While Maldives is to receive access to Covid-19 vaccines through the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), 17 percent of the doses will be reserved for the elderly and high risk groups.

Chairperson of the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Group (TAG), Dr. Ahmed Faisal, revealed this on RaajjeTV’s Fala Surukhee programme on Wednesday.

Maldives was listed among the 92 low-and middle-income countries eligible to access COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX back in September; each country will receive enough to vaccinate 20 percent of the population.

Noting that they will be prioritizing healthcare workers and other Covid-19 frontline workers, Dr. Faisal said that three percent of the vaccine doses will be reserved for frontline workers.

The remaining 17 percent is to be divided among the elderly and high-risk individuals.

The doctor added that their hope is to vaccinate the entire population, but that this will take time and assured that the doses will be administered accordingly.

The vaccine priority list is being compiled by a national steering committee, formed to make preparations for vaccination against Covid-19. The committee was established after being notified of four vaccines against the virus.

The Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) said that Maldives is expected start receiving vaccines in the first quarter of 2021.

COVAX is a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and international vaccine alliance organization Gavi, that aims to bring governments and vaccine manufacturers together to ensure all countries have access to the Covid-19 vaccine once they become available.

More than 150 countries have already confirmed their interest in participating in the COVAX Facility.