Maldives begins COVID-19 vaccine drive, health worker 1st to be inoculated

The government of the Maldives has announced that a medical professional named Dr. Shiraaneee Abdul Raheem will be the first Maldivian to receive the vaccine for COVID-19 to commence the government drive to inoculate the population.

Dr. Shiraanee, who works at the IGMH Hospital, was in charge of the Hulhumale’ Medical Facility developed for COVID-19 treatment. After Dr. Shiraanee, a nurse working at the same facility and a diabetes patient will receive the jab.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will receive the jab fourth, followed by Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed. Chief Justice Ahmed Muhthasim Adnan and Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, Health Minister Ahmed Naseem, and Defense Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi will also receive vaccines for the virus. 

The government of the Maldives has announced that a medical professional named Dr. Shiraaneee Abdul Raheem will be the first Maldivian to receive the vaccine for COVID-19 to commence the government drive to inoculate the population.

Dr. Shiraanee, who works at the IGMH Hospital, was in charge of the Hulhumale’ Medical Facility developed for COVID-19 treatment. After Dr. Shiraanee, a nurse working at the same facility and a diabetes patient will receive the jab.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will receive the jab fourth, followed by Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed. Chief Justice Ahmed Muhthasim Adnan and Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, Health Minister Ahmed Naseem, and Defense Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi will also receive vaccines for the virus. 

Gender Minister Aishath Mohamed Didi, Indian Ambassador to the Maldives Sanjay Sudhir, and businessman Ahmed Mohamed Manik (MU Manik) will also be inoculated today. 

Dr. Shiraanee will meet with President Solih after being inoculated. The President has previously said that the hope was to return back to joy after the vaccine drive. 

President Solih, speaking at today’s event to commence vaccinations, said that the government expected to complete the vaccine drive within six months. 

The President said that the nation was at its current state due to the hard work of the healthcare workers and the citizens. 

“My hope, my advice is that everyone unites to overcome the challenges faced in this.” Said the President.

The President also added that vaccinations will be carried out uninterrupted and that the vaccination drive was expected to be finished within six months. 

“God willing, within the next six months, everyone living in the Maldives and its citizens will be vaccinated.” Said the President. 

Astrazeneca-Oxford University vaccine named Covishield produced by the Serum Institute of India is used in the Maldives. 100,000 doses of the vaccine were gifted to the Maldives by India, enough to inoculate 50,000 people. A further 700,000 doses are to be procured by the government. 

Vaccine stations are also established in Addu City and Kulhudhuffushi City. Vaccinations are to commence in these regions shortly. 

In Male’ City, vaccinations will be carried IGMH, Hulhumale’ Hospital, ADK, and Senahiya. In Addu City, vaccinations will be carried out at the Equatorial Hospital while the Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital will also be carried out vaccinations. 

The government had stated that healthcare workers and social workers will be prioritized in vaccinations.