The number of persons who have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccination has reached exceeded the 140,000-mark.

A total of 3,075 persons were administered vaccinations across the nation on Wednesday, under the government’s “Covid-19 Dhifaau” inoculation drive.

According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Wednesday’s vaccinations included 385 first doses and 1,188 second doses.

Of this, 289 persons received first doses and 348 persons were administered their second vaccination shots from four mobile teams across 11 vaccination centers across the Greater Malé Region. Further, 96 atoll residents received first doses and 840 residents across outlying atolls received second vaccine doses from 240 vaccination centers on Tuesday as well.

A total of 140,078 individuals have been administered their second shots nationwide by the end of Wednesday and a total of 302,482 have received first doses nationwide thus far.

On Wednesday, Maldives has approved the emergency use of Sputnik V Vaccine in its battle against Covid-19. Maldives is using the Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield vaccination, Sinopharm as well as Pfizer vaccines in its inoculation programme and the Russia-produced vaccine is the fourth addition to the vaccination drive.

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.

Healthcare authorities halted administering the India-sourced Covishield vaccinations 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.