Maldives is to receive the Covid-19 vaccination from India on Wednesday.

Indian news outlet, “Indian Express” reported that the consignment of the Oxford AstraZeneca “Covishield” vaccines will arrive at Velana International Airport (VIA) at 2pm on Wednesday via an Air India flight.

Although Maldivian authorities are yet to confirm this, the announcement makes Maldives the first ever country to receive the Covid-19 vaccine dosages from neighboring India.

Indian Express cited the country’s authorities having revealed that the consignment is being airfreighted following green light from the Maldivian authorities, including regulatory approvals and other permits.

The news outlet further reported that the vaccines were developed by the country’s Serum Institute.

The first batch of vaccination doses will cover frontline healthcare officials as well as the senior community.

This comes at a time High Commissioner of India to the Maldives Sunjay Sudhir has announced that India will dispatch Covid-19 vaccines to the island nation "soon", after assuring that “hope is arriving in the Maldives, very soon”.

India holds the title of being the first responder to the Maldives in times of crises and emergencies, and this has once again been proven.

On Monday, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) opened the opportunity to register for Covid-19 vaccination.

The COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) also accepted Maldives’ proposal for the free vaccine dosages to be distributed to each nation, last December.