Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) has stated COVID-19 vaccines will be brought to the Maldives through multiple sources, rather than relying only on the COVAX Facility.
In response to a Reuters report stating the COVAX programme may fail, Spokesperson of HEOC Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq said it is too early to decide that the free vaccines sourced by COVAX will not arrive in the Maldives. Dr. Nazla said even if COVAX is not able to provide the vaccines to the Maldives, other sources will be arranged to procure the vaccines. Noting discussions are ongoing with several countries regarding the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, Dr. Nazla said the Maldives will not solely rely on the COVAX Facility for vaccination.
The government had earlier decided to begin COVID-19 vaccination in the Maldives in the first quarter of next year. It was revealed that the Maldives will receive free COVID-19 vaccines for 20% of the population through the COVAX Facility, which was established to guarantee fair and equitable access to the vaccine for every country in the world. HEOC revealed 3% from that said percentage is allocated for frontline workers, while the remaining 17% is allocated for people aged 50 and above and for patients seeking treatment for long term diseases.
Additionally, the government has also decided to purchase vaccines from other sources with the aim of vaccinating the entire population.