Ministry of Health has announced COVID-19 vaccination will begin in the Maldives on February 1.
Speaking to PSM News, Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem said the Covishield vaccine, which arrived in the Maldives on January 20, has been dispatched to 5 hospitals in the Male’ Region, as well as the regional hospitals in Addu and Kulhudhuffushi. The minister said vaccination will begin in these regions on February 1.
Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed vaccination will commence in Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), Hulhumale’ Hospital, Villimale’ Hospital, ADK Hospital, Tree Top Hospital, Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital and Addu Equatorial Hospital. HPA said frontline healthcare workers will be the first to receive the vaccines.
The Covishield vaccine, which is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India based on the research of Oxford University/AstraZeneca, was authorised for restricted emergency use in the Maldives by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) on January 28. MFDA said the decision was based upon the consultation of the National Pharmaceutical Board which provides technical expertise to the authority.
In the statement released on January 28, MFDA noted upon detailed analysis of documentation on the Covishield vaccine, the authority found that the brand has the same composition and formula as the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine which has been authorised for use by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. MFDA noted the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency is an internationally renowned regulatory agency listed in the Stringent Regulatory Authority (SRA) List formulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Over 2.8 million people in India have already been vaccinated with Covishield, and the vaccine is already being given in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar and Brazil. As per the currently available data, the effectivity rate of the Covishield vaccine is 70-90%. No serious complications have been reported upon vaccination of those who have received Covishield.
HPA has urged the public to get vaccinated and make sure the required dosage is completed. Noting several communicable diseases such as polio, neonatal tetanus, measles and whooping cough have been eliminated in the Maldives through vaccination, HPA has asked for public support and cooperation in order to strengthen the defence of the country against communicable diseases.