With a record number of 5,166 persons inoculated against Covid-19 in the country between Wednesday and Friday, the present vaccination total has now beat the Maldives' infection tally as immunization efforts continue full-speed across the island nation.
According to the most recent vaccination update by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), a total of 5,166 persons were administered doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in the Maldives between 6PM Wednesday and 6PM Thursday.
Of the 5,166 people who were vaccinated on Thursday, 4,257 were inoculated in seven vaccination centers in the Greater Male' area. An additional 909 people were given their first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in 55 vaccination centers established across different atolls.
As per the HPA, there are currently 62 locations active as vaccination centers across the islands of the Maldives. Of the total 25,327 vaccinations conducted in the Maldives since the beginning of February, 20,960 were administered Covid-19 vaccines from centers in the Greater Male' region, with vaccination centers in atolls having inoculated a total of 4,367 persons against the virus thus far.
On Thursday, President of the Elections Commission (EC), Ahmed Shareef and Vice-President of the Commission Ismail Habeeb were vaccinated against Covid-19, in addition to commission member Ali Nashaath. EC President Shareef confirmed his vaccination status in a tweet on Thursday, stating the importance of having received the vaccine in order to conduct preparations for the upcoming elections in a safe environment.
The Elections Commission is currently preparing to host the Local Council and Women's Development Committee (WDC) elections on 10 April.
Wednesday saw the World Health Organization (WHO)'s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (Sage) back using the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine to immunize against Covid-19, even in countries where the new variants of the virus may be in active spread.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine can be refrigerated at manageable temperatures, and has been hailed as the "vaccine of the world' due to low manufacturing costs that make it more accessible to even the most disadvantaged communities battling Covid-19.
