Wife of deceased 93-year old Gadhdhoo man also passes away

The wife of an elderly man from GDh. Gadhdhoo, whose death on February 19 shortly after receiving the vaccine for COVID-19 which is the subject of an ongoing investigation, has also passed away. 

The 93-year old man received the vaccine against COVID-19 two days before he passed away, leading to an investigation. His wife has also now passed away after having received the vaccine on the same day as him.  

In a press conference last night, Health Protection Agency (HPA) Director Ahmed Nasir said that the woman passed away sometime last night.

“A 93-year old man from Gadhdhoo who was receiving treatment at the Abdul Samad Memorial Hospital passed away yesterday. We have received reports that the 81-year old wife of the man has also passed away tonight. The investigation will include both cases, we would like to note,” said Nasir. 

He added that the couple had received the vaccine on February 17. Out of the two, the man had multiple health complications and had been bed-ridden for almost a decade. 

He was taken to the regional hospital in GDh. Thinadhoo on February 18, after his condition, deteriorated. 

HPA is yet to disclose any serious side effects in the Maldives as a result of the vaccine. More than 70,000 people have now received the first dose of the vaccine. Mild side effects such as a high fever and joint pains have, however, been reported. The Maldives is administering the Covishield vaccine for COVID-19.