5,485 more persons vaccinated against Covid-19

A total of 38,591 persons have been administered doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in the Maldives thus far.

According to the latest vaccination statistics made public by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 5,485 persons were vaccinated against Covid-19 on Sunday, the second-highest number of vaccinations conducted in a day since the national Covid-19 vaccination programme was initiated at the beginning of this month.

Sunday saw vaccination efforts commence in resorts across the Maldives, with the HPA confirming that 99 persons had received vaccine doses from resorts on Sunday. In addition to this, a total of 4,257 persons from the Greater Male' Area and 1,129 persons from across different atolls, were vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus on Sunday.

Vaccinations were conducted across 56 vaccination centers established nationwide.

As of 6pm on Sunday, a total of 38,591 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 since the beginning of February.

HPA announced that they would be continuing vaccination efforts in the Male' area for those between ages 18 and 50 who were considered as at high-risk for complications from Covid-19, in addition to all those above the age of 50. Vaccinations will be conducted between 9am and 5pm at the Social Center, Islamic Center (Masjid al-Sultan) and at the Hulhumale' Flu Clinic, and from between 9am and 1pm at the Villimale' Youth Center.

Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday night, Secretary General of the Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC) Fathmath Himya confirmed that vaccination efforts would begin for undocumented foreign workers living in the Maldives on 16 February. The Maldivian Red Crescent has been contributing to the government's efforts to control the spread of Covid-19 in the country, including providing logistics support at vaccination centers and establishing mobile vaccination services for those unable to attend centers physically, which was initiated on 13 February.

Noting that undocumented expats made up a significant portion of the population, Himya said that it was critical to have them inoculated in order to protect the whole of the community from Covid-19. MRC Secretary General Himya confirmed that undocumented expat workers would need to be registered under the Dhamanaveshi Beneficiary System in order to receive vaccines. Himya added that the MRC migrant support hotlines (9114584 / 9114512) would be active to help undocumented workers register in the system. Himya further revealed that while vaccination efforts for undocumented expat workers were to begin on 16 February, the aim was to conduct 250 vaccinations every day under the programme.

Secretary General for the Maldivian Red Crescent Himya also noted that now was the time their organization would need volunteers the most as the MRC continues to expand their role in the national effort to control Covid-19.