The second batch of the China-sourced Sinopharm vaccinations is scheduled to arrive in the Maldives on Tuesday night.

This was revealed by the country’s national airline, Maldivian via Twitter on Tuesday afternoon.

A Maldivian flight will touch down at Velana International Airport (VIA) on Tuesday night, with the second batch of the Sinopharm vaccine produced by Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological Products of China.

Maldives received the first batch of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccination donation on March 25.

The Chinese government donated a total of 200,000 Sinopharm vaccination doses to the Maldives, of which the first batch of 100,000 doses arrived in the country via a flight operated by the country’s national airline as well.

The first batch of doses of the Chinese Sinopharm Vaccine Donation to the Maldives was received by Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid on behalf of the government, during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week.

Speaking during the handover ceremony of the Chinese Sinopharm Vaccine Donation to the Maldives, Minister Shahid expressed gratitude to the Chinese people and President Xi Jinping for the “very generous” contribution to the island nation’s ongoing vaccination efforts.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and his administration made a strong commitment to inoculate the entire population of the Maldives against Covid-19 as soon as possible, and the government will not discriminate in doing so, irrespective of nationality or status of residency in the country, assured FM Shahid.

Chinese Ambassador Zhang Lizhong and his team at the embassy played a pivotal role in collaborating with the government of Maldives in the time that led up to the delivery of the consignment of vaccinations.

Maldives intends to continue in the spirit of friendship in close collaboration both bilaterally and the international sphere. China has remained a generous contributor to the island nation’s response efforts since the coronavirus outbreak surfaced. As such, China has donated essential medical supplies and equipment and assisted in constructing accommodation blocks for foreigners residing in the Maldives as well as. This generous contribution mirrors the strengthened bilateral ties between both countries, the foreign minister earlier said.

Maldives launched its National Covid-19 vaccination programme on February 1 with the Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccination produced by India’s Serum Institute.

The emergency use of the Sinopharm vaccination was approved by the Food and Drug Authority on March 14 and the public health authorities began administering the first doses of Sinopharm on March 22.