Maldives begins administering 2nd Covishield shot in capital

Maldives has begun administering the second dose of the Covishield vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford in the greater Male’ region.

Maldives began administering the second dose this Saturday morning, two months after it began administering the first dose.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) advises those coming to get the second dose to bring their vaccine card and national ID card, passport or driver’s license. They are also advised to eat well before coming to get the shot. Those coming to get the second dose must be free from fever or other flu symptoms, and must not be a contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case.

Maldives administered the first dose of Covishield vaccine from February 1 to March 15.

Maldives received 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccine procured through an agreement between Maldives’ Health Ministry and the Serum Institute of India – the first batch of 200,000 doses - on March 29.

The shipment follows 200,000 doses of Covishield donated by India, and 12,000 doses of the same vaccine Maldives received through the COVAX facility. The country has also ordered 700,000 additional doses from AstraZeneca Singapore PTE LTD.

Maldives Food and Drug Authority has authorized emergency use of three COVID-19 vaccines; the Covishield vaccine, the Sinopharm vaccine, and the Pfizer vaccine.

The start of the administration of the second dose of Covishield vaccine comes as Maldives continues to administer the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine. Maldives has received 200,000 doses of Sinopharm as a donation from China.

Maldives has also received 5,850 doses of the Pfizer vaccine through the COVAX facility.

Total 241,127 people have been inoculated under the Maldives’ vaccine campaign; 132,044 from greater Male’ region and 109,083 from the atolls.