On Monday, Covid-19 vaccination shots were administered to a total of 6,503 persons.

According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) late Tuesday, the vaccinations included 757 first doses and 5,746 second doses.

Of this, 276 persons received first doses and 2,350 persons were administered their second vaccination shots from four mobile teams across 11 vaccination centers across the Greater Malé Region. Monday’s vaccinations also include 481 atoll residents who received first doses and 3,396 residents across outlying atolls who received second vaccine doses from 240 vaccination centers.

This has pushed the total number of individuals who have received their first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to 298,396. A total of 114,240 individuals have been administered their second shots nationwide by the end of Monday.

Vaccination centers are to be closed across the nation on Fridays during the ongoing fasting month of Ramadan.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih launched the “Covid-19 Dhifaau” inoculation drive on February 1 with the Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield vaccinations produced by India’s Serum Institute. After temporarily discontinuing the first round of vaccinations on March 15, the public health authorities resumed administering the first doses of vaccination on March 22 with the Sinopharm vaccination. HPA began administering the second Covishield vaccination doses on April 3 and the second doses of Sinopharm are also being administered currently for those who have completed four weeks since receiving the first jab.

Maldives is using the Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield vaccination, Sinopharm as well as Pfizer vaccines in its inoculation programme.

Healthcare authorities halted administering the India-sourced Covishield vaccinations on Tuesday, at a time there have been reports that the Maldives is low on Covishield supply. However, authorities have since revealed that they expect to receive a shipment of the Covishield vaccination within a fortnight, and that efforts are currently underway to procure supplies.