far, to 138,373.

Under the government’s "Covid-19 Dhifaau" inoculation drive, a total of 371,261 persons have completed both doses of the vaccine whereas 398,275 persons have received first doses nationwide so far.

By Sunday’s end 27,014 persons were 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.