Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) has urged high-risk individuals who have permanent underlying medical conditions to get vaccinated against COVID-19 without delay.
Speaking at a press conference, Internal Medicine and Nephrology Specialist Dr. Ibrahim Shiham said the COVID-19 vaccine is particularly important for immunocompromised individuals who have underlying conditions that make them more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19. As such, he highlighted the importance of vaccination for patients suffering from cancer, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease or respiratory diseases.
Dr. Shiham said although a large number of people in the Maldives have been getting vaccinated, several high-risk individuals are still hesitant to get the vaccine due to false rumors spread regarding the vaccine. Noting the vaccine is being rolled out after confirming its safety, the doctor called on all high-risk individuals to get vaccinated as soon as possible. He noted although the vaccine does not prevent a person from getting infected with COVID-19, it ensures that the severity of the disease is kept under control.
As per the latest statistics of Health Protection Agency (HPA), over 64,000 people have been administered the COVID-19 vaccine in the Maldives.