Health Minister: Maldives will begin administering 2nd vaccine dose on March 15

Health Minister Ahmed Naseem said on Monday health authorities plan on stopping the administration of the first dose of Covishield vaccine and begin administering the second dose in the greater Male’ region starting March 15.

Attending the ground breaking ceremony for a new building at the Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital, Naseem said that it has been a great number of days since authorities began administering the first vaccine dose in Male’.

Maldives began mass vaccination against COVID-19 on February 1.

Naseem said that authorities need to begin administering the second dose to provide greater protection against COVID-19.

“We therefore plan on stopping the administration of the first dose in Male’ on March 15. We will then begin administering the second dose in Male’,” he said.

5,000 – 8,000 people are being administered the vaccine on a daily basis. But Naseem says the health system has the capacity to administer the vaccine to 10,000 people per day.

“In Sha Allah, all residents of Male’ will be administered the first dose with this opportunity. Vaccine will be administered to approximately 70 – 80 percent. The opportunity is open for everyone above the age of 18 years to get vaccinated. I therefore hope everyone will make use of this opportunity,” he said.

Health authorities previously announced Maldives will begin administering the second dose eight weeks after the first dose is administered. However, if the second dose is administered starting March 15 as Naseem stated, it will mean the second dose will be administered sooner than previously planned – six weeks from the first dose.