President, Speaker, Chief Justice receive Covishield shots as Maldives begins vaccine drive

The heads of the three executive branches of the State of Maldives, including President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, have received the first dose of the Covishield vaccine.

Maldives began administering the Covishield vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford, and produced by the Serum Institute of India, in a ceremony at the Social Center in Male’ City on Monday morning.

President Solih, Parliament Speaker and former President Mohamed Nasheed, and Chief Justice Muthasim Adnan were one of the first to receive the first dose.

Other high-ranking State officials administered the vaccine on Monday include Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, Health Minister Ahmed Naseem, and Gender Minister Aishath Mohamed Didi.

Indian High Commissioner to Maldives Sanjay Sudhir and Maldivian business magnate Mohamed Umar Manik (MU Manik) have also been administered the first dose.

In addition to the capital Male', vaccination has also begun in the northern city of Kulhudhuffushi and the southern city of Addu.

Speaking to press at the ceremony at the Social Center, President Solih said his administration aims to vaccinate everyone who resides in Maldives within the next six months.

Maldives received 100,000 doses of the Covidshield vaccine donated by India on January 20, and has signed an agreement with AstraZeneca to procure 700,000 more doses.

The second dose will be administered four weeks after the first dose.