616 individuals received Covid-19 vaccinations nationwide on Thursday.
According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Thursday’s vaccinations included 24 first doses and 592 second doses.
Of this, 12 persons were administered their second vaccination shots from four mobile teams across 11 vaccination centers across the Greater Malé Region. Further, 24 atoll residents received first doses and 580 residents across outlying atolls received second vaccine doses from 240 vaccination centers on Thursday as well.
First doses were not administered across the capital region on Thursday.
A total of 140,670 individuals have been administered their second shots nationwide by the end of Thursday with a total of 302,506 having received first doses nationwide thus far.
On Wednesday, Maldives 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 “Covid-19 Dhifaau” vaccination drive.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih launched the 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.
