Maldives has received 5,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, produced by China against COVID-19.
Speaking at a press conference, Spokesperson of Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) and Head of the National Vaccination Programme Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq said the Sinopharm vaccine was granted to the Maldives by a private party. She said the vaccine is currently being analysed by Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) before authorising it for use in the Maldives.
The Sinopharm vaccine has completed phase three trials, and returned an effectivity rate of 79%. The vaccine has been authorised in the UAE, where interim results indicated an 86% effectivity rate.
Maldives began COVID-19 vaccination on February 1, with the Covishield vaccine granted by India. Covishield is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, using the same formula and composition as the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
The government has also announced plans to purchase vaccines from AstraZeneca Singapore to vaccinate the entire population of the Maldives. The government had also revealed vaccines will be procured through the COVAX Facility, established to ensure fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to all countries around the world.