Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has revealed India has pledged to provide another 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccine to the Maldives.
Speaking at the ceremony held to officially hand over the 200,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine granted by China, Foreign Minister Shahid assured that the individuals who were administered the first dose of Covishield will not have to wait long to get their second dose, despite the temporary suspension of Covishield export by India due to a rise in the demand for the vaccine in the country. In this regard, the foreign minister revealed India has pledged to provide another 200,000 doses of Covishield, of which 100,000 doses will arrive in the Maldives this week. He assured the public the Maldives will not face any shortage of COVID-19 vaccines.
Maldives began COVID-19 vaccination on February 1, with the first 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccine granted to the Maldives by India. Over 200,000 people have been administered the first dose of Covishield vaccine in the Maldives. The second dose must be administered 4-12 weeks after the first dose.