Health Protection Agency (HPA) has stated COVID-19 vaccines will not be made mandatory in the Maldives.
HPA has been conducting an awareness campaign on COVID-19 vaccines in the Maldives. Providing information on the vaccination policy, HPA stated the vaccine will not be made mandatory for the public. However, the agency noted the vaccine will help to control the spread of COVID-19 and speed up the return to a normal situation.
HPA further stated the vaccines produced to fight COVID-19 have been tested for certain age groups. Noting the vaccines have not been tested on children under the age of 16, HPA stated children in this age group will not be vaccinated. HPA said priority groups for vaccination include healthcare workers, frontline social workers, essential workers, individuals over the age of 50 and high-risk individuals with pre-existing health conditions that could get complicated upon contracting COVID-19.
Furthermore, HPA said the vaccine may have some side-effects which are signs that the body’s immune system is working to defend the body against the virus. HPA said expected side effects include fever, fatigue, headaches and swelling in the injected area. HPA requested individuals displaying such symptoms to consult a doctor if the symptoms cause concerns or remain for long.
HPA also stated individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 can also vaccinate themselves against the virus. However, individuals who have not recovered from COVID-19 must wait until full recovery before vaccination.